Museum worker’s plough attempt success

Weald and Downland Living Museum’s Andy Robinson has completed the arduous challenge of ploughing 12 acres against the clock using traditional farming techniques.

Chichester-based Andy is the working animals supervisor at the museum and completed the challenge on January 26, having spent over 100 hours in total ploughing since the start of the month alongside the museum’s three Percheron horses, Ollie, Leon and Kash.

Andy set the ambitious goal of ploughing 12 acres of land in 12 days and managed to finish just short of his target, completing the challenge in 15 days after overcoming a setback that meant repair work was required to the plough.

Andy said: “It’s been a tough challenge and I’m glad it’s done, but I also feel like something is missing now it’s over.

“I am very proud of the horses for getting me there, they are an incredible team.”

Andy embarked on the impressive challenge to help connect with farming methods of the past and enable him to bring this to life for the museum’s visitors by creating a unique visual experience.

He ploughed for an average of eight hours a day for five days a week with two days off in-between, enduring all weather conditions to complete the challenge.

Andy said: “It was an allconsuming challenge but the overwhelming support from the public spurred me on to keep going and made it feel so worthwhile. I also couldn’t have achieved any of this without the horses.

For more information about the museum, visit www. wealddown.co.uk