Welcome to Upper Stud Farm - the home of thoroughbred horses! This farm has been owned and operated by the Ryder family for many generations - as far back as the days of classic castles. The Ryders are descendants of the horse knight faction, and the young boy loves to imagine and re-enact the adventures of his ancestors whilst wearing the family heirloom armour.

Upper Stud farm comprises 4 discrete sections (2x 32x32 and 2x 16x32) which can be combined in many ways to provide rectangular, linear and L-shaped displays, all with either the farmhouse being closed or open back, for a truly customisable display. Furthermore, the entire build can be mirrored, due to the inclusion of equal quantities of both hands of any handed piece.

Behind a traditional English farmhouse façade you will find a full interior, with kitchen, dining room, sitting room, two bedrooms and a family bathroom. The home displays characteristic period features, such as exposed dark wooden beams in the ceilings with plain white plaster in between, a wood burning stove and even a traditional "afternoon tea" served at the dining table on a classic tiered cake stand! Finger sandwiches include cucumber and egg mayonnaise, and the top tier holds scones with clotted cream and jam. The jam is made from nearby wild strawberries.

The exterior boasts a multitude of elements characteristic of the charming British countryside:
- a narrow, winding lane (unsuitable for large vehicles!)
- hedge rows between the field and the road which are a sanctuary for wildlife, including birds, which feed on the brambles
- drystone wall, in Cotswold stone colour
- wooden fence with additional wire barrier at the base
- a public footpath through the farm, with signs highlighting the route and stiles in the fence and wall for ease of passage on foot, whilst preventing the wandering of farm animals into danger
- a classic English phone booth

- a water trough for cattle/livestock
- mole hills and dandelion flowers in the field
- a telegraph pole conveying a phone line to the house
- country garden flowers such as lavender, roses and clematis to encourage the pollinators
- a water trough for cattle/livestock
- mole hills and dandelion flowers in the field
- a telegraph pole conveying a phone line to the house
- country garden flowers such as lavender, roses and clematis to encourage the pollinators
- wrought iron gate at the entrance to the front garden
- beehive with honey for sale at an honesty table at the roadside in front of the farmhouse
- free-range, corn-fed chickens
- insect/bug hotel (with a vacancies sign!)

As well as breeding the very best pedigree horses, the Ryders grow carrots and apples, which horses are well known for enjoying. An orchard of espalier fruit trees is placed near the stairs of the farmhouse, alluding to the "Cockney rhyming slang" for stairs ("apples and pears")!

Interesting building techniques:
- the hedge rows are joined to the ground via pin connections into hollow studs, for a sturdy and accurate design
- the electricity grid power lines clipped in place, and pigeon able to sit securely on the line, like they often do

- the "afternoon tea" setting in the dining room
- the kitchen worktop assembly (with white ceramic sink and cast iron stove)
- retro upright vacuum cleaner
- the stiles, including the use of a 3-4-5 Pythagorean triple triangle with the 1x6 tile for a satisfying connection
- the perfect angled connection of a base element of the climbing clematis at the front of the farmhouse
- the bar into hollow stud connection for the honesty table made possible by the relatively recent bracket element

- tyre tread imprints in the field and leading onto the road, from a working tractor (not included, but the pattern is designed to fit with the current official tractor model)

Other details:
Some spare parts are included for the horses in both colours, to either be displayed bare back or accommodate the children, teenager and adult minifigures as riders, each at the correct height, and these parts store neatly away in the roof of the stables.

Although the BDP palette does not currently include grazing livestock (cows, sheep or pigs), the adjacent fields can accommodate such animals, to enhance the display from your own collection.

The perfect play and display model for those who like traditional houses, classical architecture, the countryside, farming, nature walks and horse riding.

With the individual sections built around 16x32 or 32x32 size, this should integrate well with modular city/town displays. The horse transporter van included is inspired in detail, scale, building techniques and function by recent City vehicles and can carry two horses and two minifigures.

My inspiration came from my love of the countryside and a charming farmhouse near where my parents live. This is my homage to rural Britain.

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