Land Management
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It’s hard to believe that the longest day has come and gone as it only seems like five minutes ago it was the shortest day!! So much has happened on the estate it’s hard to know where to start.
We have had one of the driest springs on record which allowed us to get on with field and paddock maintenance in late March and then get the first cuts of grass in on the lawns and the cross country course at the beginning of April. Compared to last year, when it was early May before the ground was dry enough, this has allowed us to quickly get the estate looking as it should following the winter. This really is no small task though; every week the team spend hours maintaining the estate and it really is a credit to all involved.
Early in April Geoffrey asked to meet me in at The Grange and, as always, he seemed very excited about something! As we walked around the side of the farmhouse he pointed at the copse and said, “Can you build me a woodland walk through there?” After composing myself I said, “Do you know how wet it is in there?” Geoffrey’s reply was,” Of course I do! When I tried walking in there a while ago I went up to my knees in mud!” After a walk around and a long chat we came up with a plan and we have now put in a track way and a 27ft bridge suitable for buggies, quad bikes and wheelchairs that will be able to do a circular tour of what is now known as “The Bog Garden”. We have also dug out two ponds. It has been great to manage this amazing project, making use of the skills and machinery we have on the estate. The Chedington digger has come into its own over the past three months and a big thank you must go to Paul our newly appointed driver and Mark for all their hard work so far. We still have quite a bit to do but hopefully the amazing team of gardeners from Chedington Court can soon come and start planting and making some pedestrian routes through as well.
During a catch up with Geoffrey in early May he told me of his and Kate’s plans to move to The Grange and I was overjoyed by this news! The house that I grew up in as child and have so many fond memories of is now going to be their home and I wish them every happiness in this amazing house which has obviously altered quite a bit from when I lived there but it always will be a place very close to my heart.
Over the past few weeks, we have been busy making the haylage and hay for the winter ahead and with the amazing weather on our side we have made 300 bales (180 tons) of haylage and 140 bales (70 tons) of hay. On a lovely Sunday morning Geoffrey joined me in the tractor for his annual spot of mowing. He really is becoming an old hand at this job now and after a quick reminder of the controls he was off cutting 30 acres in 3 hrs which is very respectable. The only downside was that there was no cricket on the radio.
As I write this we have just 50 acres left to cut and bale which, added to what we have already done, will give us around 400 tons of feed for the year ahead.
The other afternoon/evening Henry my son came to help me haul in the hay from the fields, it was a lovely sunny evening and it reminded me of when I was 16 helping my father haul in hay from the fields at the bottom of “The Grange” land, the only difference was he was sitting in the tractor with the air conditioning on while I loaded big bales on the trailer with the JCB, whereas when I was his age we had to stack small bales on a trailer by hand, how things have changed!.
Wherever you are on the estate, just stop for a moment and enjoy the amazing environment we work in.
Let’s hope this lovely weather continues and we can all continue to enjoy the summer.
– James Vickery, Land Manager
Estate Management
Well, what a few months it has been! Summer is upon us and the longest day has already passed, where has the time gone!
Since the last newsletter the building team have been busy completing the refurbishment works on the party barn and just a couple of weeks ago we had the re-naming ceremony and it is now called The Nicky Ellis Therapy Barn and will be the main hub for Hobbs’ rehabilitation to carry out all the good work that they do.
We then moved onto the second phase of the refurbishment works in the old isolation barn and this will enable us to store the adventure bikes and spare equipment for Hobbs all in a clean dry environment. Whilst this was all going on Geoffrey asked if we had time to fit in some additional work! This was to build him a padel court which was more of a challenge as he wanted it built in an old damp barn at North Buckham Farm. The works involved a completely new roof, a new floor, closing in the whole of one end of the barn and building a viewing mezzanine and, as the pictures show, the team managed to turn it around in a matter of a few months and I have to say it looks very impressive. A big well done to all the team on this one.
The next big project for the team will be to carry out internal works and the building of a huge Orangery on the West side of the Grange along with a terrace and retaining walls. All this is due to start on the 5th of August and at the same time we will completely redesign two bathrooms in Baqueira so both Garry and Dean’s team along with Andy’s men are going to be busy. Let’s hope for an Indian summer.
