What an incredible year we had in 2023. The turn of the new year has seen us reflecting on how far we’ve come. And hopefully we can expect more of the same in 2024. 2023 started with a landmark moment. In January, we released two beavers into an enclosure on the...

We hosted our first Christmas Fair at Ewhurst Park last Thursday, with plenty of fun activities and attractions to spark off the festive season. We set up a heated marquee in our market garden. Hambledon Vineyard sold its wines and Hampshire Deli displayed a range...

This month, we teamed up with our neighbours Little Tots Montessori Nursery for their Halloween celebrations. In fact, it was the culmination of a collaborative effort that saw children from The Priory School planting pumpkin seeds in our market garden in April. In...

I’ve mentioned before that when I first walked around Ewhurst Park it felt strange that it was so quiet – it lacked the sound of birds, insects and animals – which was very different to my childhood in Malaysia, where nature is noisy! Happily, though, the sound of...

Earlier this month we visited Winterbourne Downs Nature Reserve, near Salisbury, to look at their chalk grassland, as well as the butterfly banks and flower meadows they have created. It was of particular interest to us because we are looking to establish our own...

I was thrilled to be in the Isle of Wight last month for the launch of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Rewilding Network. It’s wonderful to be part of this network of landowners who are committed to nature recovery – the aim is to share ideas while tapping into...

This month I heard a cuckoo for the first time. It was amazing for two reasons. First, our ranger Andy tells me it’s the first time in years that cuckoos have been heard at Ewhurst Park – so that is really special. And secondly, for me, it was the first time I had...

In an earlier blog, I wrote about a schools’ competition to find names for the two beavers we released into an enclosure at Ewhurst Park.  The competition was run by our friends at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and the names chosen were Chompy and...

Congratulations to King Charles on his coronation! His Royal Highness is someone I have always admired for his commitment to environmental issues. King Charles has been campaigning on the environment since before I was born. Back in the 1960s, he was ahead of the...

I love foraging. There’s something about foraging that embodies the spirit of what we are trying to do at Ewhurst Park, which is about appreciating and reconnecting with nature. I often refer to Ewhurst Park as an ‘edible landscape’. This is because, when we slow...

This year will see a lot of activity in the market garden at Ewhurst Park. Building on our previous test beds we will be implementing environmentally friendly approaches to cultivation, such as ‘no dig’, permaculture and green composting. The overarching philosophy...

Wednesday 22 March was a big day for us at Ewhurst Park. We welcomed some very important guests, including His Excellency Ambassador Dato’ Zakri Jaafar, the Malaysian High Commissioner to London, and his team, together with 60 primary school children, who were the...

Insect pollinators of all types are in decline in the UK. Remember how, years ago, when driving through the countryside, insects and flies would splat onto the car windscreen? This rarely happens now – it’s an unmistakable sign that something drastic has happened...

We have been checking in on our newest residents at Ewhurst Park – the pair of beavers we released into a specially-prepared seven-acre enclosure last month. Happily, we can report that Chompy and Hazel – as our beavers were named in a schools competition run with...

The next big thing we’ll be doing at Ewhurst is wetland creation. To get an idea of what to expect, we paid a visit to Greywell Moors, a protected nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust here in Hampshire. Greywell Moors is only a 15-minute drive from Ewhurst...

We are celebrating a significant milestone at Ewhurst Park. This January, two beavers were released into the park – making this the first time beavers have been seen in Hampshire in 400 years. This is significant for a couple of reasons. First, the introduction of...

Earlier this month we invited our local community – neighbours, villagers and landowners – to hear about the biodiversity project here at Ewhurst. There were presentations and discussions and – excitingly – I was able to share that this winter we are reintroducing...

The year has flown - I can’t believe it is Christmas time again at Ewhurst Park. This last year has brought so many wonderful new challenges and experiences for me and my team. From struggling with droughts to learning how to identify foraged mushrooms, chasing...

