Feather Down Farm Days (Manor Farm)

As the farm that introduced the UK to the Feather Down experience, Manor has hosted many a feature and fashion shoot. However, our farm still remains an oasis just an hour from London.

The layout of the farm means it’s as suited to groups as to families or couples coming on their own and in 2011 our two Feather Down with Frills tents were a sell-out success for the extra treat of the hot tub and outdoor shower set up outside them.

Our guests also rave about the farm buggy, aboard which we conduct the Farm Tour and check the animals every day – several times during lambing season in April, which is a real highlight of the year.

Back at the farm, our guests love having barbecues under the stars, for which we provide the meat – our own marinated butterflied leg of lamb being a favourite. We also offer a daily delivery of fresh bread, croissants and your favourite paper deposited in your personal Feather Down locker in the Farm Larder.

The farm and surroundings

We are Anna and Will Brock, and we live at Manor with our children Daisy and Bertie, as well as with Will’s parents Thomas and Elizabeth, Alfie our nosy llama, and Sweep the dog. Will is the fourth generation of Brocks to have farmed here – the family having been here for over 130 years.

We grow a variety of crops and keep a large flock of sheep on 650 acres in accordance with the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. All our lambs are finished slowly on grass or turnips, with meat sold through our own butchers Brocks Farm Shop on Alton High Street, as well as in our food hampers. Our bacon is also local and free range, and our sausages are homemade. We keep in close contact with many excellent local food producers, ensuring that our Farm Larder is well stocked with everything you will need to make a meal, as well as some lovely ciders and beers, and ice creams to treat the children.

The tents are in the old farm orchard, under trees or backed into hedgerows and are perfectly spaced out, each having its own privacy while also being well placed for groups. Some face into the orchard towards the lamb paddock, while others have magnificent views over Alton and the rolling countryside beyond. Each has its own campfire for cooking hearty meals in the stew pot or toasting marshmallows, and there are plenty of places for foraging wood.

The pigs and chickens also live here, while Alfie the llama keeps an interested eye on everybody. Children can experience true freedom to roam safely in the paddocks, while the adults can enjoy the resulting peace!

All this is perhaps why we have so many repeat bookers.

Will and Anna Brock