Newent, a small market town to the north east of the Forest is really more akin to Herefordshire in its style of black and white timber framed and brick built houses. The Market House itself - pictured above - is an attractive timber building on twelve wooden posts built at the start of the seventeenth century. The town has become quite a centre for traditional crafts over the years. Its early stonemasons (like Edward Taylor who worked with Sir Christopher Wren) carved the nave of the parish church in the late seventeenth century. The glassworks started originally by Huguenot refugees is still in operation.
You would never believe what lies behind an insignificant small door in The Shambles giftshop. You enter through a small alley and then -what a surprise - a cottage garden greets you, complete with gardener's cottage - a very simple one room stone built cottage. In contrast, further up on the little street, past the toy shop and the grocer's, you come to a grand four storey house belonging to the draper. This really shows the "upstairs-downstairs" of Victorian life. All around you are little shops, stuffed with all manner of Victorian things and trade workshops with every imaginable tool. There is even a police station, with a realistic looking "bobby" keeping an eye on things.
The Shambles is one of the largest collections of Victoriana in the country and the setting it is displayed in is amazing. All the shops look as if their owners have just popped out. And the atmosphere is enhanced by large old beech and chestnut trees, under which the streets and alleys cluster. With over an acre to explore, wander round and soak up the authentic feel ? it is a museum that has a "lived-in" atmosphere. Not to be missed.
Just outside Newent, on the Ledbury Road, Hazelfield Garden Centre and Nurseries are run by true plant lovers. Steve and Sally Browning, the owners, have worked in horticulture over 25 years. Steve trained at the Royal Parks in London, and Sally at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Wisley. Both then moved to new Gardens where they met. Whether you're a 'seasoned' gardener, a beginner or just looking to spend an hour or two in pleasant surroundings - you'll find plenty to interest you at Hazelfield Garden Centre.
They hold large stocks of bedding plants, wild flowers, herbs for all seasons, roses, climbers, heathers, trees and grasses (to name but a few) as well as the 'grow your own' variety - seeds & bulbs. Transform your garden using their stylish trellis, fencing, log border rolls, barrels, terracotta, baskets, statues and garden ornaments. At Hazelfield they grow about 70% of the plants they sell, making it a true nursery as well as a garden centre. More growing is planned as the centre expands, including a larger range of herbaceous, tropical plants and specimen shrubs, as well as a wide range of bedding plants. Genuinely living up to its slogan "More than just a garden centre, an enjoyable day out", Hazelfield Horticultural Village includes several additional businesses. These include a lakeside restaurant and tea room, a pet shop, an aquatic centre, a bonsai and oriental gift shop, a gallery selling limited edition prints, a flower arranging and gift shop, a fencing and landscaping supplier, a conservatory centre and children's toys. Truly something for everyone. Don't forget, you don't have to just shop here at Hazelfield. Take time out to "chill out" by the lake - filled with enormous koi, let the children play in the play area, enjoy the live music and BBQue demonstrations at weekends or just dine in the restaurant and relax and enjoy.
Two miles from Newent, on the B4215 towards Dymock, you will come to the Three Choirs Vineyard, Founded on half an acre in 1973 this is very much a success story in vineyard circles and now covers some 70 acres and produces between 250,000 and 300,000 bottles of excellent wine each year. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the vineyard and see the different grape varieties -nine white and five red. A comprehensive booklet will guide you round the Vineyard Trail, winery, exhibition and the video at your own pace.
Some six miles east of Newent lies the village of Hartpury. Here, in the glorious Gloucestershire countryside, you will find a group of historic buildings clustered around the parish church. The church itself, a Grade 1 listed building, has inside an interesting carving of the Green Man opposite another unidentified figure (perhaps a woodwose or wild man although other suggestions, such as a wingless angel, have been made). Next door to the church is the Old Chapel built in 1829 for a group of Dominican nuns who had fled from the French revolution in 1794. After various uses - including that of a deep-litter shed for chickens - the restoration of the building started in 1998. The restoration, along with that of other buildings in Hartpury, is largely thanks to the Hartpury Historic Buildings Trust.
In the churchyard you will find another of their conservation achievements, the Hartpury beeshelter. This unique structure was built at Nailsworth in the first half of the 19th century to house and protect straw bee skeps. Moved for safety to Hartpury Agricultural College in 1948, it continued to fall further into ruin until the Trust moved it to the churchyard and undertook its restoration. Lest you should think that the Trust only concerns itself with buildings and mason's work, it has also played a large part in the preservation of the Hartpury Green Perry Pear which it rescued from extinction and which are to be found growing around the parish.