Geography Awareness Week is approaching: a time to consider the relationship between people and their environment. To me, geography means thinking of the world as a whole. I have had the amazing opportunity to live and work all over the globe, experiencing many...

Piglets and Proud Mamas at Ewhurst ParkSpringtime is known as the prime time for baby animals, but this year at least our piglets waited until the early Autumn to grace our farm. I love pigs and piglets. They are intelligent, curious and brimming with...

As the leaves change and the weather becomes cooler, I have been struck by how quickly the time is flying by at Ewhurst Park. We are now firmly in the autumn season, which has brought bursts of colour to the trees, honking geese to the lake, and what appears on the...

As autumn sets in, the leaves begin to fall and the days get shorter, I naturally begin to think about community and belonging. For some, autumn means hibernation and retreating into the warm glow of home and family. But for me, autumn is a time to reconnect with...

Last week was International Youth Day - the official UN day to celebrate the impact that young people are having on the world around us and their crucial role in building our future. Last December, we hosted a group of young environmentalists from across the UK at...

I hope that everyone reading has been staying healthy and hydrated during this heatwave. Apart from the current heatwave, the summer has, so far, been a wonderful one for me at Ewhurst. It has been great to see our projects moving forward and the new wildflowers...

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the first ever Wilderfest, hosted by my friend Derek Gow. The event was conceptualised by Derek as an opportunity to bring together the rewilding and conservation community, in a social as well as educational...

Wild food foraging is defined as the search for wild, edible food and resources. It dates back to the beginnings of civilisation, and there are still small communities around the world that rely on foraged food as their only source of nourishment. I am fascinated...

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the official opening of the new orchard at Priory Primary School. This was a fantastic event, celebrating the new orchard and the opportunity it brings for pupils to experience and interacts with nature. We were joined by...

The pandemic offered a moment for many of us to reflect on our own and our family’s mental and physical health, including myself. For people stuck indoors for weeks, in cities without easy access to nature and open spaces, an emotional strain was...

One of my favourite things about Ewhurst Park is the opportunity I have to interact with like-minded individuals who care deeply about the environment. From bonding over our shared interest in conservation to discussing business plans with farm owners, great...

I have always loved holidays. From New Year’s celebrations to harvest festivals, holidays are a time for families and communities to come together to take stock of all the wonderful things in our lives.This holiday-inspired sense of community and cheer...

Whenever I visit a grocer, I am impressed by the organic food selection. What once was a niche trend, with items only offered in health or specialty shops, has infiltrated the current market. With the rise of organic products, it is important to...

Last week and the week prior, the Conservative Party Conference dominated the national news cycle. This past Wednesday, all eyes were on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, both as the leader of the party and the nation, as he delivered his keynote speech....

Damian Carrington writes about regenerative farmers making the most of planned government subsidies for carbon-cutting measures like hedgerow restoration, changing livestock feeds or agroforestry (‘Why not start now?’ On the track to regenerative...

As lockdowns continue to ease across the UK, more and more of us are slowly getting back into our regular pre-covid routine. Saying goodbye to days spent in pyjamas and working from home, tasks that were once mundane are exciting. As we adjust to our...

Climate change is one of the most complex challenges facing the world today. While governments and corporations are adopting green policies, renewable energy sources, and sustainable transport, there is much more to be done. After all, altering our diet...

In this column, I’ve kept readers up to date on our journey at Ewhurst Park, as we transform the estate and explore its possibilities for bio-diversity.as well as developing a few local community group initiatives, I have been very focused on inviting...

With the start of a new month comes the chance of a new beginning. As we change our calendars, we get a fresh start, an opportunity to leave the past and focus on our future. As I anticipate what this new beginning brings, I find myself smiling at the...

When thinking about ways we can help the environment, I am sure that very few of us think of reducing our food waste. However, this is one of the main ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on an individual level. Moreover, it is a great...

