Welcome to our new chairman for 2025/26

The Melplash Agricultural Society welcomes Simon Wakely as our new Chairman of the Society for 2025/26.  Simon has been the Vice Chairman for the last two years, working alongside the 2023/4 Chairman, Philip Hardwill. Simon Wakely is a Director at A J Wakely & Sons Funeral Directors, a fourth generation family business that was established in 1897 in Broadwindsor by […] Continue Reading

New Society President for 2025

The Melplash Agricultural Society is pleased to announce that their 2025 President will be John Bugler. John Bugler is the Managing Director of Francis Buglers Ltd (affectionately known locally as Buglers) a family agricultural engineering business that was established in 1851 by Robert Bugler, a wheelwright in Beaminster.   John (the 5th generation) joined the family business some 50 years ago […] Continue Reading

Farming Words Writing Competition for Schools 2024

We are very pleased to announce that, following the success of last year’s writing competition, we shall be running the competition again this year.  All local primary schools and home tutor groups within a 12-mile radius of Melplash Village Church in Dorset are invited to take part.   Each entry is to be an original piece of non-fiction writing that […] Continue Reading

2024 Hedging & Ploughing Results

The annual  Melplash Agricultural Society Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match was held on a wonderful site at Wyke Farm, Chedington, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Appleby. The site was in a field which had self-sown a ley of clover, following the harvesting of the wheat.  The clover covering to the field kept all the tractor wheels and the wellington […] Continue Reading

2024 Farm & Crop competition results

The Melplash Agricultural Society’s Farms and Crops competition recognises the energy, commitment and dedication of our local farmers as they grow and produce the food we eat and look after our beautiful countryside. The competition is open to all sizes of farms and small holdings within a 12-mile radius of Melplash Village Church.  Each farm entered is visited by a […] Continue Reading

Society receives prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Melplash Agricultural Society received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service,  a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal,  from the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell at a recent pre-Melplash Show meeting. The award was presented to Society Chairman, Philip Hardwill, who said, “It was an honour to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service on behalf […] Continue Reading

2024 Flock Competition Results

The annual Melplash Agricultural Society’s flock competition rewards farmers in the area for their shepherding and flock management skills.   It is open to sheep farmers who live within 12 miles of Melplash village church who keep sheep for breeding whether commercial, pedigree or rare breeds.  There are classes for small, medium and large flocks. The Small and medium flock categories […] Continue Reading

2024 Garden & Allotment competition results

Eleven gardens and three allotments entered this year’s Melplash Agricultural Society’s Gardens & Allotment Competition.  The competition was judged over two days by Ms Alison Waterman and Mr Richard Middleton (2023 overall and medium garden winners) and Mrs Gillian Livingston (2023 large Garden Winner).  They  were accompanied by the Melplash Agricultural Society President Mr Martin Cox and his wife Vanessa, […] Continue Reading

Celebrating Farming and Nature at LEAF Open Farm Sunday

On Sunday 9th June 2024, the Bowditch family, supported by the Marshwood Vale Farmers Cluster and the Melplash Agricultural Society’s Discover Farming Team , opened their gates free to the public for Open Farm Sunday. The event, held at Francis Bugler, West Dorset Grain Co-op and Knowle Farm on the outskirts of Beaminster was a resounding success, attracting over 1,200 […] Continue Reading