The Ruralist | 10 highlights from 2025
It has been a year of discovery for Schöffel Country. In this highlights round-up, we revisit 10 standout moments from the past year on the Schöffel Country blog, celebrating rural life, the people who live it, and the stories that make the countryside such a special place.
Over the past year, our travels have taken us far and wide – into landscapes, livelihoods and conversations that capture the essence of country living. From the outset, Schöffel Country has been rooted in the countryside and the people who shape it, and 2025 has been no exception. Through our films, features and photography, we’ve continued to seek out the stories that reflect the character, craft and commitment found in rural Britain.
Choosing just a handful of stand-out moments is no easy task. But as the year draws to a close, we’ve selected 10 highlights from 2025 that capture the breadth of what we’ve been up to. For those who haven’t yet followed our journey on the Schöffel Country blog, this is a snapshot of the year just gone – and a hint at what lies ahead.
We spent the day in a lambing shed
In spring, we visited fifth-generation farmer and friend of the brand Rebecca Wilson in North Yorkshire to capture a slice of what is, for her, a very busy time of the year. Documenting a typical day on the farm, from bedding up and feeding to checking on young lambs, we were lucky enough to be there while one of the ewes gave birth to twins, capturing the whole event on camera.
We learned about equine and wildlife sculpture
Hampshire-based artist Holly Hickmore specialises in sculpture and draws a great deal of inspiration from the British countryside and the animals that can be found in it. We visited Holly at her new studio to learn all about her journey as a sculptor, the process her pieces follow from idea to finished bronze, and her largest piece to date that stands four-and-a-half metres tall and required the used of pulleys and forklifts!
We visited champion jockey Harry Skelton
As Cheltenham Festival drew closer, we joined friend of the brand Harry Skelton at Dan Skelton’s Racing yard to capture his daily routine and share a behind-the-scenes look into how he and his brother organise the day, decide which horses get a run out and when, and what that actually looks like.
From the grass gallops to practice over fences, and from the school to the stables, this is a rare insight into a racing yard – and we met several of the well-known horses Harry has since ridden to victory.
We enjoyed an afternoon with top eventer Tom McEwen
Tom McEwen is one of Britain’s most decorated event riders. A double Olympian and former eventing world number one, Tom kindly spared a few hours to sit down and talk about his journey as a youngster at Pony Club to the highest level of the sport. Between spells in the saddle, Tom reflected on his first big event in the UK, pondered his favourite discipline and how dressage, showjumping and cross country differ, and shared some sterling advice for young riders.
We set Tati Reed and Blue Tit the Land Rover a British picnic challenge
It was the height of summer when we joined Tati Reed, Blue Tit the Land Rover 90, and Copper the cocker spaniel for an exciting challenge in the Devonshire countryside.
The aim? To source fresh, local picnic ingredients from four producers within 15 miles of the farm we used as a base, where she would feed her friend Ollie and the rest of the gang who had been busy on the farm since dawn.
Collecting raspberries from Oak Tree Gardens PYO fruit farm, artisan bread from Hylsten Bakery, charcuterie from Rare & Pasture, and a few bottles of English wine from the Calancombe Estate vineyard, Tati pulled together a ‘best of British’ picnic while reflecting on her near-obsession with Land Rovers and hoping that her beloved Blue Tit would start every time, not break down, and get us safely from A to B to C to D...
Schöffel Country had its biggest presence yet at The Game Fair
A true highlight of the year, The Game Fair was once again held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. With a dedicated area on the Bredon Hill Country stand by the main arena, the Schöffel Country team had the opportunity to meet so many customers and like minds, hosting drinks events and catching up with other valued retailers along the way.
Rugby legend Tom Youngs invited us for a day on the combine
Since retiring from professional rugby, Tom Youngs – a household name for Leicester Tigers who enjoyed a successful international career, too – has been back on the family farm in Norfolk. A valued friend of the brand, we joined Tom towards the end of harvest 2025 to discuss the highs and lows of farming, what he loves about harvest, and everything in between – all while bringing in some more of the year’s wheat.
You can watch the short videos from our day with Tom on our Instagram channel.
Some of the team had a great day’s simulated game shooting
Ever tried simulated game shooting? With summer coming to an end, some of the Schöffel Country team headed to Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire where they enjoyed four drives, taking on clay targets that simulated the real thing, while finding plenty of time between for some downtime in the stunning parkland of one of the UK’s most beautiful country houses.
You can watch the video from our day simulated game shooting here.
We learned about all things pumpkins at Doddington Hall
How well do you know your pumpkin and squash varieties? Ever wondered what to do with the pumpkin innards or the seeds after carving, how to grow your own pumpkins, or even how to fashion a seasonal pumpkin recipe? This autumn, we visited Doddington Hall & Gardens near Lincoln, where kitchen gardener Ellie Marrian and head chef at The Grain Store Jordan Cody talked us through some simple but valuable tips to make the most out of your pumpkins. We learned how to grow pumpkins, how to make a pumpkin candle, and how to use the flesh from pumpkins for soup.
You can watch the video from our day at Doddington Hall here.
We crowned the winners of the very first Schöffel Countryside Awards
In January, we launched the inaugural Schöffel Countryside Awards in partnership with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, and we were blown away by the number and calibre of entries.
Our esteemed judges had their work cut out as they visited shortlisted finalists across the six categories through the summer months. Meanwhile, we were busy filming a number of the finalists separately with a view to telling their stories.
These are the true unsung heroes of the countryside, and you’ll find numerous blogs and videos on The Ruralist and the Schöffel Country YouTube channel that celebrate their contribution to the British countryside.
You can watch the latest episode of ‘The unsung heroes of the countryside’ here.