NESTLED at the foot of the rugged moorland of Boulsworth Hill is the village of Trawden.

The village, which is surrounded in every direction by hills, spawls down from the base of the 1,696ft hill to the hamlet of Cottontree.

Originally a hunting forest, Trawden is believed to have been inhabited since prehistoric times by small groups of people.

It continued to be a hunting forest up to 1506, with vaccaries for rearing oxen. After this, clearings were made for cultivation of farmland and the village began to take shape.

At one time, there were more than 100 farms in the village, however only a handful remain.

During the industrial revolution more houses were needed for the workers in the many cotton mills in the village, and Trawden began to take its current shape.

The village is still known for its agricultural roots, having hosted the annual Trawden agricultural show since 1925.

The show is the biggest agricultural show in the region and attracts people from across the UK.

In more recent years, the village has also become home to an annual garden festival and scarecrow trail which takes place during the first weekend of July. The event is run by villagers to help fund the agricultural show.

Last year, a group of villagers started a growing co-operative to grow, share and cook their own food.

The group cultivates unused areas of the village to grow herbs, fruit and vegetables and holds regular meetings to swap home-grown produce.

Coun Paul White, who represents Boulsworth ward, described the village as ‘a place with a real heart and fantastic community spirit’.

He said: “Trawden is right on the doorstep of Boulsworth. It is firmly routed in the community and is surrounded by fantastic countryside.

“The village has an amazing sense of community spirit with lots of resources, and hundreds of people in the village who put in much effort to make things happen.

“Trawden has lots of essential amenities, a fantastic doctors, a popular school, a post office with good opening times, a church and a working mens’ club as well as a bowling club and a bus route.

“There is also a small children’s playground which has recently had some work done to tidy it up.

“One of the things that the village is great for is social clubs. These include brownies, guides, a bowling club, a good football club Trawden Celtic, and now the growing co-operative.

“Trawden also has many small thriving businesses including a couple of garages, a beautician and a staging company.

“The village has been lacking a nice pub, however the Trawden Arms has been bought and is due to open in the coming months.

“I think it is essential for the people in the village to keep the amenities which are vital to retain the sense of community and attract people to live here.

“For a while Trawden, like many villages, suffered from rural decline, however money is now being put back into the villages.

“In terms of Trawden private investment, the former Empress Mill has been converted into flats, and houses have been built around it which are bringing in more people to live in the village.”