Free Publication
Spring 2022
A magazine for Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park
OUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
How it all started and why the best is yet to come!
We’re celebrating
20 years!
AMAZING ARMADILLOS Meet our perfect pair Polly & Preston
EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY INTERVIEW Father of British Bushcraft Ray Mears
The Good Life Cover Spring 2022.indd 1
12/03/2022 09:36
Experience the Gosfield Difference Gosfield is an independent co-educational through School set within 110 acres of beautiful parkland, where children have the space to grow, are inspired by the breadth of opportunities and achieve outstanding results within an environment where nurturing relationships are at the heart of all that we do.
admissions@gosfieldschool.org.uk www.gosfieldschool.org.uk Welcome Spring 2022.indd 4
03/03/2022 11:34
S p ri ng I s s u e
Welcome This year has started with a bang as the team and I have been working on big projects to make your experience even better in 2022! Steve McQueen and the meerkat mob have a new home with our Sulcata tortoises, and we have a new armadillo enclosure which houses our two new armadillos, Polly and Preston. Our amazing grounds team have built new bridges to make it easier for those in wheelchairs and with buggies, and planted lots of greenery to brighten up the site. Michaela and I opened Jimmy's Farm as a small pig farm in 2002, meaning this year is our 20th anniversary! We can't believe the difference 20 years has made and this wouldn't have been possible without every one of our visitors supporting us through the inevitable ups and downs. In this issue, we look back over the years to when we first opened, how it all started and some of the memorable moments along the way – and it's been an epic journey!
@jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarm @jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarmhq follow Jimmy too: @jimmysfarm
We have so many fun activities and events planned for this year to celebrate this milestone – 2022 is going to be an amazing year and I hope you’ll join us!
Jimmy
@jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarmhq @jimmys_farm_weddings
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www.jimmysfarm.com
12/03/2022 09:54
We take happiness seriously At St Joseph’s we support the intellectual, spiritual, physical and emotional growth of every pupil. Children who thrive are the happiest of all.
PREP OPEN MORNING Saturday 14 May Family tours also available, to find out more please visit stjos.co.uk or email admissions@stjos.co.uk Independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2–18 Nursery open all year round
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stjos.co.uk 14/03/2022 15:04
S p ri ng I s s u e
Contents
44
07 Shopping
Pick up a gift for a loved one or spoil yourself at the fabulous shops here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park.
12 Is this the way to Armadillo?
Meet our newest arrivals, explore and discover all the latest additions.
18 Your summer sorted
20
50 Springtime in the garden
Time to get busy as a bee with our seasonal planting tips.
52 Coffee love
Share a perfect brew with our friends at South East Coffee Company.
57 Crunch time
Don’t miss out and get the most of every day with our annual membership.
Easy to grow and available virtually all year round, carrots are as healthy as they are colourful.
20 What a journey!
58 What’s cooking?
34 Working together to put science into practice
Check out our hand-picked selection of leisure, fashion and shopping essentials for this season.
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, Jimmy and Michaela Doherty look back at how it all started and get ready for the next amazing chapter.
Jimmy Doherty becomes the Chancellor of Writtle University College.
Braised beef shin chili and hot cross buns – try our yummy recipes.
62 Spring to it
38
38 ‘Rediscover your inner wildness’
12 Free Publication
Spring 2022
A magazine for Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park
OUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
How it all started and why the best is yet to come!
We’re celebrating
20 years!
AMAZING ARMADILLOS Meet our perfect pair Polly & Preston
EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY INTERVIEW Father of British Bushcraft Ray Mears
EDITORIAL EDITOR AT LARGE Jimmy Doherty EDITOR IN CHIEF Michaela Doherty EDITOR Anna-Marie Casas CONTRIBUTOR Lauren Andrews ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Chantell Keston Debbie Taylor
The father of British bushcraft, Ray Mears, invites everyone to reconnect with nature.
44 ‘We wanted the wow factor – and we got it!’ Discover why our weddings are totally unique and wild.
PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Lee Thomas MARKETING CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER Dominic Littler PUBLISHING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Clara Deeks MANAGING DIRECTOR Allistair Hunter OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Tracy Norton-Mead
05 Jimmy's Farm Contents 29 2022.indd 5
CONTACT Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine DS Media, 7 Faraday Close, Oakwood Industrial Estate, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 4TR Advertising Enquiries: 01255 221322 Editorial Enquiries: jimmysfarm@thedsgroup.co.uk Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is published by DS Media on behalf of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park. The contents of this magazine must not be reproduced without permission. Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is available at selected Waitrose and John Lewis stores throughout Suffolk & Essex. Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is also available FREE to all visitors at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Pannington Hall Lane, Ipswich IP9 2AR
www.jimmysfarm.com
16/03/2022 10:13
AWA R D W I N N I N G H E A LT H C L U B & D AY S PA S E T I N T H E H EA RT O F T H E RO L L I N G S U F FO L K CO U N T RYS I D E
R E L A X - U N W I N D - E S C A P E
W W W.T H E GA I N S B O RO U G H .CO.U K
01787 279009
Ads.indd 6
14/03/2022 18:43
S ho p at J i m my ’s Fa rm
Shopping Find the perfect gift for a loved one or stock up on some tasty local produce at The Farm Shop, here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park. The Farm Shop
accompaniment for your cheese feast and take the opportunity to stock up on some groceries at the same time.