During lockdown last year, I read an interesting article published by Vogue on sustainable fashion. As I scrolled through this article, I was thrilled that it focused on the role of regenerative agriculture in the fashion industry.At just the beginning...

Channel 4’s weekly Great Garden Revolution programme has shown us the myriad ways those with some form of outside space can transform their backyards into “glorious green spaces”. But as Tamara Kelly of Ideal Home argues, why not go a step further and...

“My Sustainable Life”, a new series by the Independent, looks at how famous figures take steps in their daily lives to make a more sustainable world. Drawing from the worlds of politics, fashion, music and beyond, the figures are interviewed about how...

Today is Earth Day, an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection across the world. This year’s theme is Restore Our Earth, something which I definitely support given my own activities in regenerative agriculture. Restoring the...

Today is the 255th birthday of Robert B. Thomas, the founder of the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The Almanac is a publication I recently discovered, but am fascinated by. A trusty tool and reference guide for farmers, it is the oldest continuously published...

This Mother’s Day comes at the end of the first week back at school for my kids, and I’m sure for many of your kids too. It’s a day of celebration in many ways, celebrating the gifts of motherhood, celebrating a gradual end to the pandemic restrictions,...

If you’re anything like me, on 4th January, when we received the news that the kids weren’t going back to school after all, you would be forgiven for finding yourself in a slight panic. How could we be back here again!? How am I going to make sure they...

Christmas in London is one of my favourite times of year. When I moved here to start a family, it was around this time of year that, even as the temperatures plummeted, I truly fell in love with the place. People’s spirits lift and the city discovers a...

I have already used my blog to share my interest in land for agriculture – in the soil and what it means for crops and livestock – and how important this is to me on my Ewhurst journey. But as I build my dream for Ewhurst, there’s still one important...

Sustainable farming, as you all know by now, is a new beginning for me. It’s a journey of exploration and education, as I meet brilliant farmers and ecologists who are seeking answers to the fundamental questions about our relationship with nature and food...

I recently took a huge step towards realising my sustainable farming dreams. For some years now, I have been planning to uproot my little family from its London home and move to the country. I had in my mind a farm where my children can grow up among...

If you close your eyes and try to imagine an English country estate, the chances are you’re imagining something like Neston Park. Which is not surprising, as it’s often used as a location for tv and films! Over 200 years old, featuring a beautiful house...

Not long ago, a friend of mine had a had a baby. It’s a strange time to give birth, in the middle of the pandemic with all the restrictions, so I wanted to do everything I can to support my friend. Of course I was excited for her and her family, and all...

‘Mum, for Christmas this year I want a cow and a chicken’ – oh wow, here we go, we’re really moving to the English countryside. When my daughter told me she wanted a cow and a chicken for Christmas, and that they’d be called Poppy and Rosie, I knew that...

Recently I wrote about my visit to Kingsclere Estates to meet Tim May, one of Britain’s leading practitioners of regenerative agriculture. You can read that piece in Sublime Magazine, but I wanted to give you even more of a flavour here of my visit and...

The early days of the pandemic feel like such a long time ago that it’s easy to forget the fears of food shortages that gripped many in the uk. As panicked shoppers rushed to supermarkets to stock up on essentials, empty shelves were a common sight around the...

Welcome to my new regular column for sublime magazine, where I hope to discuss sustainable food, lifestyle and family. A few years ago I left behind a life in the entertainment industry spotlight in Asia to start a family in the UK. Now I invite you to share my...

When I held my daughter in my arms for the first time, the whole world melted away. The maternity ward, the hospital, London, my career, everything I’d experienced in life up to that point – it all faded into the background. From then on, I knew it was...

Hi there, and welcome to my website!   My name is Mandy and I am currently building a business and exploring food systems, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.   After I moved to the UK in 2015 to start my family, my passion for nutrition and education...

When thinking about ways we can help the environment, I am sure that very few of us think of reducing our food waste. However, this is one of the main ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on an individual level. Moreover, it is a great...

