Rougham Estate in the heart of Suffolk

Applications are now open for Rougham Estate Arts and Crafts 2026, held in Blackthorpe Barn near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

We are looking for art and craft of the highest standard, especially contemporary design. You must design and make all the work yourself and be available to be at your stall all weekend.

The event is held over 5 weekends from 14th November to 13th December.

We love to welcome new makers to the medieval thatched Barn, as well as seeing old friends again from around the country.

The first tranche of stalls will be allocated by the selection committee, usually in March.

From textiles to glasswork, ceramics, woodwork, jewellery, metalwork, art, sculpture and more, submit an application to join the talented craftspeople this coming Christmas.

Please share this post with makers who would be interested in joining us. All the information can be found from our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!

#artsandcraft #artisanmarket #handmade #craftsmanship #britishcraft artsandcraftsmovement artisanmade eastanglianartists …

One of the things people often notice at Rougham is our network of hedges, stretching for nearly 30 miles.

While many hedgerows were removed by estates and farms in the 1960s and 70s, Rougham Estate largely resisted this, which is why our landscape still feels so rich and enclosed today. We also continue to plant new hedges across the estate and along field boundaries.

Caring for our hedges is essential work. They need regular management, carefully timed to avoid the bird nesting season.

Over the coming months, you may notice one or two hedges looking quite different. This is because they are being coppiced, a traditional practice where a hedge is cut back close to the ground.

It can look dramatic at first, but coppicing helps us carry out vital ditch clearance work and, in the longer term, actually benefits the hedge. Strong regrowth creates a thicker base, providing better shelter and habitats for wildlife. All work is carried out in winter, ready for healthy growth in spring.

Three years on, the hedge will be fuller, stronger and healthier than before as you can see in these pictures.

So if you notice our hedges seemingly disappear for a short time, they will be back bigger and better than before!

#roughamestate #hedgerows #coppicing #landmanagement …

The winter months see the popular return of sheep to the farm here at Rougham Estate. A mix of breeding ewes and last year’s lambs, they play such an important role in our move towards more regenerative farming across the Estate.

They are here to feed off the cover crops we planted back in August.

We direct-drilled a diverse cover crop mixture (basically a mixture of superfood plants for the soil) into the previous crop’s stubble. The focus was on the sandier, lighter soil at the northern end of the Estate which is prone to nutrient loss and erosion.

The crops include fodder radish, forage rape and vetch which now provide a valuable winter soil cover, helping to protect these lighter soils from any erosion and also create a natural food source for the flock.

Each plant brings its own valuable benefits to the soil structure and biological activity in soil profile. Fodder radish, for example, sends a deep taproot down into the soil, improving structure and helping to break up compaction while encouraging biological activity below the surface. As the sheep graze, they also return valuable nutrients and organic matter back into the soil, supporting healthier land for future crops.

It’s a simple but powerful way of working with nature, keeping the land healthy and productive for years to come.

#roughamestate #regenerativefarming #sheepfarming #covercrops #soilhealth sustainablefarming britishfarming farmingwithnature …