New camping barns at Big Green Gathering venue

Bob63

On Wednesday night I went up to Fernhill Farm on the Mendip Hills to see the new camping barns. Fernhill Farm is the location where the last two Big Green Gatherings were held. The farm's owner Andy has applied green principles to create an amazing "camping barn" which has been restored from 17th century outbuildings. All the timber used to build the barn has come from the farm. The walls have been insulated with wool from the farm's flock of Shetland sheep. Waste water from toilets and showers is treated in nearby reed beds. Heating is underfloor, fed by a log burner using timber from the woods located at the farm. It has bunk accommodation for around 30 people and can obviously accommodate others who are camping. We had a meal in the barn canteen which was either beef or lamb raised at Fernhill and was delicious. It really isn't like any other bunk house accommodation that I have stayed in - for me the phrase invokes a vision of poky little rooms, and a horrible musty smell probably caused by the mouldy showers. None of that at Fernhill!
http://www.fernhill-farm.co.uk/

I'm going back again this morning with a view to booking it out for an outdoor weekend in the Spring with friends from my bike club, so this time I'll get to see it in daylight. From what I have seen so far, I'm very impressed with the place and the green principles used to build and run it are really the icing on the cake. If you have been to the BGG before then going back at another time and staying in the barns would be a real (and cheap) treat. I'll report back if my impression changes after a daylight visit.

Mike

Bob63

My return visit was good, helped by the bright sunshine, and I suspect I'll be making a booking for my bike club soon.

Bunks are £15-£20/night and you can either do self catering or have them cater for you. For SC they will supply meat from the farm if you wish. You can book out the whole place on an exclusive basis for around £500/night, but that would sleep 30+ people and you could have more if you had people camping too.