What an incredible year we had in 2023. The turn of the new year has seen us reflecting on how far we’ve come. And hopefully we can expect more of the same in 2024. 2023 started with a landmark moment. In January, we released two beavers into an enclosure on the...

We hosted our first Christmas Fair at Ewhurst Park last Thursday, with plenty of fun activities and attractions to spark off the festive season. We set up a heated marquee in our market garden. Hambledon Vineyard sold its wines and Hampshire Deli displayed a range...

This month, we teamed up with our neighbours Little Tots Montessori Nursery for their Halloween celebrations. In fact, it was the culmination of a collaborative effort that saw children from The Priory School planting pumpkin seeds in our market garden in April. In...

I’ve mentioned before that when I first walked around Ewhurst Park it felt strange that it was so quiet – it lacked the sound of birds, insects and animals – which was very different to my childhood in Malaysia, where nature is noisy! Happily, though, the sound of...

Earlier this month we visited Winterbourne Downs Nature Reserve, near Salisbury, to look at their chalk grassland, as well as the butterfly banks and flower meadows they have created. It was of particular interest to us because we are looking to establish our own...

I was thrilled to be in the Isle of Wight last month for the launch of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Rewilding Network. It’s wonderful to be part of this network of landowners who are committed to nature recovery – the aim is to share ideas while tapping into...

This month I heard a cuckoo for the first time. It was amazing for two reasons. First, our ranger Andy tells me it’s the first time in years that cuckoos have been heard at Ewhurst Park – so that is really special. And secondly, for me, it was the first time I had...

In an earlier blog, I wrote about a schools’ competition to find names for the two beavers we released into an enclosure at Ewhurst Park.  The competition was run by our friends at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and the names chosen were Chompy and...

Congratulations to King Charles on his coronation! His Royal Highness is someone I have always admired for his commitment to environmental issues. King Charles has been campaigning on the environment since before I was born. Back in the 1960s, he was ahead of the...

I love foraging. There’s something about foraging that embodies the spirit of what we are trying to do at Ewhurst Park, which is about appreciating and reconnecting with nature. I often refer to Ewhurst Park as an ‘edible landscape’. This is because, when we slow...

This year will see a lot of activity in the market garden at Ewhurst Park. Building on our previous test beds we will be implementing environmentally friendly approaches to cultivation, such as ‘no dig’, permaculture and green composting. The overarching philosophy...

Wednesday 22 March was a big day for us at Ewhurst Park. We welcomed some very important guests, including His Excellency Ambassador Dato’ Zakri Jaafar, the Malaysian High Commissioner to London, and his team, together with 60 primary school children, who were the...

Insect pollinators of all types are in decline in the UK. Remember how, years ago, when driving through the countryside, insects and flies would splat onto the car windscreen? This rarely happens now – it’s an unmistakable sign that something drastic has happened...

We have been checking in on our newest residents at Ewhurst Park – the pair of beavers we released into a specially-prepared seven-acre enclosure last month. Happily, we can report that Chompy and Hazel – as our beavers were named in a schools competition run with...

The next big thing we’ll be doing at Ewhurst is wetland creation. To get an idea of what to expect, we paid a visit to Greywell Moors, a protected nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust here in Hampshire. Greywell Moors is only a 15-minute drive from Ewhurst...

We are celebrating a significant milestone at Ewhurst Park. This January, two beavers were released into the park – making this the first time beavers have been seen in Hampshire in 400 years. This is significant for a couple of reasons. First, the introduction of...

Earlier this month we invited our local community – neighbours, villagers and landowners – to hear about the biodiversity project here at Ewhurst. There were presentations and discussions and – excitingly – I was able to share that this winter we are reintroducing...

The year has flown - I can’t believe it is Christmas time again at Ewhurst Park. This last year has brought so many wonderful new challenges and experiences for me and my team. From struggling with droughts to learning how to identify foraged mushrooms, chasing...

