The Lees Court Estate has been described as the finest in Kent. The Estate has been in the Sondes family for the past 700 years and became the centre of The Countess Sondes’ life on the death of her husband, Henry George Herbert, The Fifth Earl Sondes in 1996.

The Estate during the early 1900's was 85,000 acres. Today the Estate is 4,500 acres with a core of 2,663 acres around the villages of Sheldwich and Badlesmere.

The Estate includes three principal traditional let farms and about 550 acres of woodland. There is also a large in-hand farm. There are about 30 houses on the Estate, occupied by current and retired employees and residential tenants as well as over 100 other buildings. The remaining acreage comprises of the Swale Estuary and the Faversham and Oare Creeks.

The Estate is presently involved in four major areas of work aiming to build on its core work, ensure the continued prosperity of Lees Court and enhance its quality of life:

View across the
Selling Valley

Dairy cattle in the
Selling Valley

• The research, development, growing and marketing of innovative Non-Food Crops
• Seeds, the commercial business of the farm diversification enterprise
• Lees Court Estate Project, a joint conservation study which includes a indepth questionnaire
• Working with the United Nations to develop a Global Farming Alliance

In 2008, the Estate was Highly Commended in the Most Beautiful Farm Eastern Region organised by Farm Business Magazine

VISIT THE ESTATE

The Estate hosts tours for educational and promotional purposes for those interested in non-food crops, conservation and farming. For further information, contact Elizabeth Roberts on 01227 731331 or email: office@leescourtestate.co.uk.