Recipe: Gooseberry and Orange Drizzle Tray Bake 13 Reforge Retreat

Reforge Retreat

I suspect that many Sheepwashers, like me, have driven out of Black Torrington towards the main A386 road, and have been intrigued by the Reforge Retreat sign halfway up Bonfire Hill. I have often thought, “I must investigate that sometime” when I’ve driven past, and I finally got round to doing just that this summer. What I discovered was a quite lovely, quirky little gem, hidden away in plain sight in our local landscape.

The history of the estate

Reforge Retreat is owned by Faith Warner, and has been in the Warner family for three generations. The twenty-acres of land which comprises the estate was originally bought in 1964 by Peter and Pauline Warner. Parisian seamstress Pauline was initially horrified to find herself surrounded by countryside which was completely devoid of the bustling metropolitan culture in which she had grown up, but she gradually warmed to the estate as it took shape, and transformed herself from a seamstress to a sheep farmer! Peter, on the other hand, was in his element from day one. An engineer by profession, he created a plan to transform the landscape to match his vision of a rural haven, and methodically set about turning his dream into reality. An old aerial photograph taken shortly after the Warners bought the land shows that it was just open fields and a few buildings. It is unrecognisable compared to what is there now. Peter planted trees and lots of other plants, creating shaded pathways around the meadows. He also dug out two lakes which are surrounded by lush, flowering greenery, and are partly covered with copious numbers of water-lilies. They provide a home for fish and other wildlife, including the dragonflies which have become the iconic symbol of Reforge Retreat. Almost sixty years after it was first planned, with all the trees and exotic plants fully grown, the estate now looks and feels like it has been there for centuries, an unspoiled haven where you can stroll about feeling like you have stepped into a painting by Monet. Peter and Pauline’s son Paul shared his father’s passion for the estate,

Pauline and Peter Warner (wearing a suit on the beach!)

and continued shaping and growing it. He was perfectly happy there, and never really wanted to be anywhere else. Paul died in 2010, and the estate passed to Faith and her mother. Faith had the same passion for the estate as her father and grandfather, but her mother wanted to sell up and move away, so in 2015 they split the property between them and in 2016 Faith started her new business there, which she called Reforge Retreat.

The owner and staff

When I first met Faith Warner, she introduced herself as, “a sort of mad cat lady”, but I soon discovered that was just her being self-deprecating. Yes, she does have four cats, and there are no dogs allowed on the estate, but is she “sort of mad”? Perhaps – but then, you have to be a bit mad to stay sane when you’re trying to build an accommodation and events business during a pandemic! A better description of Faith would have to include the words “eccentric”, “creative”, “determined” (though she would say “stubborn”!), and possibly “new age” or “alternative”. Academically gifted, she has an MSc in Primatology, and spent five months in the Congo studying bonobos (pigmy chimpanzees). She has also taught psychology, and was a research associate at Exeter University for several years. As well as running Reforge Retreat, she also works as a disability assessor – writing reports for a university on the facilities they need to provide to particular students, to help them make the most of their coursework and time at that university. She lives on the estate with her young teenage son Silas. However, although she does a lot of work herself, she obviously needs help to run the business and estate. So she has built up a small team of likeminded people, who all feel a special connection with the place – Rob, the groundsman; David, the gardener; the Ace of Maids cleaning team - Sue, Jess, and Nicola; Emma, who does whatever is needed; Dean, the handyman; and Jerome, master craftsman and builder, and his assistant Dave.

Reforge Retreat

So what is the business, and why is it called Reforge Retreat? The easiest part of that question to answer is the name. From 2007 to 2016 Faith made and sold jewellery under the brand name Lustre Jewellery. She used metal salvaged from various places and machinery on the estate, “reforging beauty” from the previously forged metal. So when she decided to find a way to use the estate to pay for its upkeep, she settled on “reforging” it to create a place to “retreat” from the rest of the world, and Reforge Retreat was born. The business can be logically divided into two streams – providing holiday accommodation, and putting on special events.