Say cheese! Stop by The Farm Shop in our beautiful 18th century barn during your visit to Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park this spring and treat yourself to some new, delicious local cheeses that have just hit the counter.
For wildlife lovers, there are bee bombs to pamper your garden pollinators this spring, as well as gifts and souvenirs to remember your special day with us – including our exclusive Lucky Seven Jimmy’s Farm caps.
Take your pick from Baron Bigod, a firm favourite with its gooey goodness, or a sumptuous, Smoked Dapple that smells and tastes divine, along with an array of other local and national cheeses.
We’re also proud to be one of only two wildlife parks in the UK where you can bring along your dog, so don’t forget to pick up a tasty treat for your pooch – and put a spring in their step!
You can browse our selection of carefully curated wines and beers to find the perfect
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www.jimmysfarm.com
12/03/2022 10:16
Ads.indd 8
16/03/2022 11:11
S ho p at J i m my ’s Fa rm
Shopping Feeling blue?
DENIM DAYS
IN THE NAVY Schoffel Exeter Heritage ¼ Zip – Navy, £79.95 Cut from soft cotton jersey, this unisex sweatshirt features a ¼ zip fastening and bold colour block design.
Crew Clothing Pique Polo – Strong Blue, £37 The iconic polo shirt in blue, crafted from cotton pique and cut to a classic fit. Finished with contrast embroidered crossed oars and a ribbed collar.
Clarkes Country Stores
Stockists of premium lifestyle country clothing, footwear, gifts & accessories
Stand in lines
Seasalt Reading Rocks Jacket – Mid Indigo Wash, £79.95 Stylish and practical, this classic denim jacket is cut from organic cotton and details a full button front, multiple handy pockets and finishes at a low hip length.
White Stuff Milo Hooded Sweat – Natural Multi, £55 A soft, comfy sweatshirt sporting classic nautical stripes in navy, a drawstring hood and contrast trim detailing to add a pop of colour.
! t h g i m DinoPUT THE
BOOT IN
Frugi Snuggle Fleece – Indigo Dinos, £40-£44 Cosy, organic funnel neck fleece featuring a front popper placket and kangaroo pocket finished with a contrast dinosaur print.
Barbour Banbury Wellington Boot – Navy, £49.95 A pair of mid-cut wellies ideal for any outdoor activity with classic Barbour tartan accent to the inner and a branded backstrap to the outer.
www.clarkesofwalsham.co.uk
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15/03/2022 10:02
S ho p at J i m my ’s Fa rm
Shopping 1
3
2 4 5 6 www.joules.com
1. Harbour Short Sleeve Button Shoulder Top, £27.95 This is a Joules classic Harbour, just with shorter sleeves for the summer season ahead. The talented print team have been hard at work coming up with a new design, and this one features embellishment that is simply bee-utiful. 2. Harbour Print Long Sleeve Top, £29.95 Welcome a Harbour into your wardrobe and you’ll soon realise for yourself why they’re one
of Joules’ best-loved styles! Whether you like a statement floral or something a little more subtle, this season’s Harbours have something for everyone.
4. Reina Slider Sandals, £39.95 Made with long, hot summer days in mind, these ‘chunky’ style sandals will add a statement to any outfit choice.
3. Cruise Mid Length Chino Shorts, £39.95 Cut just like Joules’ ever-popular chinos, these shorts are designed to sit mid-thigh and to be paired with anything from smarter shirts to casual tees. A versatile addition to your summer wardrobe.
5. Yasmine Button Through V Neck Dress, £49.95 Sophisticated, summery style is easy to achieve with Joules’ Yasmine dress. It has short sleeves that you can easily layer with a cardigan, and a classy button-down front. The fixed belt in a matching fabric can be tied at the
11 Jimmy's Farm Shopping pages.indd 11
front to create a flattering shape, along with a stylish V-neck too. 6. Shirley Denim Shorts, £39.95 Perfect for pub gardens, trips to the beach or pottering around the house, a pair of denim shorts are a wardrobe staple for the warmer weather. Shirley are a classic pair that everyone’s been loving for a long time thanks to the flattering mid-rise waist, relaxed fit and added stretch fabric for comfort.
