Recap of the 2025 Season at Lydeard Farm Bush Camp & Racehorse Highlights

The 2025 season has flown by and we have welcomed many groups to Lydeard Farm bush camp & lodges to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the beautiful Quantock Hills, where we get to call it our home!

Schools, family celebrations, corporate residentials, stag parties and holiday camps we have welcomed many.

Leave No Trace

We asked our guests to think about the environmental impact they make during their stay by adopting the ‘leave no trace’ movement to help ensure rubbish is managed responsibly by means of recycling and not littering. 

Activities Galore 

Several of the groups that visited enjoyed taking part in activities provided by Steve Bedford from birthday groups, school residential, holiday camps and stag parties activities from team building to archery, air rifle shooting and den building. 

Mid Summer we welcomed the Somerset branch of the BH&HPA (British Holiday Homes and Parks Association) to a social night and to show them facilities we have to offer. 

We also welcomed Duke of Edinburgh groups on one of the hottest days of the year as a base overnight for their training walks.

Our biggest achievement this year  was being awarded the LoTc learning outside the classroom badge as a residential site only. This involved meeting all of their required standards across multiple areas of the operation and an on site assessment. Giving peace of mind to group organisers that all the necessary health and safety and operation procedures are in place.

Camping 

Some groups chose to camp and have the whole place to themselves with our exclusive camping offer. Perfect to enjoy the tranquil surroundings all to them themselves. We also had a youth holiday group who walked from one campsite to the next over a number of days and enjoyed time together and a yummy meal in the bush camp shelter.

The Racehorses 

The racehorses this year weren’t quite as successful as 2024 but we welcomed 4 new young additions to the team. Two of these Killwater and Catchintsavo both ran in the prestigious Punchestown Festival in April and both were placed before having a Summer break and starting their Winter campaign. Call Me Legend won on his debut in a national hunt flat race at Newton Abbot. 

Our broad mare had a colt foal who is currently spending the Winter with us on the farm.

Gingerbread had the season off recovering from pulled muscles in his hind legs but is due to run shortly. Alongside Freddie Fleetwood who had the season off following back surgery. Bruce Gobbler is recuperating from stomach ulcers and will recover on the farm this Winter.  

Lydeard Girl had a promising bumper race under rules and will resume her Winter shortly. 

Caracara is currently learning to jump following a couple of bumper point to point runs last season.  

Getmetothemoon ran very consistently winning at Plumpton in February and recently again at Stratford. 

From The Heart has spent his first year of retirement and has been enjoying his retraining of racehorse program where we attended a camp, lots of lessons and have competed in dressage and show jumping including the south west ROR dressage championships. Next year the plan is to do some low level eventing. 

Longshanks retired from racing and has gone to a new home to go team chasing something we think he will enjoy very much. 

The below picture is of the National Hunt Boys enjoying their Summer on the farm.

Thank You!

A big thank you to all our groups and guests we have met at the bush camp this year. We have received some lovely feedback that you can read below.

Our own family travels took us over Europe this Summer. Our daughter is inspired to go to Olympics one day and she has got this ambition underway by qualifying and earning a spot in the Under 11 Girls GB team for Laser Run and Triathle in December in South Africa.

Summer holidays

2026 

The diary is getting booked for 2026. Live availability and pricing can be seen here. We open from mid March - early November. 

Please contact us for a bespoke quote. 

We offer exclusive use with only one group/ party here at a time. Minimum 8 guests, maximum 56 guests across 5 lodges. Extra capacity available with camping.  Or come and camp and have the whole site and use of social spaces to yourself