ALMOST 200 people defied icy wind at the weekend to attend a food, farming and landscape day at Winterbourne Medieval Barn.

Event organisers, Kathleen Marsh and Christine Harding, were delighted at the high turn-out - just three weeks after a successful timber crafts day at the barn.

Saturday's event included a talk by Dr Martin Davis on farming in the post-war period, illustrated with rare film shot by his family when they ran Little Stoke Farm.

A shire horse and a buzzard who flew in with the Hawk and Owl Trust were further attractions.

There were themed exhibitions and stalls, including the Batscapes Project, and a guided walk to Monks Pool Nature Reserve with Frank Smith of Winterbourne Countryside Group.

Children's activities included painting and model-making.

Mrs Harding said the event brought many people to the barn for the first time.

"A strong level of public support is now developing for the proposed project - a centre for rural regeneration - at the barn complex, through the Friends of the Barn," she said.

"This is giving us greater confidence to move forward to the next stage."

The event, promoted by the Barn Trust, formed part of a series being held this year to give wider publicity to the vision for the barn complex.

The planned centre for rural regeneration will be founded on principles of sustainable food and farming, heritage education and small business support.

This will involve educational and commercial activities designed to give the medieval barn a role in the 21st century.

The listed 14th century building was purchased by South Gloucestershire Council five years ago and is one of the most important raised-cruck barns in Britain.

The next event planned by the trust to raise funds for the project is a concert by folk band, Strawhead, on Sunday, March 20 (7.30pm), at Winterbourne Community Association Centre, Watleys End Road.

Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 01454 773466.