Sophie Scruton

Sundey Hill Farm, United Kingdom

The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, hosted on 19 March 2024 the fifth installment of our online series, Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

We were delighted to welcome Sophie Scruton, Sir Roger Scruton's widow and the dedicated mind behind Sundey Hill Farm. In her stewardship of the farm, Sophie has continued the legacy of thoughtful and responsible land management, emphasizing the values that Sir Roger passionately advocated.

In this engaging discussion with our host, Grace Olmstead, Sophie shared her experiences in managing Sundey Hill Farm, reflecting on the philosophies of land, beauty, and community. The conversation delved into how these principles are applied in practical farming and land management, contributing to a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the natural world.

This event is an extraordinary opportunity to gain insights into the continuation of Sir Roger Scruton's legacy in the realm of farming and environmental stewardship. Sophie's unique perspective offers a deeply personal yet universally relevant exploration of how we can nurture and respect the land that sustains us.

Media

About the Speakers

Sophie Scruton worked with Sir Roger Scruton from 1999 to establish Horsell’s Farm Enterprises, a firm that brought together all their interests. While Roger gave lectures around the world building a network of followers, Sophie built strong links with farmers, conservationists, and local historians. The small farms surrounding Sundey Hill Farm, the Scruton family home, were struggling in the business of turning grass into meat and milk. The solution, they felt, was to turn grass into ideas, and bring profit to the farm and the neighbourhood. Their project culminated in the Scrutopia Summer School programme where philosophy and friendship are cultivated.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.