A NEW Age traveller who pitched up in Trowbridge with his horse and cart on Sunday has thanked the local community for making him feel welcome.

Nomadic wood carver Darren Munn, 47, started travelling 15 years ago after finding that rent was becoming too expensive.

He is currently on a quest to reach Cornwall to enjoy the seaside and stopped off at the Hilperton Road roundabout with his ponies Rebel and Queenie and dog Berry on Sunday afternoon to sell wooden mushrooms he sculpts himself.

He said: “I’ve travelled around with my horse and cart for the past 15 years and I like to keep things as simple as possible

“Since I arrived here in Trowbridge business has been trickling along steadily and I’ve found people to be very friendly, waving at me when they drive past and some stopping to have a chat and buy something.

“I want a bit of sun in my life so I’m heading down to Devon and then Cornwall – I’ve never been but I’ve heard it’s sunny down there.”

Mr Munn, who began his expedition in Fairford, Gloucestershire, two weeks ago, also builds carts from scratch and sells them on for £5,000.

He has set himself a target of selling one cart a year to keep him going and once sold one to Kate Moss in the Cotswolds. He is currently creating a burgundy cart which he hopes to sell at the end of summer to fund the winter months.

To create his wooden sculptures this week, he purchased wood from the company which is currently felling trees in Paxcroft Mead, a short walk from his pitch. He said there are sometimes barren spells when he doesn’t sell many of his sculptures but he is just happy to be able to be living in the outdoors.

“Not many people can say they do what I do,” added Mr Munn, who has one son who travels around The Midlands, also selling wooden mushrooms.

“It gets a bit chilly in the winter but I just love permanently being in the countryside. Plus I don’t have to worry about the Monday blues every week.

“The world managed just fine before all this technology came along so it can manage now. I never use my phone, I prefer seeing the whites of people’s eyes when I talk to them.

“Thankfully the police and council staff I usually come across realise I’m not going to cause any harm and let me stay for a week or so before politely moving me on my way.”

Mr Munn plans to leave Trowbridge on Friday and head for the coast, with his horses currently on an all-they-can-eat diet to fuel them up for the journey ahead.