Saturday 23 May brought the Batcheller Monkhouse team back to Heathfield Show 2026 – one of the highlights of the rural calendar and a day that never fails to bring together the best of our local farming and landowning community.
A Morning of Insight and Networking
We started the day with our Rural Business Breakfast, welcoming farmers, landowners and representatives of the Young Farmers organisation for a cooked breakfast provided by Precision Catering. With DEFRA’s revised Sustainable Farming Incentive, updated environmental grant programmes and the Renters’ Rights Act all reshaping the rural landscape, this year’s gathering felt particularly timely.
Henri Brocklebank, Director of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, and Katy Bourne OBE, Police and Crime Commissioner, both shared valuable perspectives on the future of Sussex for farmers and rural businesses. Henri’s contribution drew on her experience in landscape-scale conservation and nature recovery – exploring how environmental organisations can work in genuine partnership with landowners and land managers rather than in opposition to them.
Leo Hickish, Chairman and Company Director of Batcheller Monkhouse, said: “It was a privilege to host our breakfast event once more, where Henri, Katy and Young Farmers enlightened us about the growth of Sussex for farmers and rural businesses.
An Afternoon to Connect
As the show got into full swing, our stand became a busy hub for conversations – from inheritance tax planning and agri-environment schemes to telecoms leases and lettings advice. We also hosted an informal drinks and canapés gathering later in the afternoon, giving guests a chance to relax, catch up and network.
Supporting Local Agriculture
Batcheller Monkhouse was proud to support Heathfield Show 2026 through a range of sponsorships, including the Sussex Cattle Class, livestock animal numbers, hedgerow advertising boards and an inside front cover advertisement in the show programme. It is a long-standing partnership that reflects our deep roots in the rural communities of Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
First Prize at Heathfield Show 2026.
We are delighted to have been awarded First Prize for Best Non-Agricultural Trade Stand once again. It is a real testament to the hard work, creativity and enthusiasm of the whole team on the day.
Thank You
A huge thank you to everyone who came and found us. The conversations, the energy and the warmth of the day are what make Heathfield Show so special to us every year. If anything discussed on the day has prompted a question, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Next stop – The South of England Show!