Educational Visits

We are now taking bookings for free visits for 2010 - for any group of any age - school, playgroup, nursery, after school club, WI, garden clubs etc. Please ring us if you are interested. Booking is essential and details can be found on the left at the top - the "Free Visits" link.

  Where we are and what we do!                    

The Bridge Mill is situated on the river Tamar in the small village of Bridgerule near Holsworthy in North Devon.

The mill site is listed in the Domesday survey of 1086, while the present building dates from around 1875. This building and its surviving machinery are being sympathetically restored to partial working order, with a new waterwheel now turning. It is open to the public on   National Mills Day and at other times during the year; Open Farm Sunday for LEAF (Linking Education And Farming) and Bridgerule Open Gardens to raise funds for the Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

The smallholding of 16 acres is managed along organic lines with positive management for wildlife. It has a range of traditional farm buildings; tame livestock including sheep, pigs, hens and ducks; 600 yards of frontage to the river Tamar; three very different ponds; an area of Culm grassland; organic gardens growing fruit, vegetables, dyeplants and a range of cottage garden plants; and circular walks offering lovely views around the points of interest. The Bridge Mill has been designated as a County Wildlife Site as well as a key Devon dragonfly site.

Free visits are offered all year to schools and other youth and adult groups under the Countryside Stewardship Educational Access scheme, administered by Natural England. Visits are planned to suit the individual needs of the group. A Farm Information Pack is available free of charge to schools, and contains important information for teachers including site details, an ideas bank with related worksheets, and health and safety considerations. Booking is essential.

The owners, Alan and Rosie Beat, moved here from Bedfordshire in 1987 with their two young children as a deliberate change of lifestyle.  Previously Alan was a Chartered Engineer while Rosie taught at a small village primary school.  They now try to live in a sustainable and self-reliant way, producing much of their own food without chemical inputs, writing regularly for “Country Smallholding” magazine and presenting talks and courses on a range of craft and smallholding subjects.

Rosie runs a small plant nursery selling cottage garden and dye plants and also runs natural dye workshops for the Yarner Trust and for schools throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Alan published his first book “A start in smallholding” in 2004. They have been hosting school visits to the Bridge Mill since 1988.

HOW TO FIND THE BRIDGE MILL

The Bridge Mill is in Bridgerule, Devon, a small village on the River Tamar between Holsworthy and Bude. The post code is EX22 7EL.

From Holsworthy take the road to Bude (A 3072).  You will pass Rydon Park, then the Golf Club on the left. After the golf club there are a couple of bends in the road before you reach a left turn signed to Bridgerule. Turn left here and drive for three miles. As you enter the village of Bridgerule, you will pass the church on your right. Drive down the hill (take care as the road is very narrow). The mill is on the right at the bottom of the hill opposite “Short and Abbott” agricultural engineers.

From Bude Take the A3072 to Holsworthy. Turn right at Red Post (B3254) Take the second left turn to Bridgerule village. Drive past The Bridge Inn, over the river bridge then immediately left by the chapel. The Bridge Mill is the second property on your left.        

  June 2010

The Bridge Mill opened on 6th June as part of Bridgerule Open Gardens. Seven gardens opened and a total of £1935 was raised for the Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Open Farm Sunday was on 13th June .

Farm walks, activities for children, teas etc.! The date for 2011 is 12th June.

More frog news:

On 23rd September 2009, the new washroom facilities were opened by Mrs Penny Simpson and her reception class from Stratton Primary School, our 50th Educational Access visit of the year.

    Read the press release here.

The new washroom comprises of three toilet cubicles, three hand wash basins with hot and cold water, and a shower. The facilities are also suitable for visitors with disabilities including those in wheelchairs.

Alan and Rosie were highly commended in the Future of Farming Awards 2008, South West region for "Exemplary management of wildlife, landscape and access"  Read the details here