We have been at Wookey Farm now for five and a half years and are fast out growing the mobile home. Ali and Edward are growing and so is their stuff!

We feel the time has come to apply for a house, as the process from applying to having a roof over our heads could easily take another couple of years.

Our application was registered into Mendip’s system on Wed 16th March and should be decided within 8 weeks (This is just for outline planning permission to see if we can have a house. No drawings/plans submitted at this stage) Planning Reference – 2016/0459/OTS

If you would like to write a letter of support, that would be fantastic and much appreciated. Deadline – 28th April 2016. Please send direct to:
Miss Lynsey Bradshaw, Planning Department, Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT

You can see the full application on the Mendip Planning Portal but here’s a summary:
– We’ve been here for 5 ½ years, building up our dairy goat farm
– We process all milk on site, making a range of cheese, bottled milk, cream, yoghurt
– Have made a successful, profitable business from the dairy goats which is supplemented by income from campsite and meat
– Currently employ 6 locals who work part time helping with goats, processing, markets and general building and maintenance
– Benefit the local economy through campers going to local pubs and café and through providing jobs for local people
– Benefit the village by getting more people into the countryside, finding out about farming and cuddling baby goats!
– Open the farm for ‘Open Farm Sunday’ and to school visits, including very successful Christmas Experience
Thanks,
Ian and Sarah

We’ve had a busy February with the first batch of goats kidding. An attentive mum licking her new born kid. A heap of kids keeping warm under a heat lamp on that hideously wild and windy day last Monday. And 3 kids feeding from our multi-feeder. It can take a couple of goes to get the hang of it, but these 3 have sussed it out.

This year we are hosting a truly memorable crib service at Wookey Farm on Tuesday 22nd December at 4pm (please arrive by 3.45). The journey begins as the sun is setting. A story-teller will set the scene for your journey to Bethlehem and will guide you along the winding road. You’ll meet various characters along the way and sing some well known carols, finishing in the stable with some goats, sheep, a donkey and some other important members of the Christmas story. The crib service will be followed by some mulled cider and mince pies around a cosy fire.                                                                 Everyone is welcome -welly boots, a torch and warm clothes essential!

Fame at last……! Wookey Farm is part of the Frome Food Assembly which has just been featured on BBC1’s Countryfile, 15th November 2015. Ellie came to the assembly a couple of weeks ago filming and my (sarah) little interview was there right at the end of the programme. Look out for food assemblies near you – they’re like an online farmers market.

We’ve been busy in the last few weeks with lambing and the first batch of kidding. Lots of twins and triplets so the ‘nursery’ is full of life. Here’s a picture of Ali holding Tiny Timmy. Plenty more due so if you’re coming camping at Easter you might get to see some live births, or at least help with some bottle-feeding.

Been a fantastic summer – lots of sunshine so a really busy summer-holiday season. Winding down now now so anyone looking for an extra quiet break, get in touch. We’ve put in new recycling bins on each pitch – hopefully this will make things even easier to recycle (and less sorting for Ian).
Been doing some trials on goats milk ice-cream and some lovely thick yoghurt. The first batches of hard cheese are ready for tasting – so far so good, hopefully be on sale soon.

A very new born kid just learning to stand. You can see a video on our facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/WookeyFarm

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/apr/04/top-20-holidays-somerset-devon-cornwall?CMP=twt_gu

Check this out!!! Must be getting something right.

Looking forward to another busy year on the farm. The first lambs have been born – triplets, all doing well. First batch of goat kids due in March and more lambs due in April. We’ll be putting up some new buildings – we would have liked to have got started already but the rain has put a bit of a damper on things!

Cheese going really well so we’re going to be branching out into hard cheese and also halloumi – perfect for barbecues. Goat kid meat has also been really popular so we’ll make sure we’re always stocked up. Look forward to seeing you in 2014.