Feather Down Farm - last minute group split... Advice

[Nicky1234]

A group of 5 families has booked early in the year to stay with feather down farm and were advised that we would all be together. Now 2 weeks before our stay we have been advised that in actual fact we are being split up because a group of 2 wants specific tents and so it makes that field too small for us.
Anyone been to one of these farms and do you think it will be a problem, we have 10 kids between us, 6 and under, so I am worried that they'll disturb other guests (rather than all being together they'll have to find each other). Also though there is a brook between the 2 fields so we're going to have to shepherd them about and it seems such a shame they cant just roam a little free (poor loves get no freedom). Selfishly the adults won't be able to hang out in the evenings either...
Im also really upset that we have to split up as seems unnecessary and unfair...
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions to put my mind at ease.
Thanks

I think you should heartily encourage your DC to unpeg the tent pegs of the 2 who have gazumped 'your' tents too. And to play as noisily as possible in the vicinity of their tent. If they think they can shout loud well give them a run for their money.

FDF do not only treat their guests shoddily, they really take the piss with the farmers too. We approached them when the whole 'glamping' idea sprung up in our minds as a farm diversification, and the flash brochure and high prices certainly oiled the wheels for MIL and especially FIL considereing the plan. We had a visit, but our layout was not right and we werent picture postcard pretty enough (being an actual working farm!) and tbh I am pretty pleased as it made far more economic sense to do it ourselves, plus we had the freedom to do what we wanted (OP I wish we were ready to be able to offer you all to come and stay - but I think compared to FDF you would find us too basic at the moment!!)
The farmer has to sign a 5 year contract (unless this has been changed) They are obliged to put in a farm shop, and supply all the plumbing for the guests at their own costs, this will also involve the planning permission (which has cost us several thousand so far, and we have done all paperwork ourselves) They need to be available for guests 24/7 and to commit to providing certain services, such as the farm tour, all firewood and the bread oven. FDF supply the tents and provide a laundry service, but cleaning is down to the farmer. For this the farmer will recieve between £15 - 30 per tent per night - so max of £150 per week. FDF tell the farmers that they basically have a 'high disposible income captive audience' and that it is up to them to try to sting them for as many extras as possible for the farmers to be able to make any money out of the deal, hence all the charges for 'extras'. I know of several farms who are desperately trying to extracate themselves from the contracts and to go it alone, as they are working themselves to death for a pittance, which is a joke given the prices that the families are paying.
If you want to glamp/camp there are so many independant sites to go to, have a look on Canopy and Stars, they do many who cater for families, and I have also heard great things about Jollydays. And next year, hopefully we could be ready for you too!!

Crikey nettletea, that is pretty ! Good luck with your venture anyway.

Nettle tea - where are you based? We would def consider looking next year. Good luck anyway, independence definitely seems the way forward.

Oh keep us posted nettletea!

This thread has totally put me off fdf. Not only for the terrible customer service but mainly because of the way they treat the farmers. I'd be embarrassed to go somewhere where the farmer was only getting £15 a week. I'm not the sort of person to pay for overpriced extras so the poor farmer wouldn't get anymore money out of me.

Oh, that's a bit better then!

It's not a great deal when you compare it with what feather down farms actually charge either.

I'm going to send this link to my friends and family!

We are based in East Sussex, we are currently doing a bit of minimal 'glamping' under the 28 day rule, as our planning was overturned by a zealous committee member, after being recommended to grant by the council (mostly based on a much to close to be allowable relationship with our NIMBY neighbours and their highly inflated vehicular movements and guests on site - grrrrrr, dont get me started) Anyway, planning application number 2 is currently under consideration, we are just about to start getting people to write to support it, and all being well we should be functioning next Easter through to end Sept, on the farm, with courses/activities on a sort of ad-hoc/as required basis.
And we will be cheaper than FDF!!! and with no hidden extras!!

We are doing a 'bring your own tent' MN weekender (again, very basic - a lovely field, free run of a 150 acre farm, running water and composting loo) on the August bank holiday weekend - there is a 'MN camp thread further down somewhere.........
Its quite an intimate affair atm, so plenty of room.
Our farm FB page is here

sorry to hi-jack thread

Nettletea, your farm looks lovely! I am sure you will do really well

Thank you xxx

Hi-jack away, looks lovely :)

are those really your tents already? they look AWESOME. i especially like the 'homage to G Plan' one. used to have a tent very like it in the 70s. hope your business goes from strength to strength, nettles.

and at what FDF farmers get. how much do they charge the punters per week, does anyone know?

I think in high season its around £900 a week, not including things like towels and washing up cloths

that is a shite deal for the farmer, then.

Team Edward - dont worry about it. Most of them are actually quite lovely and seem to have been press ganged !!
Hopeing deperately that none of them are on here.......

Still no alternative found... :(