2023 Hedging & Ploughing results

The Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match took place at Urless Farm, on land off A356, near Corscombe,  by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Oliver Hemsley. “It was a fantastic day.  All classes were well supported, and the competition was keen with a good number taking part for the first time.   It was so good to see […] Continue Reading

2022 Hedging & Ploughing results

The Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match took place on a sixty-acres plot of land at Higher Langdon, near Beaminster by kind permission of Mrs Tessa MacKenzie-Green and Mr Richard Peck, Sentry Farms.   It has been 175 years since the first Melplash Agricultural Society’s ploughing match took place in Melplash, Beaminster.  To remind us all how land was [...] Continue Reading

2021 Hedgelaying and Ploughing match results

Image by Paul Coggins Photography This year’s Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual Hedgelaying & Ploughing Match took place in almost perfect weather -  not only good for the competitors but also for the many spectators who came along to watch this traditional rural spectacle.  The Match took place at Hingsdon, near Netherbury, by kind permission of James Bowditch, Elizabeth and Louis [...] Continue Reading

Hedgelaying Taster Day by Russell Woodham

After a very hot Saturday preparing  and clearing out the hedge at Wyke Farm near Chedington, we were ready for this years Taster Day organised by the Melplash Agricultural Society.  A very muggy Sunday morning welcomed the participants from as far afield as Stonehenge.  Due to expecting very hot weather we briefed participants and very quickly got into our work [...] Continue Reading

2019 Ploughing Match results

Despite a previous night of horrendous gales and heavy rain, the Melplash Agricultural Society Ploughing match still went ahead with only two ploughmen not turning up on the day proving that even in wet weather ploughmen are still prepared and proud to demonstrate their skills! The Society’s Ploughing Chairman, Tim Frampton thanked Mr Darren Cooper and Mr Kevin Groves for […] Continue Reading

2019 Hedgelaying Results

The Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual Hedgelaying Match took place along Camesworth Lane in Melplash, by kind permission or Mr John Warren, where there was some brilliant and consistent hazel hedges for all the 40 competitors to lay over the allocated 5 1/2 hrs.  With stiff competition coming from as far afield as the Isle of Wight, Warminster, Gloucestershire, Devon and […] Continue Reading

2018 Hedgelaying and Ploughing match results

The 171st Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual hedge laying and ploughing match took place on land near Corscombe with spectacular views over the West Dorset countryside, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Oliver Hemsley of Urless Farm.  Over 70 competitors including farmers, contractors, young farmers, vintage tractor and rural craft enthusiasts put their skills to the test in the hope […] Continue Reading

2017 Hedgelaying Results

Thank you to Honor Bank who wrote this report on the  Melplash Agricultural Society’s Hedgelaying Contest.  Photos by Tim Russ. Nestled in the valley with far-reaching views over to Golden Cap, The National Trust’s Shedbush Farm, Chideock was this year’s picturesque venue for the Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual hedgelaying match.  For the first time in 18 years the hedging and ploughing competitions […] Continue Reading

2017 Ploughing Match results

This year’s annual ploughing match took place at Butt Lane, North Chideock by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Howard Coates of Chideock Manor.  Tim Frampton, Hedging and Ploughing chairman for the Society commented ‘All classes were well supported, and it was excellent to see a number of  new ploughmen competing.   The competition was fierce and the standard very high […] Continue Reading

Scarecrow Competition

At our annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing match we held a scarecrow competition for children to take part in.  We once again saw a good number of entries and some really fabulous scarecrows!  The Scarecrow competition was just one of the activities organised by the Society’s Discover Farming team to get youngsters involved with and learning about farming and agriculture.  Other activities […] Continue Reading