Our ‘Meet the Team’ series is the perfect way to get to know our team here at Hollow Trees Farm a little better! We’re kicking off with Sally & Robert, the owners here at Hollow Trees and who have been integral in leading the team and building Hollow Trees into what it is today!
Name: Sally & Robert Bendall
Job role: Joint owners /Managing Directors
Length of service: The farm has been in Robert’s family for three generations; we moved back to the farm in 1986
If you could describe Hollow Trees Farm in three words, what would they be?
Great Day Out
Our Family Home
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is very different!
As a routine, at 8am Robert will liaise with Will the Farm Manager and Phil in the Plant Centre about the day then it’s planning ahead, this might be planning for a day ahead but equally a month or even a year, we are thinking about Christmas as soon as it is finished.
Sally starts at about 7am, checks emails and shifts for the day etc and then it can be anything from hosting a school group to building the scenes for an upcoming event. In between its liaising with the various leaders and managers and again to forward plan on events, marketing and much more!
Favourite season on the farm and why?
Robert: September, Autumn colours and to see that the Harvest is in .
Sally: If I had to pick a favourite, it would most probably be Spring. Seeing new life after a cold, dark winter and the new shoots of life. I love seeing the farming year begin again and getting ready for lots of children to visit.
If you could order anything from the Farm Café, what would be your perfect meal or go-to treat?
Robert: A roast with our own home-produced meat and plenty of vegetables…and a Yorkshire pudding
Sally: A lovely fresh dressed salad, chicken Caesar or ( as the chefs will tell you ) my go to on a stressful day is a toasted cheese sandwich and a good old fashioned fruit cake!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Robert: To able to fly
Sally: To be able to create time (and the energy to use it!)
What are your hobbies and interests?
Robert: Gardening and anything horticultural or tree related, visiting gardens and arboretums.
Sally: Reading and hosting the family get togethers! In a lot of my spare time I get involved with external Farm Education projects and organisations ( I am the Suffolk Agricultural Association Education Trustee and a Trustee of the Chadacre Trust, an agricultural grant awarding trust amongst other things)