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

Results of the 2016 Hedgelaying & Ploughing Match

The Melplash Agricultural Society’s Annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing match promotes and celebrates local agriculture and farming skills.   This year the contest took place at Higher Langdon Farm, Beaminster DT8 3NA by kind permission of Mrs Tessa McKenzie-Green.   Standing high above Beaminster it really was a sight to see.  40 ploughman and 40 hedgelayers of all ages and abilities took part. […] Continue Reading

Dorset at National Hedgelaying Championships 2015

The 2015 National Hedgelaying Championship took place on 24th October and was hosted by Bristol Water at Chew Valley Lakes, Bristol – the European Green Capital for 2015. The Dorset class, now in its 3rd year, attracted 11 entrants and is going from strength to strength. This year the West Dorset Hedge layers who fought to get Dorset Style hedging recognised […] Continue Reading

2015 Hedge Laying & Ploughing Match Results

The annual Melplash Agricultural Society’s Hedge Laying and Ploughing Match took place at Bilshay Farm, Dottery in glorious sunshine with the iconic Colmers Hill and spectacular West Dorset countryside as a backdrop.   With a record number of competitors, 47 ploughman and 50 hedge layers, the many spectators who turned out to watch these traditional rural skills enjoyed a fabulous day’s […] Continue Reading

36th National Hedge Laying Championships

A team of Dorset Hedgelayers travelled to Hough on the Hill in Lincolnshire for the 36th National Hedgelaying Championships.  After a seven hour minibus ride, (thankfully we really do not know what traffic is in Dorset) a good meal, a few pints and a good night’s sleep, everyone was up bright and early for the 8:30am draw to determine who […] Continue Reading

ploughing

2014 Hedgelaying & Ploughing Match

ANNUAL PLOUGHING AND HEDGELAYING COMPETITION – Sunday 28 September 2014 As the leaves begin to fall and the evenings darken, farms across West Dorset have gathered in their harvest on what has been a bumper year for crops and grass growth. The farming calendar has, however, one more event which marks the end of the Summer and beginning of Autumn. […] Continue Reading

History of the Annual Hedgelaying & Ploughing match

THE HISTORY Whilst the exact details may be uncertain, the origins of the Society go back to the day that Melplash Village Church was consecrated on 20th October 1846. The Church had been built by Mr James Bandinell of Melplash Court, a well known benefactor, and a new parish was carved out of the parish of Netherbury. On the same […] Continue Reading