Geography Awareness Week is approaching: a time to consider the relationship between people and their environment. To me, geography means thinking of the world as a whole. I have had the amazing opportunity to live and work all over the globe, experiencing many...

Piglets and Proud Mamas at Ewhurst ParkSpringtime is known as the prime time for baby animals, but this year at least our piglets waited until the early Autumn to grace our farm. I love pigs and piglets. They are intelligent, curious and brimming with...

As the leaves change and the weather becomes cooler, I have been struck by how quickly the time is flying by at Ewhurst Park. We are now firmly in the autumn season, which has brought bursts of colour to the trees, honking geese to the lake, and what appears on the...

As autumn sets in, the leaves begin to fall and the days get shorter, I naturally begin to think about community and belonging. For some, autumn means hibernation and retreating into the warm glow of home and family. But for me, autumn is a time to reconnect with...

Last week was International Youth Day - the official UN day to celebrate the impact that young people are having on the world around us and their crucial role in building our future. Last December, we hosted a group of young environmentalists from across the UK at...

I hope that everyone reading has been staying healthy and hydrated during this heatwave. Apart from the current heatwave, the summer has, so far, been a wonderful one for me at Ewhurst. It has been great to see our projects moving forward and the new wildflowers...

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the first ever Wilderfest, hosted by my friend Derek Gow. The event was conceptualised by Derek as an opportunity to bring together the rewilding and conservation community, in a social as well as educational...

Wild food foraging is defined as the search for wild, edible food and resources. It dates back to the beginnings of civilisation, and there are still small communities around the world that rely on foraged food as their only source of nourishment. I am fascinated...

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the official opening of the new orchard at Priory Primary School. This was a fantastic event, celebrating the new orchard and the opportunity it brings for pupils to experience and interacts with nature. We were joined by...

The pandemic offered a moment for many of us to reflect on our own and our family’s mental and physical health, including myself. For people stuck indoors for weeks, in cities without easy access to nature and open spaces, an emotional strain was...

One of my favourite things about Ewhurst Park is the opportunity I have to interact with like-minded individuals who care deeply about the environment. From bonding over our shared interest in conservation to discussing business plans with farm owners, great...

I have always loved holidays. From New Year’s celebrations to harvest festivals, holidays are a time for families and communities to come together to take stock of all the wonderful things in our lives.This holiday-inspired sense of community and cheer...

Whenever I visit a grocer, I am impressed by the organic food selection. What once was a niche trend, with items only offered in health or specialty shops, has infiltrated the current market. With the rise of organic products, it is important to...

Last week and the week prior, the Conservative Party Conference dominated the national news cycle. This past Wednesday, all eyes were on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, both as the leader of the party and the nation, as he delivered his keynote speech....

Damian Carrington writes about regenerative farmers making the most of planned government subsidies for carbon-cutting measures like hedgerow restoration, changing livestock feeds or agroforestry (‘Why not start now?’ On the track to regenerative...

As lockdowns continue to ease across the UK, more and more of us are slowly getting back into our regular pre-covid routine. Saying goodbye to days spent in pyjamas and working from home, tasks that were once mundane are exciting. As we adjust to our...

Climate change is one of the most complex challenges facing the world today. While governments and corporations are adopting green policies, renewable energy sources, and sustainable transport, there is much more to be done. After all, altering our diet...

In this column, I’ve kept readers up to date on our journey at Ewhurst Park, as we transform the estate and explore its possibilities for bio-diversity.as well as developing a few local community group initiatives, I have been very focused on inviting...

With the start of a new month comes the chance of a new beginning. As we change our calendars, we get a fresh start, an opportunity to leave the past and focus on our future. As I anticipate what this new beginning brings, I find myself smiling at the...

When thinking about ways we can help the environment, I am sure that very few of us think of reducing our food waste. However, this is one of the main ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on an individual level. Moreover, it is a great...

