As we start a new year we have been reflecting over 2023 and some of the changes at Home Farm.
January started with the usual decorating and sprucing up of the house for the year ahead but we were also busy behind the scenes and spring saw the launch of our new website. With lots more information and the new online enquiry form it is now easier for guests to get in touch. One of the improvements is an extensive area page with lot of resource for planning what to do on your stay. It also now includes an accessibility page giving guests much more information on our accessibility suite so they know straight away if it will meet their needs.
As in previous years it has been great to welcome so many people through the doors of Home Farm. Some have been several times before and some for the first time. We have loved being able to welcome new guests into the accessibility suite and be able to share our lovely house with them and the comments we have had have made it worthwhile. Phil who stayed with us this year said:
"From the minute you pull up in the car you know this is somewhere special, particularly for me as I am a wheelchair user and there are few places like this available to me" (Full review on our Trustpilot site.)
In May we welcomed former owners of Home Farm who were visiting from Canada and they were thrilled to see the Maple tree they planted still thriving in the garden and coincidently we also welcomed the previous owner of Home Farm in June. It was lovely to gain a greater idea of the history of our fabulous house and to help them relive some memories. Memories are what Home Farm is all about, we are thrilled to have welcomed so many fantastic families throughout 2023 and to help them make their own family holiday memories.
June also saw our purchase of a beautiful piece of artwork by the local artist Michael Atkin. A lino print of our very own Home Farm that he created some years ago and that we are thrilled now has a permanent place in within the house itself.
Our 2023 summer competition was a huge success again with most of the children, and indeed some of the adults, visiting during the summer holidays painting a pebble that they found on the beach. The winner of an amazon voucher was 4 year old Robyn, her multi coloured stone received more likes and shares on our social media platforms. We run the competition every year but this year saw lots of entries and had lots of great feedback from our guests.
Autumn has brought a busy time in the garden. 2023 saw the retirement of Geoff who has looked after the Home Farm garden for over 10 years. We wish him a very happy retirement and are really grateful for how well he has looked after things in that time. He has passed the baton to William who has been cutting back some of the older shrubs. We look forward to working with William in 2024.
We have also had to work with the new fire regulations that came into place in October. Taking advice from a fire officer the internal doors have been upgraded and with the help of a specialist joiner we have been able to adapt the existing doors so there is no loss of the aesthetic charm of the building.
Here's to 2024!!
