THE Wessex Historic Tractor and Implement Club has staged its annual rural treat – otherwise known as Tracks Across The Field.

Held last weekend on land owned by the Ellis family at Froxfield, it offered a wealth of vintage tractors, farm implements and demonstrations to recapture the bygone days of farming.

“Fantastic” was how Phil Collins, a former club chairman, described the event which gives visitors the chance to see old-style farming. One demonstration, by a thrashing drum, was a particular highlight as it thrashed the corn sheaves, leaving a trail of small haystacks on the field “the old-fashioned way”.

As always, the club was grateful to the Ellis family for allowing the use of the 40-acre site on their farm and, as Mr Collins pointed out, “we are the only club lucky enough to have such a facility which means we can demonstrate how we plough and cultivate, as well as having plenty of room for trade stands and displays”.

With 100 tractors on display alongside vintage sawing, wood craft and old farm implements, provided by Richard Veitch, there was plenty to see and do, and when it came time for a break visitors could enjoy drinks in the bar run by the club or grab a burger.

But it was the beautiful shire horses that again stole the show, and delighted the children, as they worked an old plough up and down the field, with Kevin Maling making sure they kept to neat, straight furrows - and they were perfect every time.

Phil said: “They laughed when I roped off what they thought was a too large area for car parking, but we filled it and we are grateful to the visitors who came and to the exhibitors and, of course, a big thank you to the Ellis family for allowing us the use of their land.

“The whole weekend was a team effort. It was a great success and we are planning another one next year when it will be the 50th anniversary of the club.”