During lockdown last year, I read an interesting article published by Vogue on sustainable fashion. As I scrolled through this article, I was thrilled that it focused on the role of regenerative agriculture in the fashion industry.At just the beginning...

Channel 4’s weekly Great Garden Revolution programme has shown us the myriad ways those with some form of outside space can transform their backyards into “glorious green spaces”. But as Tamara Kelly of Ideal Home argues, why not go a step further and...

“My Sustainable Life”, a new series by the Independent, looks at how famous figures take steps in their daily lives to make a more sustainable world. Drawing from the worlds of politics, fashion, music and beyond, the figures are interviewed about how...

Today is Earth Day, an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection across the world. This year’s theme is Restore Our Earth, something which I definitely support given my own activities in regenerative agriculture. Restoring the...

Today is the 255th birthday of Robert B. Thomas, the founder of the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The Almanac is a publication I recently discovered, but am fascinated by. A trusty tool and reference guide for farmers, it is the oldest continuously published...

This Mother’s Day comes at the end of the first week back at school for my kids, and I’m sure for many of your kids too. It’s a day of celebration in many ways, celebrating the gifts of motherhood, celebrating a gradual end to the pandemic restrictions,...

If you’re anything like me, on 4th January, when we received the news that the kids weren’t going back to school after all, you would be forgiven for finding yourself in a slight panic. How could we be back here again!? How am I going to make sure they...

Christmas in London is one of my favourite times of year. When I moved here to start a family, it was around this time of year that, even as the temperatures plummeted, I truly fell in love with the place. People’s spirits lift and the city discovers a...

I have already used my blog to share my interest in land for agriculture – in the soil and what it means for crops and livestock – and how important this is to me on my Ewhurst journey. But as I build my dream for Ewhurst, there’s still one important...

Sustainable farming, as you all know by now, is a new beginning for me. It’s a journey of exploration and education, as I meet brilliant farmers and ecologists who are seeking answers to the fundamental questions about our relationship with nature and food...

I recently took a huge step towards realising my sustainable farming dreams. For some years now, I have been planning to uproot my little family from its London home and move to the country. I had in my mind a farm where my children can grow up among...

If you close your eyes and try to imagine an English country estate, the chances are you’re imagining something like Neston Park. Which is not surprising, as it’s often used as a location for tv and films! Over 200 years old, featuring a beautiful house...

Not long ago, a friend of mine had a had a baby. It’s a strange time to give birth, in the middle of the pandemic with all the restrictions, so I wanted to do everything I can to support my friend. Of course I was excited for her and her family, and all...

‘Mum, for Christmas this year I want a cow and a chicken’ – oh wow, here we go, we’re really moving to the English countryside. When my daughter told me she wanted a cow and a chicken for Christmas, and that they’d be called Poppy and Rosie, I knew that...

Recently I wrote about my visit to Kingsclere Estates to meet Tim May, one of Britain’s leading practitioners of regenerative agriculture. You can read that piece in Sublime Magazine, but I wanted to give you even more of a flavour here of my visit and...

The early days of the pandemic feel like such a long time ago that it’s easy to forget the fears of food shortages that gripped many in the uk. As panicked shoppers rushed to supermarkets to stock up on essentials, empty shelves were a common sight around the...

Welcome to my new regular column for sublime magazine, where I hope to discuss sustainable food, lifestyle and family. A few years ago I left behind a life in the entertainment industry spotlight in Asia to start a family in the UK. Now I invite you to share my...

When I held my daughter in my arms for the first time, the whole world melted away. The maternity ward, the hospital, London, my career, everything I’d experienced in life up to that point – it all faded into the background. From then on, I knew it was...

Hi there, and welcome to my website!   My name is Mandy and I am currently building a business and exploring food systems, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.   After I moved to the UK in 2015 to start my family, my passion for nutrition and education...

When thinking about ways we can help the environment, I am sure that very few of us think of reducing our food waste. However, this is one of the main ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on an individual level. Moreover, it is a great...