The Trust's Estates in Gloucestershire

The Hatherop Estate
3,850 acres

The Hatherop Estate, which immediately borders the northern boundary of the Fairford estate, was acquired by the Trustees in 2002 from the Bazley family who had owned the Estate for over 130 years.

The estate lies between Quenington and Eastleach and extends to about 3,850 acres, comprising four let farms and numerous cottages in the villages of Hatherop, Eastleach and Quenington as well as woodland and some small commercial enterprises. The estate is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the River Leach running through the estate in one of the most attractive parts of Gloucestershire. Much of the estate is farmed organically with arable and stock enterprises.

Following the death of Sir Thomas Bazley in 1996, his children were very keen to retain the community of the estate and avoid breaking it up.

They said at the time: “One of the main factors in our decision to sell the estate to the Ernest Cook Trust is our wish to preserve the estate for future generations. We feel that selling to the Ernest Cook Trust is the best way to maintain its special character, as well as retaining the unspoilt nature of the villages of Eastleach and Hatherop, which our father valued so much”.

This very much echoes Ernest Cook’s wishes that the management of all the estates should be in accordance with the practice of the best-managed landed estates of this country and his desire to preserve the estates for future generations, whilst at the same time managing them in accordance with sound modern practices.

Ploughing match attracts thousands

The Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins and Burford Ploughing Society held their annual Ploughing Match in September 2009 at Macaroni Farm in Eastleach, on the Trust’s Hatherop estate.

Thousands flocked to the event for a fantastic family day out, celebrating farming and ploughing through the years. Events included horse ploughing, horse logger, dog agility, hedge laying, a tractor and steam parade and trade stands.

The British Horse Loggers Charitable Trust also took the opportunity to thank ECT for its support. The Trust, which promotes the skills of forestry work with horses, received an ECT grant last year to part fund an apprenticeship. Mary Mawle, one of the Trust’s farm tenants, entered the grain competition with a sample of her organic oats, and came first in that class.