Mills Nurseries
A family farming and nursery business established in 1947
Our Story
Way back when…
In 1947 Emily Mills, a young widow with no farming experience, moved from North London with her 15 year-old son to a small-holding in Owermoigne.
Her son, Jim was good at art and interested in farming and horticulture. He’d had an allotment during the war and had kept some chickens when eggs were rationed.
Emily bought a milking cow, then a few more to form a small herd, and they began selling the milk.
She bought a tractor and Jim had huge success with vegetable and flower growing. They kept pigs, a goat, chickens and geese, and Jim ran the farm, collected the milk and delivered eggs.
From livestock to crops…
In the 1970s, they focused more on the market garden side of the business, growing beautiful fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants which they sold from a little shop next to the house, and weekly at Dorchester and Yeovil markets. Jim won several gold awards for his flowers, particularly dahlias. They opened the meadow as a rustic camp site.
Emily and Jim lived and worked together until she died in 1982 and he died in 2020.
A new chapter…
Emily’s grand-daughter Catherine and her partner, Duncan took on The Farm in January 2022. In all their visits to stay there over the years, they never would have guessed this beautiful plot of land would one day be theirs.
They are keen for others to come and enjoy the land; to keep it as true to its roots as possible – and to open it up to people who appreciate its very rustic charm.
The Farm hosted its first wedding in June 2023 – and we’d love to welcome you for yours, or for any other event you’d like us to host in our meadow.
