Information about the cakes for sale in Castle Combe: “It is run on trust! Please put your money through the Letter Box. Thank you!” Below it, only slightly ironically: “Supplier to the film and TV industry”
England is fundamentally a very safe country, especially away from the big cities. A lot of things operate on a basis of trust, which works very well. People simply adhere to rules, even if they are ‘just’ the rules of good coexistence.
In many fee-paying gardens there are side entrances from public paths that could be used to access the area for free. However, everyone refrains from doing this and naturally takes the official path and pays their fee.
In some private gardens, there is just a sign at the entrance asking for a certain amount to be paid. It is not checked, but hardly anyone thinks about not complying with this request.
On small, more remote country roads, eggs, other agricultural products, and especially homemade jams are often offered for sale on small tables or stands. Next to them is a small money box with a request to leave the indicated amount of money there and, if necessary, to please help yourself to any change.
Another lovely example in Castle Coombe, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions. Someone has baked cakes and is selling them for charity. And how do they do this? Very simply: they put the cakes at the front door, attach signs with prices, and a friendly request to drop the money in the letterbox. And yes: bags to transport the cakes are at the top right next to the front door.
It can be that simple when people simply adhere to the basic principles of good coexistence!
Cakes for sale at a front door in Castle Combe
Bags for the cakes, which are easy to remove from the container.
Sale on Trust – here it’s fresh free range eggs
