THE HARVEST By Pat Townsend Reprinted here by the kind permission of Pat Townsend, daughter of Reg Wilks Once we grew cherries at Flackwell At Flackwell Heath on the Hill We grew cherries at Flackwell And our baskets we could fill With Early Rivers, Bigereaux, Napoleons, large and red. While juicy whitehearts, blackhearts too Hung waiting overhead. Away from the smoky valleys And the grime and the dust of the towns Our trees were like brides in the Springtime Wearing their white blossom gowns. Yes, above the mills and factories Our trees grew so straight and tall That we had to hire long ladders So that we could pick them all. And at the end of the season Was the famous Cherry Fayre And people came from miles around To sell, or to buy, or to stare. And on those gaily decked stalls To gladden hungry eyes Were rows and rows of the famous Flackwell cherry pies. We pick no more cherries at Flackwell The trees and the ladders are gone. Houses fill the fields and woods The orchards are built upon. Our roads have cherry names though Just to keep tradition alive. There's The Orchard, Cherry Wood Gardens, Cherry Close and Cherry Rise. And those houses ring with the laughter Of happy children at play. And they're bright and healthy with cherry-red cheeks And modern clothes so gay. Far away from the smoky valleys Our children grow straight and tall. They play beneath our last few trees With skipping rope, toy or ball. You should see our lads play football In their shirts of cherry-red. And the old call "Up the Cherrypickers" Is not entirely dead. Yes, above the mill and the factories Our children grow straight and strong. You should hear them singing sweet and clear An old traditional song. So we still have a harvest at Flackwell At Flackwell Heath on the Hill. Our harvest's not cherries but children A better harvest still. Barbara Murfin nee Sarney born 1940s Our best blackberry field in the village was taken over by the new builds of the Orchard and Cherry Rise group of houses. Geoff Gibson, born 1930s Jennings had an orchard near where Juniper Hill School is now and there was also a bit that was used as a market garden, where the school playing field is, and they used to grow the produce to be sold in Jennings Stores. Everything you’d want they had, hardware and groceries. Walt Jennings used to do bike repairs round the back. Back to Old Frackle Walk If you have a story you'd like to add to this page please  to tell us about it.