Discover Farming spring newsletter

It has been a busy start to the year for the Discover Farming team – click here to read our spring newsletter. Discover Farming is the education programme run and managed by the Melplash Agricultural Society with the aim of promoting and improving agriculture and horticulture in West Dorset for the public benefit. The Melplash Agricultural Society believes passionately that […] Continue Reading

2024 Flock Competition – entries now open!

Entries for our annual flock competition are now open and judging will take place on Wednesday 26th June 2024.  Our judges this year are Mr Richard Parry-Jones from Stoke sub Hamdon (large flocks) and Mr James Stephens from Crediton (small & medium flocks).  The competition is open to large, medium and small flocks who keep sheep for breeding whether commercial, […] Continue Reading

Scholarship recipient – William Banham

We are very pleased to hear from William Banham who received a Scholarship in 2023 and is attending Bicton College in Devon studying Agriculture Level 2. “I am 16 years old, and live at home in West Dorset where I attended the Sir John Colfox Academy.  I’ve always loved farming, although my parents are not from the farming industry. My […] Continue Reading

New President for the Melplash Agricultural Society

The Melplash Agricultural Society is pleased to announce that their 2024 President will be Martin Cox.  Martin is the Managing Director, with his wife Vanessa, of West Dorset Leisure Holidays.  He was born and bred in Bridport and has lived here all his life.  His father, with his brother, ran the local coal business in the centre of the town […] Continue Reading

Winners announced for our Discover Farming 500 Words competition

Local primary schools were invited to take part in Discover Farming’s very first writing competition.  There were four categories; Upper Key Stage 2,  Lower Key Stage 2, Key Stage 1 and Reception.  Pupils were asked to produce an original piece of non-fiction writing that was connected to Food and Farming and focused on one of following topics: Why does farming […] Continue Reading

Melplash Agricultural Society receives prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service

The Melplash Agricultural Society is very excited to announce that they have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.   The  Award recognises the work of voluntary groups that do things differently, consistently and outstandingly well.  The Melplash Agricultural Society […] Continue Reading

2024 Garden & Allotment Competition

Our annual Garden and Allotment competition will be judged on 18th and 19th June 2024.  As well as prizes for the best small, medium and large gardens and the best allotment, there will be a special award for Best Environmental and Wildlife Practice and new for 2024, a special award for the most unusual garden theme or feature. Entry forms […] Continue Reading

Society Chairmen win at National Hedgelaying Championships

Over a hundred competitors travelled from all over the country and overseas,  including the Melplash Agricultural Society’s Ploughing Chairman, Tim Frampton and the Society’s Hedgelaying Chairman, Russell Woodham to compete in the 2023 National Hedgelaying Championship which took place on Saturday 28 October at Stanford Hall, Lutterworth, Leicestershire by kind permission of Mr Nick Fothergill. Each year the National Championship […] Continue Reading

Writing competition for local Primary Schools

Discover Farming, the Melplash Agricultural Society’s education programme, is holding a writing competition for children in Primary Schools within a 12 miles radius of Melplash Village church kindly sponsored by Chesters Harcourt. Each entry is to be an original piece of non-fiction writing that is connected to Food and Farming.  It is to focus on one of these food and […] Continue Reading

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