Designer Stella McCartney has just splashed out more than £1.2 million on a picturesque, three-storey Georgian mansion in Worcestershire called The Larches. The nine-bedroom home is part of a 300-acre estate which includes a working farm. And like her father, Sir Paul McCartney, Stella hopes to put its arable land under organic production.
Macca’s sprawling estate in East Sussex includes perhaps the largest all-organic farm in the country. Following the principles of his late wife Linda – a noted animal rights activist – Paul established strict guidelines for the operation which produces “pure” wool and vegetables. Stella, an outspoken supporter of People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA), shares her parents’ staunch views and has told staff at The Larches of her plans for the land.
The designer, who refuses to use leather in her collections, also aims to ban fox hunting on the property, much to the dismay of local hunting enthusiasts. “In the past we have ridden through the farm, going from A to B, and the previous owners didn’t object,” reports joint master of the hunt, John Firkins. “Stella McCartney will undoubtedly ban us from hunting on her land. Now we will have to pussyfoot along the bridle paths at the bottom edge of the farm.”
Animal rights activists hope their new neighbour shakes things up a bit. “I think a number of people opposed to hunting are hoping Stella will rally everyone together to stop it here,” local historian Peter Averis told the Mail On Sunday.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