The accommodation comprises a one bedroom apartment, a “writer’s cabin”, and a number of bell tents. The apartment is self-explanatory, but the “writer’s cabin” has to be seen to be fully appreciated –it is a small, wooden cabin tucked away in a secluded corner of the estate, in the woods and next to a stream. Once there, even though you are only a short walk away from the rest of the estate, you can experience real solitude and privacy. Although it is called the “writer’s cabin”, it is very popular with couples! The bell tents are also pitched in different locations

can have their “own” facilities. In line with the “green” ethos, all the toilets are composting loos. And almost all the power used on site is provided by their own solar panels. Pathways have been cut around the estate, but the broader meadows are only cut once a year, so they look beautiful, but also provide a safe home for lots of wildlife. There is also a large, shared kitchen facility in a barn-like building, organised so that different groups can prepare, cook, and sit and eat their food separately – I noticed four double toasters spread out on different worktops round the walls. A unique feature of the estate is its own pub, called the Reforge Inn. The décor is probably best described as “quirky”, and has remained unchanged since Peter Warner’s time! Its opening hours are equally quirky – it only opens on Fridays and Saturdays when there are guests staying or when there is a special event on. Which brings us neatly to the other side of the business - running special events. Special events have been scarce so far this year, due to lockdown. I attended the most recent one – an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, a magical comedy set in the Forest of Arden, so Reforge provided a perfect setting. It was performed by Sun and Moon Theatre, who did a fabulous job, especially as there were only five of them, which meant they had to double-up on parts. It only added to the fun when one of the girls, who was playing three different parts, had to play a scene where all three characters were present, which involved some frantic hat-changing to identify who was talking! As life starts to open up again, Faith wants to put on more events at Reforge. The estate has been part of her life all her life, so she has inevitably been influenced by its very palpable natural energy, and would like to develop events which harmonise with that. around the estate, each one on a purpose-built wooden platform to keep the floor warm and dry, whether the tent is next to a lake, in the orchard, or in one of the meadows. They provide a luxury “glamping” experience, with proper beds, outdoor furniture, solar lights, firepits, and barbeques. The bell tents are set up to suit different group sizes, so you could have one tent on its own or several together in the same area. Unusually for this type of glamping retreat, you can also bring your own tents if you like, to set up away from or next to a bell tent. There are four shower/toilet blocks, again spread around, so groups of guests

She would like to hold events which mark the turning of the year, like wassailing the apple trees on Twelfth Night, maypole dancing on May Day, summer solstice celebrations, and so on. She wants to revive and preserve some of the folk traditions which used to be a normal part of country life. She would also like to put on other events in keeping with the intimate, peaceful nature of the estate,

such as a small festival of folk music and/or dance. (The Black Torrington choir already comes to Reforge Retreat to practice twice a month.) Of course, special events don’t come much more special than a wedding, and Reforge Retreat would be a perfect venue for a wedding or handfasting where the couple want to make it an occasion that is just that little bit different! The accommodation side of the business only operates from about April to October. To generate yearround income, Faith would like to run craft workshops in some of the buildings on the site – jewellery making, or sculpture, and so on. Most of the core staff team have a creative bent – for example, Jerome worked with Faith to craft the big metal dragonfly which adorns the main Reforge Retreat sign at the estate entrance – so she already has some willing workshop tutors available. However, the most important priority for Faith and her team is to preserve the natural, peaceful atmosphere of Reforge – it is a Retreat, after all. So they only want to put on events with limited numbers, so everyone attending can experience that feeling of entering a small, intimate bubble which exists outside “normal” life, letting them connect with each other and the natural world around them on a truly human level. We’ll try to keep you informed of all their upcoming events in future issues of the Chronicle, but meantime, if you or anyone you know would like to book into the glamping or other accommodation to experience the unique atmosphere at Reforge Retreat, please get in touch with them.

Chris Bell CONTACT DETAILS: Reforge Retreat Bonfire Hill Black Torrington Beaworthy Devon EX21 5QH Tel: 07825 187746 Email: info@reforgeretreat.com

Herbs How to Store Herbs and Spices

Dried or fresh? Fresh herbs are best added near the end of cooking, for example in a salad, or basil on a pizza, whereas dried herbs may be more convenient for day-to-day use. Generally, use one-and-a-half times the amount of fresh herbs as dried - the flavour of dried herbs is more intense. Dried leafy herbs usually last between one and three years when stored in an airtight container. Fresh herbs can be stored in bunches, in a jar, with the stems submerged in water. Enclose the jar in a sealable plastic bag and change the water often. They should last around a week this way. Alternatively, rinse herbs in water, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and place in a plastic bag in the fridge. Supermarkets sell herb plants, or you could try growing your own from seed. Simply snip off as much as you need. Keep them on your windowsill or in a sheltered spot outside the kitchen door and they should last weeks or months – possibly even years in the case of perennials like thyme, mint, and rosemary.

Spices

Once opened, whole spices can be kept for up to four years in an airtight container. Ground spices last for six months to two years stored in the same way. Fresh ginger and turmeric last around two weeks when kept in a perforated bag in the fridge. Spice racks can be a lovely decorative addition to a kitchen, but spices last longer stored in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or pantry area. Where possible, buy whole spices and grind them yourself, using a pestle and mortar or coffee grinder.