farmhouse from orchard

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

Folly farm - a very special place

Folly Farm, part of the Sutton Court Estate, was purchased by the Trust in 1987 with the assistance of an anonymous benefactor. Over the years since then visitors never fail to comment on the magical qualities of the buildings and their tranquil setting.

The land on which it stands was managed as a deer park in the middle ages by the St Loe family. The farm was originally laid out in the early 18th Century as a visionary ‘ferme ornee’ or ornamental farm by the influential Sir Henry Strachey of Sutton Court. The 250 acre farm was last farmed by the Stevens family until 1986 and is now a designated Local Nature Reserve, notable for its ancient woodlands and wildflower meadows.

Restoration work starts
The Trust’s ambitious plans to restore Folly Farm to create an environmental study centre have involved a great deal of hard work, tenacity and time to secure major funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners. However, in the last two years the start of work on site has been repeatedly frustrated by planning and highway challenges from just one local objector. Now however we are at long free of obstacles and construction work began in October.

A sensitive touch
The main contractor is Ken Biggs Construction of High Littleton near Bath who was selected following formal tender. Not only was Ken Biggs able to demonstrate an impressive record in architectural conservation but an enthusiastic approach to looking after wildlife interest they may encounter during work to restore the farm buildings. A ‘sensitive touch’ is the design watchword and the Trust has been determined to apply the best practice in architectural conservation in their restoration and Ken Biggs construction fulfils our high standards. Paul Wyatt, Managing Director said “We were delighted to get this contract – we’re local builders and are committed to sustainable methods and the local landscape.”

The main contract works themselves will run until January 2008 and then following fitting out and commissioning, the Centre is due to open and receive its first resident visitors at Easter 2008.

A clean sweep
This may seem some way off - however, work on site in the first two months has already achieved a great deal. The buildings have been cleared of the heaps of accumulated farming residue-no small task since after all Folly Farm has been a farm for some 300 years. Major works to date include dismantling unsafe structures and roofs. One of the key buildings is of course the main farmhouse and this has already been scaffolded and the roof stripped to allow work to the structure itself. A massive chimney which took up the equivalent floor space of two small rooms per floor has been dismantled to allow for more space. Also for the first time in 300 years the rare vaulted stone rainwater tanks which provided water for the dairy have been uncovered. In the process of removing the damaged tiles on the long cowhouse the original carpenter’s roman numerals on the roof trusses were also revealed.

Wildlife watch
However, whilst keen to make progress-the builders are constantly aware of the need for high regard for any wildlife they may encounter – tiles are removed one by one so they can be checked carefully for bats. This is overseen of course by properly licensed bat experts . Equally, walls have been dismantled stone by stone so that checks can be made for amphibians including great crested newts. In future months we’ll update you on our detailed plans for wildlife in and around the buildings – including the famous ‘bat wardrobe’ which is to be built in the dairy. We’ll also be explaining more about our plans for the new centre and focus on some of its special features including the renewable energy sources.

Historic landscape
An important part of the project is the ongoing work to the nature reserve to restore the viewpoints, carriage drives and specimen planting which formed Sir Henry Stachey’s C18th ‘ferme ornee’ landscape. This will certainly please Lord O Hagan, who is Sir Henry’s descendent, and who originally made it possible for the Trust to acquire Folly Farm as a wildlife reserve back in 1987.Happily, Lord O Hagan is now once again very much involved as one of the project’s most active supporters and is Patron of the Folly Farm Appeal.

The reserve will remain open for members to visit during the construction period, however, for safety reasons there is NO ACCESS to the building area within the contractor’s compound or upper car park near the farm buildings themselves. Please park in the lower car park, follow marked footpaths and of course beware of contractors vehicles.