Waltzing down to a new life at Matilda's Field
Imagine a mid-September’s day, perfect for a leisurely stroll around Lake Vyrnwy with the family, stopping for a cup of tea and slice of cake at the café, taking in views of the dam.
You might even hire a bicycle for a few hours' ride, take a boat out onto the lake or indulge in a spa treatment at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel.
We took a 15-minute drive through the nearby Dyfnant Forest, which spans 20,000 acres with its stunning scenery, is home of the Wales Rally GB stage in October and boasts over 100 miles of safe, quiet, traffic-free horse trails for the rest of the year.
We arrived at our destination - a clearing in the middle of the forest, a true, secret hideaway and home to Mike and Donna Bottomley, who have relocated to this very special rural smallholding from their terraced house in West Yorkshire in a life-changing move.
Leaving behind full-time employment to set up a rural smallholding was no accident. The two researched and planned their proposals thoroughly before approaching Moule & Co to assist in making their dream come true.
The plan was to introduce a diversification enterprise - a glamping experience, with a difference.
"Matilda’s Field" will offer under-canvas glamping facilities in the form of three fully-equipped safari tents catering for families and groups, and drawing on Donna’s professional qualifications, will also offer creative and mindfulness retreats, where visitors can relax and enjoy the peaceful natural environment and dark sky experience at this unique destination, with the smallholding producing fresh fruit and vegetables, free range eggs and rare breed pork and lamb products as well as home-made jams and chutneys, which will be available for visitors and locals to purchase.
We were able to advise and lead the planning process from start to finish.
We looked at the feasibility of the project and provided assistance in preparing a realistic business plan, which would support the economics of the proposals; co-ordinated the required landscape and ecological assessments, reports and professional submissions to accompany the planning application; advised on the interpretation of planning policy and procedures as well as providing a planning statement, preparing scale plans of the proposals, completing and submitting the online application process.
Once submitted, we liaised with the planners throughout, dealing with any queries and ensuring we successfully negotiated the application through the required hoops.
With planning approval, Mike and Donna are now on their way to starting the next phase of their lifestyle adventure. Look out for Matilda’s Field, it’s going to be very special indeed.
Melanie Holt, rural chartered surveyor, agricultural valuer and planning consultant, Moule & Co
