Our Story
A unique family-run, award-winning outdoor
activity centre in Bruton, Somerset
Mill on the Brue was started in 1982 by Tony & Tricia Rawlingson Plant. Both had a background in the outdoors, training and development.
Having been in partnership for two years with Gants Mill down the river they bought Trendle Farm, which had been sprayed and manicured, trees felled and hillsides burned to create a barren nine hole golf course on 20 acres. Tony & Tricia immediately instigated a ‘no chemical spray’ policy, and set about replanting trees and reinstating hedgerows while at the same time building up the business. In 1990 the partnership ended and Tony & Tricia with the help of staff moved the whole Centre to Trendle Farm.
Sadly in December 2009 Tony died at the age of 68.
It has always been very much in the family, with all three children working and contributing throughout the years including Ruben (grand child number 6) working as a Group Leader in the summer of 2024.
Matt, Flora, Polly and Islay
In January 2004 Matt came back to Mill on the Brue to start as a director of the company. Having served in the Royal Tank Regiment and subsequently spent a few years in industry before being a volunteer staff member on an expedition to Chilean wilderness of Patagonia it was the right time of his life to return to Bruton. In the following year of autumn 2005 Matt married Flora who had been a Group Leader in 1995. They had their wedding reception in the very newly built Longhouse. Flora is a teacher and qualified Forest Schools teacher at an all girls prep school in Dorset called Hanford which is where both their girls Polly and Islay attended.
Developing Skill Sets
We have always believed in developing the individual and the team – using the outdoors in an appropriate manner with children and adults has produced some startling and lasting results. Confidence building, achievement, self worth, understanding of self and others is positive testament to the power of the outdoors.
By creating a beautiful environment within the whole of the 25 acres it brings out the best in our staff and customers acting as a nurturing, stable environment where people feel confident to push their physical and mental boundaries.
Very sadly Tony died on 23rd December 2009 but his spirit lives on in the creation of the centre and all the developments which have taken place in the last 40+ years.
The Tony Trust
Following Tony’s death the family set up a charitable trust named after him.
Grants from The Tony Trust enable young people to enjoy the life changing experience of an outdoor adventure course, who would not otherwise have the financial means to do so. The Tony Trust remains completely independent of Mill on the Brue and has already supported over twenty individuals on courses throughout the UK.
To find out more about The Tony Trust, or donate and help change the lives of young people, please follow this link.