Humans of Frome: Chris Smaje and Cordelia Rowlatt

There’s nothing unusual about the life of a sociology college lecturer and his daily commute from London to Guildford, or the tale of a property developer travelling around London’s Underground network.

Until, that is, you hear that the property developer had three very young children in tow and the college lecturer was harbouring the dream of a complete and total change.

The impetus for such change happened when Cordelia, with her three under-fives, attended an organic food exhibition in Islington; her new found enthusiasm so infectious that it took very little to convince the slightly disillusioned academic, Chris, to up sticks and move lock, stock and barrel to a remote island in Canada.

The brave couple took to island life, living, working and learning first hand about the development of agricultural ecosystems that are sustainable and self-sufficient.

Despite at first living in a cramped van with their children stowed safely away at night time on what amounted to no more than a shelf, (they did eventually move into a cabin) they did not look back with regret.

18 months later they returned to the UK with a dream.  When most professionals were leaving London in their droves with the dream of buying an old house, renovating and living the mortgage-free fantasy, Chris and Cordelia had other plans.

Again living in cramped quarters with Chris’s mother, they searched high and low for land.  Specific criteria needed to be met, most notably they wanted to be walking distance from a town. Fate led them to Vallis Vale and the rest as they say is history, although history needs writing and this family have certainly made their mark on this lush acreage near to Frome.

When most new tenants spend their hard earned funds on a new kitchen floor or a nice sitting room suite, Chris and Cordelia set about their first task – the planting of a woodland.   The siting of this woodland is a testament to their far-sighted vision and their understanding of their new land and how they would get the best yield from it in the future.

The woodland, now home to one of the Telegraph listed Top 25 Coolest Campsites in the UK, provides much needed shelter to the ever growing market garden.

The market garden abundant with ecologically grown seasonal veg is at the core of the Vallis Veg business, delivering the by now locally famous ‘Vallis Veg’ box and supplying the Frome Food Assembly with their organic fresh fare.

On a gorgeous end of summer day in the lush surroundings of Vallis Vale it is easy to see how Chris and Cordelia set their hearts on this spot, although I’m gobsmacked to hear that they bought without knowing if they would ever be permitted to live here.

There’s a lot to be said for such fearless determination and ambition and despite so many odds against, including two of the most uncertain of all – the British weather and planning permission – today they are reaping the very well deserved rewards of their hard labour.

In the background are the sounds of voices working happily in the garden, young people who Cordelia calls WWOOFers (young people who travel the world working for food and lodging as part of the  Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms Organisation).

Further afield a group are setting up for an outdoor activity session, only one of many who regularly meet here.  Vallis Vale, nestled amongst huge empty industrial-scale fields is by comparison alive with industry, community and the kind of good spirits only achieved by those truly happy in their work.

During our chat I remind Cordelia and Chris of how their 11 year-old son Jake (now 21) taught my son to ride his bike in Victoria Park. My five year-old had been really struggling and had just fallen in a thorny bush in front of some pretty nasty teenagers who laughed loudly at him.

At the point of giving up, Jake, who we had never met before walked over and calmly took control. ‘Come on’ he said to Archie.  ‘I really struggled learning to ride too, I’ll show you how.’ Within minutes Archie was whizzing around the park and Jake left without me being able to truly thank him.

He has no idea how much of an effect his calm, quiet efforts had on us that day… Much like the efforts of his parents in turning a plot of land into a vibrant business and an inclusive community with a lot of heart.

For more information about Vallis Veg and their veg boxes, campsite and regular activities click this link www.vallisveg.co.uk  Chris also writes a regular blog at www.smallfarmfuture.org.uk