The chance to camp in 'Fairyland', an opportunity only available to our families and only a few times a year, is just the start of it.
Since 2016 Martin and MaryAnn of Green Farm Kent, and the founders of the Pearce Coggan Foundation, have given a warm welcome to all the Outdoor Family Campers. Whether they are first time campers, many of whom have never left London before, or the families who return for a second time to hone their camping confidence, or as volunteers supporting the new families, or the staff and volunteers so essential to the success of these events, they get the same generous invitation to become part of this magical organic farm just a couple of hours away from London, but a world away from what most of our community see in their everyday lives.
The ancient woodland that borders Fairyland, where we get to camp a few times a year, holds magical natural wonders - Nightingales in May, baby frogs in the summer, toadstools and mushrooms in the autumn.... A perfect space for children, young people and their families to reconnect to nature.
Pearce Coggan ensure we have fresh wonderful vegetables and delicious organic milk (from Plurenden Manor Farm), plenty of fire wood and a dry barn to store our gear year round.
They also give of their time and expertise to introduce the children and families to the animals, the trees and the landscape we are staying in.
Pearce Coggan Foundation secured charitable status this year, a landmark moment, and quickly used that to secure sponsorship for the infrastructure so that from 2021 we can start to grow Family Camping together, reaching more of the families who need to get outdoors most and reconnecting children to their natural roots.
Find out more about Pearce Coggan Foundation and all the work they do supporting communities around them and especially children here.
Would you like to help Outdoor People and Pearce Coggan to bring more families to Green Farm?
Green Farm Kent does not provide camping for the public, limiting use of Fairyland and surrounding pasture to ensure the land is looked after and not over used.
You can however stay in their beautifully converted Barn visit their spa, go on a retreat or go along to one of their Thursday Coffee Mornings.
Like us, Green Farm puts a part of all their profits into the Foundation, and if you mention us they'll dedicate a portion of what you spend to Outdoor Family Camping. Find out more here.
Donate to support Outdoor Family Camping here.
If you would like to volunteer or help in any other way please do get in touch.
