Bouncers Farm

The Farm and Surroundings.
The Black Water Estuary consists of open water, mudflats and saltmarsh and is one of the most important habitats for wildlife in the UK. The river provides a rich harvest of fish and shellfish. The sea wall, which protects the land from the sea is topped by a footpath along most of its length, providing opportunities for walking and watching wildlife. Heybridge Basin is a good starting point to explore the estuary. Heybridge Basin is home to two Pubs, Heybridge lock is giving shelter to visiting yachts from home and abroad.

Maldon, at 5 miles of the farm, is one of the oldest recorded towns in Essex, and its links with the river remain as important today as they were to the early Saxon settlers.

The town has had a varied history and many buildings in the town represent this. The Moot Hall has been a center piece of the town almost since the town existed. Maldon port is still trading today, and the old Thames Sailing Barges are still active on the river, although their payload is now passengers rather than the more traditional cargo of yesteryear.

Wickham Bishop’s is a parish containing 3673 inhabitants. “Ham” is the Saxon word for a village. “Wick” frequently referred to a community dairy farm “Bishop’s” refers to the fact that for probably a thousand years extending up to the end of the nineteenth century the Manor of Wickham Bishops was recorded as belonging to the Bishops of London in the Domesday Survey of 1086 . Old St. Peter church was originally constructed as a private chapel for the use of the Bishops. It dates in the main from the 12th century. By the mid 19th century it was decided to replace it with a new building higher up the hill. This was built in 1850 to the designs of Ewan Christian. The font, holy water stoup and parish chest were all removed to the new church where they may still be seen. Time, literally, stands still in Wickham Bishop’s, the church clock always indicates one minute past six. The earliest tangible evidence of the parish being inhabited is a pot discovered during the First World War in Mope Wood where it had lain for over 2000 years. It can be seen in Colchester Museum .

The farm is less than a mile from the town center, where you find the nearest pub, the Chequers, with its enclosed garden, ideal to relax and watch the children enjoy themselves at its playground. Bouncers farm is a good starting point to discover this pretty part of Essex by bike or on foot, a network of footpaths and cycleroutes lead through small villages, quiet country lanes and along the banks of the Blackwater estuary. This region of Essex used to be a thriving fruit growing area, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants and apples giving it a very rural feeling.

Bouncers Farm
Bouncers farm is hidden away down a very narrow lane with high banks on either side, the trees forming a tunnel overhead with their arching branches. The farm covers 22 acres (8.9 hectares) and is made up of land sloping gently southwest towards Danbury, to the north of Langford 4 miles from Maldon. It is very quiet, the silence broken only by the sound of birdsong, of which there are many varieties. At nighttime there are the calls of owls and occasionally the bark of a fox. Bouncers farm was built in 1935 by Ann’s Grandfather, in those days, beside farm animals, the apple orchard was its main income. He grew English variety apples and other summer fruits like strawberries, gooseberries and rhubarb. Today although not commerically run, the orchards still provide an abundance of fruit in from August through to November and are particularly beautiful in May when they are in blossom. Ann’s Dad, Robbie, planted the cherry orchard now home to many bird species. Next to the orchard are the paddocks where Ann keeps the carriage horses. Ann herself is an

experienced carriage driver and has recently undertaken a pilgrimage of 1500 miles by horse and carriage from Bouncers Farm to Santiago de Compostella in North West Spain. Past the orchards and the paddocks, there is a beautiful woodland in which the other Featherdown tents are located and where a rare bread of Kune Kune pigs are being bred in their free range enclosure. The woodland has a rich variety of trees, even pine trees from Bhutan, a small lake and a stunning bluebell field and, probably more important for some, a great tree hut!
Wandering from your accommodation to the farmhouse you overlook the water meadows with River Blackwater and Danbury in the distance, this view hasn’t changed much since 1935. Beside the animals in the animal pasture, there are many chickens roaming about the land and all is supervised by Ann’s 2 Jack Russells, who love to run around with you and chasing rabbits. You can bring your own horse to the farm. There are great horseriding opportunities nearby.

Dogs Welcome
Guests are welcome to bring their well-behaved dogs – kept on leads in the areas of animals and other guests.

The Location of Feather Down Farm Tents
Two tents are located in the cherry orchard and overlook the green meadows. The other tents are not far away in an open space in the woodlands, overlooking the animal pasture. The farmland is great for children to roam around, there is a treehut, a pond, a sandpit and lots of woodland and trees, never to get bored. In front of your tent amongst the trees it is easy to unwinde and settle in to the pace of country life.

The Bouncers Farm Family
Ann runs the farm together with Robbie, Ann’s Dad. They are both keen to tell you all about the farm’s history and the wildlife and flora you can find here. Ann is famous for her cooking skills, using the breadoven she makes the most delicious farm dishes, all from local products. Next to the basics you find local micro beers and jams and seasonal fruit. As a bonus Ann knows a thing or two about fine wines, which you can find there too.

Opera in the Orchard.
On Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13 th of July 2008, Ann and

Robbie have a special event on the farm, it is called “Opera in the Orchard” this weekend there is an opera concert in the garden. Do you wish to book the tents in this special weekend, please contact our reservations office: tel: 0142-080804. If you prefer peace and quiet during your stay, you should consider to visit Bouncers Farm another period.