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A Treasure Handed Down from The PastLittle Chalfont Nature Park used to be part of Snell's Farm and we owe the survival of the Park to generations of farmhouse owners who chose to maintain some of the land in a managed, natural state as unimproved grassland and orchard. This land has never been sprayed with chemicals and so is rich in wild flowers.
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The Ancient Woodland in 2014 after purchase by The Little Chalfont Charitable Trust.
The Park's Timeline
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1600s
Samual Snell owned the farm |
1774
First record of brickworks |
1840
Tithe records show 54 acres valued at £11 |
1899
Chalfont Road Station opened |
1901
Last record of farm and brickworks |
1994-2009
Sculpture Park created by Bryan Montgomery on site of old orchard |
2011
Snell's Farm old orchard bought by Little Chalfont Charitable Trust |
2016
Nature Park opened on 1st June |
Origins
1876 Map showing position of Nature Park
Most of the farm was arable and the orchard was behind the farmhouse and its main commercial crop was cherries; it's the orchard and woodland which makes up the Nature Park. There were also clay and chalk pits dug out for brick making using kilns built on the farm. The brickworks and most of the pits are now replaced by housing. A few of the cherry trees in the orchard have survived, and some still flower and bear cherries. There are some assorted apple and pear trees.
The farm and brickworks ceased after the Metropolitan railway opened the station. At this time all the local farms sold their land to the developers so all that remained were just the farmhouses. |
Old records tell us that Samuel Snell had given the farm its name by 1684, nearly 350 years ago, and it is probably around this time the natural woodland was cleared to create the grassland that forms the Nature Park today. A small remaining area of natural woodland was kept and this still exists; it also extends beyond the park into Snell’s Wood at Nightingales’ Corner.
The farmhouse survives on Snell’s Lane as a Grade 2 listed building with surrounding farm yard and farm buildings. Part of the farm has been developed and is now occupied by houses in Little Chalfont. The 1876 map shows Snell's Farm and the surrounding area as it was then. The area of the current Nature Park is shown in green. 
Snell's Farmhouse as it is today
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Cherry Orchard
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You can see a real cherry picking ladder at The Chiltern Open Air Museum and read more about their Cherry Orchard
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The Nature Park's orchard was originally a cherry orchard which were very common in this area. The trees were well spaced out and very tall; so tall that very long triangular shaped ladders were needed to pick the cherries.
The orchards were so well known that people used to visit from London to see the blossom. After the harvest, celebrations took place in local inns and villages, where cherry pies were eaten by all. The photographs show a cherry orchard in Great Missenden and cherry picking ladders at nearby Flackwell Heath |
Brickmaking
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There are still several hollows in the ground in the natural woodland showing where clay was dug for the brickworks at Snell's Farm. We plan to use one for a children's slide and ramp. The brickworks were where Snell's Wood Court is now.
The first Brickmaker recorded was Thomas Andrews in 1841 and the last was Albert Saundeers in 190l. The group photograph was taken at HG Matthews Brickworks in Bellingdon (near Chesham) in the early 20th century. The photo of the man in the pit was taken at Cowcroft Brickworks at Ley Hill (now a nature reserve owned by The Woodland Trust). Snell''s Farm brickworks probably looked very similar at the time.
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The Montgomery Sculpture Park
1962 Map of area around the Park
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In 1951 Snell's Farm was inherited by Mr. Bryan Montgomery from his father, Hugh. Hugh and his wife, Mollie had moved into Snell's Farm in 1928.
In 1994 Bryan Montgomery founded the Montgomery Sculpture Trust to promote outdoor sculpture made by recently graduated artists from the UK, Russia, Eastern Europe and the former countries of the Soviet Union. The old orchard was laid out as an open air sculpture park, and survived when the rest of the farmland and woodland was sold for development, finally closing in 2008. The Montgomery Sculpture Trust transferred to Broomhill near Barnstaple, where some of the original sculptures can still be seen. The photographs show the Sculpture Park as it was on the day before it closed. Much thanks to Anne Crabbe for permission to use them. |
The Nature Park
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In 2010 the land comprising the present Park was advertised as being for sale. The Little Chalfont Community Association (LCCA) seeing that this could be a great asset to the community duly approached the purchasers who agreed to consider selling to the community. Following a public appeal, the newly formed Little Chalfont Charitable Trust raised enough funds to complete the purchase.
Since then the Action Group and countless other people and businesses in Little Chalfont have worked long and hard, including raising much needed further funds. The Park opened to everyone on June 1st, 2016. Little Chalfont Nature Park is a precious community asset, conserving the best of the past, whilst providing educational opportunities and a touch of peace and tranquillity for everyone in our busy world. It is indeed, A Hidden Gem In The Chilterns. |
The Park land in December 2011, shortly after purchase by the Trust.
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Find Out MoreYou can find out much more about the History of the Nature Park by down-loading the complete History & Heritage document.
Now you know the history, discover what you can find in out wonderful wild flower meadow. |
History & Heritage
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