Meanwhile back at Chedington Court, Ricky and the team as you would expect have been beavering away with the usual winter and spring jobs of cutting back and splitting of plants to be able to grow on for this year’s planting. They have completed a new tropical palms bed along with a new fern and topiary bed which both look great and were a great addition to this year’s Open Gardens at the end of June. Ricky and Jim were both set a project from Geoffrey & Kate which was to design and plant a new bog garden along with all the new planting areas in what will be the new gardens at The Grange which I am sure will be stunning in time to come.
Good luck guys and thank you for all of your hard work this year so far.
– Colin Maddock, Estate Manager
Chedington Equestrian
Lower Chapel Marsh Farm, Beaminster
My first Spring/Summer at Chedington have been lovely. Spring broke early and it was great to get the horses into the fields mid March.
Chedington Equestrian has had a great start to the showjumping and eventing season with Ben Wickens, above, doing well with his young liveries and two top ten finishes at his first Internationals. Call Me Clinton, who is back in work after two years out for injury, jumped a double clear in the 1.30 at Chard last week.
Cosby Green has now joined the Chedington team and is very thankful for all the support that she has had from everyone. She was part of the USA team Nations Cup at Bicton International in May finishing with team 2nd and individual 13th.
Cosby also came 5th at Burnham Market 3* short.
4th with Clever Louis (Chedington horse) at the Royal Jump in France.
4th and 8th place at Luhmuhlen in Germany at 5*.
Which in her own words “ Is pretty cool!”
The Prices, based at our yard at The Grange, have had a great eventing season so far. Since May, between them, they have had eight top 10 positions at 2,3 and 4.
Tim with three 1st finishes at 3 and 4* and is now ranked 3rd in the World FEI ranking. Fingers crossed for them for the rest of the season.
Team New Zealand also had a 1st at Aachen which puts Team Price in good stead for next year’s World Championships in Aachen.
It has been a pleasure for me and my team to have met Tim and Jonelle and all of their horses in the fields, even the cheeky ones! They all look amazing.
Emma Manton is of course on our yard and she had a first at the Royal Windsor Show this year in the Le Mieux National with Vanilla Fusion. She also modelled with one of her horses on our XC for Le Mieux who had a photo shoot in early June.
Finally, we welcomed Thomas Worsley at the end of May and his horse Tumble. Thomas is a young show jumping rider. He had two top ten places in his first Nations cup in May in Austria and was then asked to join the GB squad for the Nations Cup in Hagen in June where he came 2nd and getting the Chedington name out there!
I am looking forward to the rest of the year.
– Vicki Lewis, Yard Manager, Chedington Equestrian
Events at The Grange
Celebrating Progress, People, and a Powerful Legacy at Hobbs Rehabilitation Chedington
Over recent months, Hobbs Rehabilitation Chedington has seen a wave of exciting developments, both in clinical innovation and community spirit. From the expanding use of adaptive technologies to a landmark celebration of our people and our past, the energy here has been as inspiring as the individuals we support every day.
A standout achievement has been the growing integration of adaptive sport into our rehabilitation programmes. Our new fleet of adaptive bikes has seen multiple uses across inpatient and outpatient sessions, helping individuals rediscover the joy of movement in a way that’s empowering, inclusive, and fun. These bikes have become a symbol of our broader commitment to adaptive sport — a service that continues to evolve. We were proud to recently welcome our first two amputee residential stays, marking an important milestone in offering comprehensive, personalised support to individuals adjusting to limb loss as part of their neurorehabilitation journey.
This forward momentum was celebrated in full during a very special Hobbs-wide event held at the Chedington estate. The day brought together current and former Hobbs employees, patients, and an esteemed group of representatives from key partner organisations including the RFU Injured Players Foundation, British Equestrian’s BEST programme, the Injured Jockeys Fund, and other leading charities and supporters of neurological care and sport. It was a valuable opportunity to showcase the extraordinary facilities at Chedington, from our cutting-edge neurotechnology to the beautifully designed therapy spaces and tranquil rural setting — all designed to enhance healing and wellbeing.
At the heart of the event was a moving tribute to Nicky Ellis, whose legacy at Hobbs continues to shape the way we care, support, and innovate. In recognition of her incredible contribution to the organisation, the therapy barn at Chedington has now been officially renamed in her honour — a permanent reminder of her dedication, warmth, and impact on so many lives.
The event also marked 20 years of Hobbs Rehabilitation — two decades of growth, transformation, and an unwavering commitment to helping individuals with neurological conditions achieve their fullest potential. It was a day of reflection, reconnection, and optimism for the future.
