Monthly Update - October 2025
Regularly on a Monday afternoon we have a group of pupils from Bradfield College. They come as volunteers to put their hands to a variety of tasks. The main aim is to make sure that when 25 arrive they are all returned at least in the same condition but preferably improved by their time spent at Rushall Farm. In one sense it has to be accepted that they are not, at this stage in their careers, going to be skilled users of bowsaws, loppers and shears. And their concentration levels can wane at times after 10 minutes even when set on the vital task of enriching the habitat of the rare Drab Looper Moth. Nevertheless, we try to maintain interest and a desire to be here with visits to the swallow hole and our Regionally Important Geological Site, the chickens, pressing apples for juice and doing some woodland art. We also include ‘command tasks’, when working together as a team is essential to achieve success.
After a rather uninspiring Monday last year I went to a concert given in the College Chapel; a celebration of Faure’s music. It was amazing, with some of the same pupils who couldn’t hold a pair of secateurs playing on piano, violins, brass instruments and cello, AND singing so beautifully. It moved me to tears.
This term, after an introductory week, we felled two large trees suffering from ash die back, which we planted 30 years ago. The task was to remove all the top wood, piling it neatly, ready for burning or rotting down. Issued with gloves, bowsaws and loppers away they went, girls against boys with everyone completely engaged. We had a brief interlude sheltering from torrential rain and then back on task. Finally, they had to be persuaded it was time to get back on the trailer and return to school.
This year celebrates 175 years since the founding of Bradfield College in 1850. Some years earlier the Revd Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor had renovated St Andrew’s Church under the famous architect Gilbert Scott. Initially founded as a choir school for a limited number of boys aged 8-12 it has every right today to be proud of being a leading co-educational boarding and day school for 13-18 year old. It is obvious from the pupils who come here that their experiences at the College are very positive. And so we benefit from their presence and the life they bring when they come here each week.