Annual Estate Visit

Each June, Trustees and staff visit one of the Charity’s estates. It is an opportunity for them to meet tenants and residents, talk with farmers, see new developments on their farms and learn more about current practices and challenges across the estate. This year saw them in Marsh Gibbon,the heart of the Charity’s estate in Buckinghamshire and land that has been in the Charity’s care since it was founded in 1437. Today, the Charity owns several farms in the village, two pubs and the village shop, a number of residential properties, allotments, various smaller parcels of land and ten almshouses.

The visit began on the farms, with Trustees and staff learning more about current diversification strategies and the important role they play in growing the local economy, this was followed by insight into how robotic milking has transformed herd health and management, before meeting some of the rare breeds that have made the village their home. The day concluded at the almshouses, where residents provided some delicious refreshments. Our thanks to all the tenant farmers and village residents for making us so welcome and for giving us a taste of their day-to-day work, its associated challenges and its moments of joy.  

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