Published: 24/02/2025 By Mark Lewis
Symonds & Sampson produce an annual magazine, Country Matters, and are proud that it has won numerous awards. The 2025 edition is now available and is the largest one to date with 132 pages of articles and photographs promoting the south west and the magazine includes paintings by the renowned Dorset Artist Nicholas Hely Hutchinson.Editor Mark Lewis outlines the content of the publication, which is split into five chapters:
PROFESSIONAL AND PLANNING
In this section, we’ve curated a diverse mix of guidance, insights, and inspiration. We begin with advice on succession planning under the Agricultural Holdings Act and emphasise the importance of accurate property valuation. Moving forward, we delve into the topic of grass keep, and revisit history with two villages in our region that were requisitioned during WWII. We explore farm diversification with a real-life example of a campsite and question whether the country’s ongoing water crisis can be resolved. We feature an external article from the Farming Community Network (FCN), highlighting their vital work supporting farmers and families within the farming community. We examine whether councils are wisely allocating CIL payments, we examine the green belt and shift gears to explore green laning and trail riding. Keeping it green, we discuss solar power and the value of our hedgerows, while taking some time out to exercise and go racing. We offer practical tips for succession planning and debate whether wearing a tie has become unfashionable.
Our building surveyors share their expertise, discussing party wall and dilapidation issues, roof spread, optimising airflow in homes, and essential maintenance tasks for the summer months. Finally, we round off with a nostalgic tribute to some classic films.
AGRICULTURAL SALES
This section focuses on the sale of farms and live and deadstock, kicking off with a recap of the top ten most memorable sales of 2024. We encourage you to buy agricultural land and stress the importance of having your paperwork in order if you are selling. We also reflect on whether rural communities are becoming increasingly marginalised. Another outside article highlights a sunflower charity, and we explore activities for our four-legged friends. We comment on new inheritance rules, farm safety, and the latest happenings at Frome Market. We feature highlights from farm dispersal sales, complete with snapshots of the characters who attend these events. Additionally, we take a trip back in time to medieval England and more recent history, revisiting celebrations across the Southwest in 1945.
AGENCY
This section begins with why you should employ Symonds & Sampson as your agent followed by a debate of ‘pool or court?’ We delve into shared ownership and revisit the history of window taxes before stressing the importance of gathering all material information at the outset.
We take a tongue-in-cheek look at house sales, unusual village names, and a fascinating book about England’s largest village. Next, we feature the coats of arms of the counties we cover, the history of the iconic avenue of trees at Badbury Rings, and take a more up-to-date look at one of Poundbury’s notable architects.
We also reflect on a historic cottage industry for those working from home, visit an animal sanctuary, and celebrate the lives of two pioneering women. We showcase the range of properties we sell and examine seaside house prices.
We update you new homes and development sites, we move forward with a musical interlude, featuring one of our agents and a look back at the music of the past fifty years.
Our commercial agents share highlights of top properties leased and sold, provide a review of leases, and add some humor with comedians from Devon. We explore unusual regional customs before shifting to lettings, offering insights on the Renters Reform Act, tips for landlords, and the challenges faced by letting agents.
PROPERTY AUCTIONS
We share the statistics that establish us as the leading firm of auctioneers in the Southwest, offer guidance on what to do before an auction and explain the critical importance of special conditions. We invite you to bid by telephone, crack the auctioneer’s code, revisit some of the best lots sold, and take a step back in time to explore what was happening a century ago.
AND FINALLY…
The photographs from the summer shows are among the magazine’s most popular features, and this year we’re showcasing the young visitors who stop by our stand—along with their dogs. We highlight memorable moments from charity events, set sail on a gap year adventure on the high seas, and enjoy a competitive pub game during the winter months. The section wraps up with articles on how we support and promote younger staff, a spotlight on the famous footballer in our team, and three very happy wedding photos.
Please call into your local Symonds & Sampson office to collect a copy. Alternatively, the online version is available below: