North Wessex Downs Walking Festival – ‘The Big Drop’ farm

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy (D-Day) landings that began the liberation of Western Europe and ultimately tipped the course of the Second World War.

A small farm nestled in the North Wessex Downs, just outside Boxford in West Berkshire, played a significant but top-secret role in this world event. The valley near RAF Welford was used on 23 March 1944 as a site for a practice for the D-Day landings. Prime Minister Churchill and Eisenhower inspected the American troops of the elite 101st Airbourne Division. This was followed by a mass parachute drop of about 3,000 men and equipment.

This event was witnessed by a small boy and his family who stood by a hedge to watch. That small boy is the owner of Court Oak Farm. We will follow a new route around the farm to learn more about this momentous occasion, see newly installed information boards with archive photos of the event as well as personal memories.

During the walk we will also learn about Court Oak Farm, a recipient of a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant. It is an arable farm that has been in the family for nearly 150 years. Growing mainly wheat and barley, with some oilseed rape and oats, it is now farming regeneratively. In the last few years, several miles of new hedges and have been planted to encourage wildlife.

The walk will be at a gentle pace following public rights and of way and a permitted path in a circular walk.

Walk leader/organisation: Jenny Smith, Court Oak Farm

To book and for further information – click here