All About Us

OUR STORY

 

Overview

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Green Farm is a unique, rural retreat destination and home to our charity The Pearce Coggan Foundation.

Bought by Maryann and Martin Richmond-Coggan in 2008, the 600-year-old main Farmhouse, surrounding outbuildings and land have been carefully restored and lovingly nurtured to create a nature-led environment for traditional conservation farming, countryside wellness experiences, and a place for all to benefit from getting outdoors.

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With a diverse and distinctive offering, Green Farm experiences and facilities include: wellness weekends, spa stays, self-catered holiday barn, luxury farmhouse accommodation (retreats, spa stays only), boutique Spa, Yoga studio, classes, events and workshops, a farm-gate shop as well as a community wildlife and vegetable garden.

 

Green Farm Retreats, Spa & Barn

 

‘An exclusive rural retreat where bespoke wellness experiences meet nature-led conservation’

 

Nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside, Green Farm is a privately-run estate offering a unique range of exclusive escape experiences.

 

Whether visiting for an hour’s spa treatment, a whole weekend retreat or simply popping in to say hello, the hope is that you will be inspired by how Green Farm respects, enhances and embraces its incredible natural environment enabling you in turn, to be nurtured by nature.

 

Weekend Retreats are Green Farm’s signature wellness experience and are hosted in the lovingly restored 15th-century Farmhouse by owners Maryann and Martin on select weekends throughout the year, focusing on either Yoga, Pilates, Seasonal Nature or Couples. All five of the Farmhouse bedrooms are individually designed and decorated, each with a private bathroom and stunning farm or village views.

 

For a shorter taste of Green Farm, a variety of bespoke Day Retreats (Yoga; Meditation) are also available, as is the boutique Spa at Green Farm. From Wednesday-Saturday (and some Sundays) outside guests can book in to enjoy individual beauty and spa treatments, or can indulge in the several Spa Day packages that are designed around its unique countryside setting. Bespoke overnight Spa Stays can also be arranged during the week.

 

The Spa at Green Farm’s treatments are all designed to relax and revive the senses, from muscle-releasing deep tissue massages to brightening facial therapies, the friendly and knowledgeable spa team will guide you through the ESPA treatment menu with special nature-inspired Green Farm touches along the way. After treatments, guests can listen to birdsong in one of the two outdoor hot tubs, relax in the Sauna, snuggle up next to a cosy fire in The Nook, go walking through in the surrounding ancient woodland, spend time with the friendly farm animals, or just read a book in the walled garden.

 

For larger groups, the beautifully restored Barn and Cowshed next- door to the Farmhouse, offers luxury self-catering accommodation for 12-14 people. Stays in the Barn can also be arranged to include: spa treatments, Yoga, Pilates, a range of Art/Cooking/Gardening classes, private in-house dining options, Cheese/Wine Tasting and guided woodland walks.

 

But what makes Green Farm one of Kent’s most unique destinations for any of its visitors is its location, set amongst idyllic farm pastures and surrounded by 12,500 acres of conservation woodland. And as a working farm and and wellness destination, food is an important part of the whole Green Farm experience. Retreat and Spa Day guests will enjoy nutritious, freshly-prepared, homemade dishes using primarily Green Farm produce that are inspired by the seasons and what is growing in the Community Wildlife and Vegetable Garden. You can also sample award-winning local gins and wines that have been specifically picked to enhance the delicious sustainably farmed produce.

 

Best of all a restorative break at Green Farm is within very easy reach, being just under an hour from the capital to the countryside. The train from London St Pancras to Ashford International takes just 37 minutes, and then it’s only a short 10 minute drive to the gates of Green Farm.

 

Our Values

 

At Green Farm, we are very conscious of the importance of values in what we create, how we operate and how we work with others. Our values have led us to build conservation and sustainability into all that we do.

 

Green Farm Principles

• To protect and enhance the conservation area, Green Farm, Duck Lane and surrounding 12,500 acres of the gateway to the marsh.

• To be generous and share what we have at Green Farm, integrity in all relationships

• To live sustainably and enhance the environment, ‘tread lightly on this earth’

• To promote and encourage healthy and sustainable living

• Raise the profile and importance of the area by:

• • • • Supporting biodiversity

      • Green methodology/philosophy

      • Sustainable farming

      • Habitat improvement & species enrichment

• To support the local community and economy - provide local jobs, work with local businesses and local Suppliers

 

Sustainability

 

The Farm: Green Farm’s focus is conservation farming, enhancing the land for the wildlife that calls it home, and producing the best quality Beef, Lamb, Mutton and Pork in the most natural way possible. We are very proud of our farming approach and the resultant tasty and nutritious meat. All our animals are free-range. The cattle and sheep are 100% grass fed (in addition to their mother’s milk), the pigs are fed on a mixture of raw kitchen leftovers, off-cuts of vegetables, sour milk provided by our neighbouring dairy – Plurenden Manor Farm – and pig nuts. The chickens also benefit from kitchen veg off-cuts in addition to pellets and corn, and in return they reward us with stunningly yellow yolks and firm whites. As a family, they are committed to incorporating and educating others about sustainable farming and are members of the Pasture Fed Livestock Association.

 

Waste & Recycling: We are avid recyclers and our commitment to cutting back on the amount of plastic used is important. Everything possible is recycled, reused and composted, and most bits and pieces from around the Farm that others would throw away are used to build and add to the Community Wildlife Garden.

 

The House: The house is a Grade II listed Kent Hall House dating back to the 15th century, and when it came to restoring it, Maryann and Martin ensured that it was done as sustainably as possible. We insulated the roof and walls, removing tiles and tile hangings to do so. We put in underfloor heating and installed a ground source heat pump to provide all central heating and hot water as well as a solar panel to generate their electricity. Grey water comes from the old Victorian well that we restored. There are log burners in both the barn, the spa and the house, with logs sourced from our own woodland.

 

The Spa: From the natural environment of the spa and its lovingly restored heritage listed building, to the botanically engineered and inspired ESPA treatments and products, the spa has sustainability and natural wellness at its heart. It aims to nourish your body, mind and soul from the food you eat to the everyday wellness routines you practice.

 

Giving back: Maryann, Martin and their family believe in the positive aspects of nature and getting outdoors for everyone. The Pearce-Coggan Foundation, our charity, was born from this ethos and now runs several community and charity activities that aim to inspire young people to be free, learn about food growing and rearing and increase their confidence and independence by getting outdoors, alongside learning the importance of wildlife and environmental conservation.

 

Since 2016, we have enjoyed a partnership with The Outdoor People to bring inner-city and disadvantaged kids to Green Farm. Deprived families from Hackney camp in the woods and learn to plant seeds, cook on a campfire and share food. Apprentices and part-time workers in the Community Garden include vulnerable adults and community servers.