Hogchester Farm

About Hogchester Farm

Hogchester Farm has a deep rooted local history stretching back a thousand years. Set in an beautiful rural location within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the locality is quiet and unspoilt with views to the Dorset Jurassic Coast. The land was formerly part of the Forde Abbey Estate with the medieval centre of the farmhouse dating back to the 12th century.

Hogchester now aims to maximise the conservation potential of the site and to provide unique ways for people to enjoy, get close, and be inspired creatively by nature. The rich diversity of the landscape at Hogchester includes mature trees, hedges, fields, streams, orchards, woodland, areas of coppice, and many wildlife ponds. In spring the Bluebell Wood is a magical place to stroll. As such it is a wonderful haven for wildlife and we have started by cataloguing the flora in the pastures and the birds and butterflies. There is also a designated site of nature conservation interest (SNCI) and a re-wilding project taking place in one of the fields

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For children there is a giant trampoline in the meadow and a treasure hunt in a stream! You might bump into some of our many free ranging animals, inc rare breed soay sheep and pygmy goats. There will be a talk on the history of Hogchester wildflower meadows and meadows conservation at 2pm.