Why farming matters today

Without farms we would have no food, of course. But also without farms there would be no rural economy and little stewardship of our countryside.

These are tricky times for UK agriculture. Organisations like Feather Down Farms give farmers a means of diversifying their income.

And through us they can showcase to a wider audience what benefits they bring to society.

How you are helping our farmers

Just your presence on a Feather Down farm means you are boosting the incomes of farmers and their families.

Not only that but you are doing your bit for the local economy, sustaining the village pubs and local producers.

Everyone comes back from a Feather Down Farm holiday with a better appreciation of how the countryside works and what you can do in your everyday world to help sustain these traditional ways of life.

Our educational mission

In a recent survey it emerged that one in five primary school children did not know where milk came from. At Feather Down Farms we have always regarded it as part of our mission to help everyone understand how food gets from farm to fork. That’s why we encourage guests to ask the farmer questions whether on a farm tour or just as they are passing by.

How it all started

The Feather Down Farms concept was developed originally by Luite Moraal, a veteran of Disney and Center Parcs.

It was modelled on the simple interior of a typical farm-house from the 19th century. So, for example, the empty space under our famous ‘cupboard bed’ is where the cattle would be brought in at night to keep both the family and their precious animals warm and safe.

The first farm to open in the UK in 2006 was Manor Farm in the South Downs in Hampshire and they are still with us. Sadly Luite passed away in 2011 but by then Feather Down had expanded to France and Germany as well as Holland and the UK.

Now in 2021, Feather Down can be found in over 75 farms all across Europe where we have welcomed over 200,000 guests in nearly 20 years.

Our organisation

Originally ‘made in the Netherlands’, you’ll find our HQ there too.

There are native speakers there for each market we serve as well as local marketing experts based in each country.