As we move forward, we remain incredibly grateful for the people who make Hobbs what it is — our patients, colleagues, supporters, and partners. With continued innovation and collaboration, the future at Hobbs Rehabilitation Chedington is brighter than ever.
– Sarah Holloway, Chedington Hobbs Manager
Hospitality
The Old Brewery Cafe & Kitchen, Gillingham
Well it’s been a bit up and down these past few months for the café and Spring has come and gone leaving us a hot Summer so far which is good allowing us to use the gardens more frequently.
Finally we have added another day of trading…. Sunday! Probably overdue, but proving to be a hit with bikers and locals for breakfast, certainly keeping us on our toes that’s for sure. Our roast lunches are getting great feedback so hopefully once the word is out we will begin to have consistent Sunday sales.
We recently had an 80’s disco night which proved to be a great success, so much so that we’ve booked ourselves another disco night in August but this time it’s a Movie theme as we are raising money from a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses to provide a defibrilator for outside the building for the local community to use.
Dare I say it but it’s that time of the year where we have to start thinking about….. Christmas!! People are already asking for our menu and booking their meals, can you believe it, and we haven’t got past summer yet! This must mean we must have made a good impression last year.
Well that’s all for now!
– Steve Angell, The Old Brewery Café Ltd
Eira Ski Lodge, Baqueira-Beret
Henry and the team over in Baqueira-Beret are going from strength to strength!
Salon on the Square
Summer Buzz at Salon on the Square!
Summer is in full swing here at Salon on the Square, and what a season it’s been so far! We’ve been busy helping our lovely clients get ready for weddings, holidays, and everything in between—with plenty of sun-kissed styles and pre- and post-holiday beauty treatments to go around.
We’re thrilled to share that our talented stylist Maddi—who has been with us since the very start of her career—has completed her Level 3 Advanced Hairdressing Qualification with Distinction! We couldn’t be prouder. Well done, Maddi!
A big shoutout as well to Amelie and Emmie, who have now completed the first year of their apprenticeships. They’ve been absolute stars in the salon and are already much loved by our clients.
Times have been challenging across the hair and beauty industry, with rising costs and tax pressures putting a real strain on salons nationwide. Sadly, this often leads to cuts in training opportunities, especially for apprenticeships. But not here—we’re proud to buck the trend and continue supporting the next generation of stylists and beauty professionals. Investing in fresh talent is what keeps our industry thriving!
And of course, we couldn’t finish without mentioning our fabulous day at the Sherborne Castle Country Fair Dragon Boat Race! Our team hit the water with great energy and big smiles, and we had an absolute blast.
Wishing all of you a sunny, stylish, and joy-filled summer. We can’t wait to see you soon!
– Janemarie
A note from Geoffrey & Kate
Kate and I are extremely excited about our intended move from the Court to The Grange. It would seem that news of our plans has spread throughout the entire county.
Last year we began planning upgrades to the principal house at The Grange so that it could be used more fully in conjunction with Hobbs Rehabilitation. As we spent more time thinking about the planned internal remodelling, extension and development of the 4 1/2 acre formal gardens whilst enjoying the beautiful setting and uninterrupted views we began to reflect on our nearly 10 years at the Court and how desirable it would be to have The Grange as our own home.
Chedington Court is the most beautiful historic building set in 12 acres of formal gardens overlooking its own parkland and spectacular distant views. All of our previous houses have been in a village setting and it has been my long held ambition to live at the end of a long drive across our own land.
The last wedding at the beginning of August will close a 25 year chapter on West Axnoller Farm and see the final integration of all parts of the Chedington Estate with Kate and I residing at its centre in amongst our world class equestrian yard, outstanding rehabilitation facilities and wonderfully productive pastures and grasslands.
Significant internal remodelling of the house and the construction of a large extension with orangery, study and utility rooms will commence in August.
Many of you know that I’m never happier than when running a new project and Kate and I look forward to working closely with the team of builders and contractors that have been with us over the past eight years.
The next few Newsletters will, no doubt, chronicle the progress of this development.
Our congratulations go to all of the Chedington riders that have had varying successes both domestic and internationally. Under Ellie’s direction Chedington Hazy Toulana and Castlefield Kingston have both represented Ireland in the Nations Cup. The estate continues to sponsor equestrian sport with showjumping at Chard and Eventing at Bicton.
– Kate and Geoffrey Guy
Gallery
