BBC Countryfile visits

Cholsey Farm Riding.

Transmission due 18th April 2021

An episode of the popular BBC TV series Countryfile was recently filmed in the Hambleden Valley. The team visited Cholsey Farm Riding and we discussed with the presenter Sean Fletcher a number of topics including safe off road riding for horse riders and access to the countryside in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The team went on to use the farm as a venue for another segment that looked at the therapeutic value for disabled or disadvantaged children and the effect that being on a horse in the open countryside has on them. A city riding school - Park Lane Stables - brings an Autistic 14 year old boy to ride in the countryside and Sean interviewed him about how it has changed his life.

3 more Barn Owls born

Delighted to report that we have another three Barn Owl Chicks in one of our two boxes. The local chaps (licensed professionals) from the Barn Owl Trust came to weigh, measure and tag them this week.

A few weeks ago, we thought there were just two, but it turned out there were three in total in this new brood

They are about a month old and we hope they will fledge in another 4-6 weeks. That's the second brood this year, bringing our total to 6 chicks in 2019.

Charity ride

A dozen or so riders taking part in a ride raising funds for Friends of O.S.C.A.R, a charity set up to support children with brain and spinal tumours and their families throughout the country.

The ride was organised by the Naphill Riding Club and started around our stubble fields.

Harvest Completed

We completed 2019 harvest this week with the Triticale (a hybrid of Wheat and Rye) and grown because it is less palatable to the ever-present deer population. Our contractors - Kensham Farms, based in Cadmore End - have done a fabulous job of both improving the yield and the soil, which you may have noticed from the recent manure-spreading.

Supporting Thames Valley Air Ambulance

We are delighted to be working with Thames Valley Air Ambulance (based in Stokenchurch) and what3words on their new campaign #3WORDSSAVELIVES which was filmed here at Cholsey Farm.

Star of the show was of course Percy, our Connemara pony who was completely unfazed by his 'injured' rider, camera crew, drone, flashing lights etc.

If you're a cyclist, walker or rider, be prepared. Download the What3Words app (It's free) and learn how to use it. It's simple & it works (even without mobile data).