When we moved to Northew, a small village of some 700 residents in West Devon, we discovered an amazing secret. Every spring there are miles and miles of daffodils along every single lane in and out of the village. And there is a story behind it.

In this specially created video we learn the story of two very special Northlew villagers and the legacy they left, plus one extra special person who gave his all to make the legacy eternal. Please enjoy, ‘Lord of Life‘.

Further information

The Northlew daffodils have been delightful though they are now a little past their best. Now it is April, we are now enjoying the primroses and even the bluebells are starting to come.

Some people have asked for more background to the video. My primary source was THE BOOK OF NORTHLEW WITH ASHBURY, published in 2002, along with first hand accounts from villagers. Trixie Hannaford herself visited me and gave a very detailed account of how the snowdrop and daffodil banks were started and how she inspired and helped Farmer Percy. Sadly she passed to her rest at the beginning of this year’s daffodil season, but you can read her letter to the editor on page 18 of the Summer 2025 Northlew News. 

There have been other roadside plantings in Northlew. In 2014 villagers planted poppies in remembrance of those who died in WWI. These were a specially cultivated Northlew Red Poppy which is still available for purchase but which, sadly, could not compete with the vibrant natural growth on the two lanes were they were planted – one in the direction of Flanders fields, the other, the road to Ashbury station where the young men of the village would have caught the train to enlist. The BBC created a podcast about the event.

Victor enjoys producing short reflective videos. You can find more on his YouTube channel. For a larger selection of his videos see the media page on this website. There is also a Northlew Playlist.