Our farm is just as one would imagine a Dorset farm to be...think Darling Buds of May crossed with Swallows and Amazons plus a big slice of Black Beauty!
We are Adam, Ali and daughter Eden, we live and work the land so it is likely you will come across us during your stay. We hope to strike the right balance of being there for you if you need us, but also to give you the chance to enjoy our rural idyll in peace.
We offer four beautiful, secluded shepherds huts, all luxuriously appointed with fine linen and great attention to detail. All our huts have a wood fired hot tub and seating where you can while away the evening around a campfire.
We have a beautiful little honesty farm shop, a cutting garden, sauna hut, a farm walk, ponies to chat to, deer to admire and so much more.
We are passionate about farming with regenerative agriculture principles.
We feel sure that you will love our farm and we know you will go home relaxed and full of stories to tell of wonderful views, endless wildlife, campfires, stargazing from your hot tub and walks with the air full of birdsong.
Step away from the madness of modern life and take a rural Dorset holiday.
During your stay you will see our herd of red deer. They live in family groups in the park land around our shepherds huts .
If you visit us in spring and summer you will see the fawns and in Autumn you are likely to hear the stags as they clash antlers during the rut.
A stag will grow a full set of antlers each year. The antler is not horn or bone or nail or tooth, it is made from keratin. In the wild a good red stag, called a royal, will grow 12 points a year, ours will have 32!
You will notice that some of our red deer are white! They are not albino but leucistic, they simply lack the pigment that colours the hair red.
If you would like to know more, please do join a deer tour with Adam. They take place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and are £15 for two guests. Please email Ali to book.
We are blessed to have 6 acres of ancient woodland on Ash Farm, filled with native trees which provide a canopy for the bluebells and wild garlic that thrive in its dappled shade.
In 2023 we were awarded a FIPL grant though the Cranbourne AONB, which has allowed us to undertake the much needed management of this woodland, removing dead and dying trees and cutting a clear path for our guests to walk.
As a Regenerative farm using organic principles we pride ourselves on the fantastic variety of wild flowers and native trees spread across the farm.
These form a vital part of our eco system, necessary for pollinating insects, providing habitats for small mammals and making our farm an incredibly beautiful place.
Our guests are bound to meet our animals during their stay.
Our rag doll cat Alfred is a frequent visitor to Murgatroyd.
Our little white terrier Malinki and puppy Min Pin Kipper can usually be found terrorising the ducks in the cutting garden or barking at guests.
Edens two beautiful horses Zeus and Surge are always very happy to meet guests and will come for attention if you look friendly!
By the honesty shop you will find our Indian runner ducks and chickens who's eggs you will find in the shop
Lastly Edens herd of Zwartbles sheep are very chatty. we keep them for their unique black fleeces and lovely mutton meat.
The Russell Family have now been farming Ash Farm for three generations.
We are passionate advocates of a long term approch to farming with, high welfare for our animals and care for the soil and its eco system at the heart of everything we do.
Adam took over from his father in 1983 with Ali joining him running the farm in 2019. They are now so proud to welcome Eden their daughter as the next generation of young farmer.
She has pioneered the flower and nut ventures.
The map below shows the entrance to Ash Farm and our luxury shepherds huts.
If you are staying with us please drive on to the Farm and follow the signs for shepherds huts and Freedown House.
The drive is 1.5 miles long and your hut is clearly signposted.