WEAVING wild flower crowns and fashioning metal arrow heads, were just some of the activities on offer at Haslemere’s Swan Barn Farm, at its annual National Trust countryside crafts day.

Visitors also learned how to make welly boot stands from logs, and watched demonstrations of other skills by local craftsmen and women, ranging from pole lathing, making bee skeps for keeping hives in, to chainsaw-carving, thatching, hazel hurdle-making, and basket weaving.

There were also displays on “roundwood” building timber-framing, shingle and lath making, and even carving twig pencils and bronze smelting.

National Trust South Downs ranger Spike Brooker said: “The sun shone and over 600 people came.

“The animal displays were especially popular. Hawk on the Wild Side brought their birds of prey and Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group brought along their collection of both common and rare species, including natterjack toads, great crested newts, and slow worms.

“Surrey Bat Group had their pipistrelles on show and there were rare breed cattle, belted Galloways and a red Sussex, owned by the National Trust. Barbara Caswell’s ’Haverfield Herd’ of topiary sheep was an enchanting contrast, and the herd is remaining on temporary display in front of the farmhouse.”

Refreshments included local beers from Bowman brewery, Pimms, cider from Swan Barn’s own orchard, and town-based ice cream maker Dylan’s sent a van to help everyone keep cool with a treat or too.

There were also intriguing stalls to browse, including coppice-wood products and old and rare tools used in the countryside in years gone by.

Spike added: “All the money raised from the event is going back to looking after this special place.”