Joules’ little gem of a shop is situated at the heart of the farm next to Jimmy’s restaurant
www.jimmysfarm.com
12/03/2022 10:18
News
Is this the way to
Armadillo?
A pair of six-banded armadillos, Preston and Polly, have recently joined us from Longleat Safari Park.
Ranger Amy says: “Both armadillos are very friendly and inquisitive and will be great additions to the park.”
These curious creatures originate from South America where they are often persecuted for their meat and hard shell.
The farm’s meerkat mob made famous by the TV series, Spring at Jimmy’s Farm, have moved into a brand-new enclosure to make way for the new arrivals.
Did you know? Armadillos are great diggers – they have long claws and strong arms which help them to burrow They sleep in burrows at night to keep away from predators Armadillos have bad eyesight, so they use their smell and touch to feel their way around Armadillo is the Spanish word for ‘little armoured one’ – the species is characterised by the distinctive armour plating on its head, back, and tail
www.jimmysfarm.com
Jimmy's Farm News 2022.indd 12
An armadillo’s plates are made of solid bone and grow directly out of its vertebrae.
12 12/03/2022 10:20
News
ARMADILLO IN NUMBERS
15 9 13 6
21
The smallest species of armadillo is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about the size of a squirrel, weighing 85g and up to 15cm long The nine-banded armadillo is the most familiar, but these amazing mammals come in an array of shapes and sizes, with their plates made of solid bone and growing directly out of their vertebrae The giant armadillo has 11 to 13 bands that cover its body, with an additional 3 or 4 bands on its neck The six-banded armadillo is also known as the yellow armadillo, and is typically between 40 and 50cm long and weighs 3 to 6 kg There are 21 species of armadillo and they can live anywhere between 4 and 30 years
Amazing Armadillo Duration: 30 mins Price: £55 per person Minimum age: 8 years For bookings and terms and conditions, go to jimmysfarm.com/ animal-experiences
13 Jimmy's Farm News 2022.indd 13
Meet our new arrivals, dwarf zebu – a domestic cattle breed that is so friendly and inquisitive. We have two boys called Nico and Alfie, who you will find in the park, opposite our donkeys, where they love to munch on their food! When feeding our animals, please make sure you keep your hand flat. Thanks to EHB International Horse Transport for their help in bringing our new pair to their new home!
Did you know? Dwarf zebu have a hump on their back, similar to a camel, which is used to store fat – they can use these resources when food and water is scarce Dwarf zebu descended from the zebu, which is one of the oldest breeds of cattle and is considered sacred in Hinduism
Experience Meet Polly and Preston! Our perfect pair are so friendly and love a good scratch. You’ll be amazed feeling the texture of their skin and hand feeding them!
Dwarf duo
These animals are herbivores and eat a diet of grass, flowers and plants Zebus have to be less than 107cm tall to be classified as a dwarf www.jimmysfarm.com
12/03/2022 10:21
News Come and meet Steve! You can get up close and personal with our mischievous meerkats in their brand-new home along with their friends, the Sulcata tortoises!
Mob rule
Steve McQueen and his mob have a new home – and this one should be secure enough to keep our mischievous meerkats from escaping!
Led by the notorious Steve McQueen, this crazy bunch of South African troublemakers are waiting for you to bring them some of their favourite snacks.
It’s a brand-new enclosure with glass windows, so you can see them up close like never before. Our cheeky meerkats have also been joined by some new housemates – our Sulcata tortoises.
You will learn about how they work together in the wild to survive the desert’s harsh climates as they scurry around you, so don’t forget your camera!
Book now online (terms and conditions apply) – jimmysfarm.com/animal-experiences/
Work is nearly complete on our huge adventure playground, which should be open by Spring 2022! The play area has been built with sustainable materials to ensure we have minimum impact on the environment.
Planet-friendly play www.jimmysfarm.com
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14 12/03/2022 10:22
Ad ve rto ri a l
Children’s
Birthday Parties Take the stress out of organising your child’s birthday party and let one of the following venues do all the hard work for you.
Go Banana
In everybody there is a child waiting to escape. Whether you’re 1 or 101, there are classes to suit all, toddler daytime, after school club or, something special for the weekend. We also host private parties, from afternoon tea, hen and stag parties, children, and adult birthdays, or why not come and let your hair down with our prosecco and chocolate classes. Visit our website to begin your journey to chocolate heaven:
Celebrate your child’s party in style here at Go Bananas! Fun, exciting and fuss free parties make it easy and affordable for parents to celebrate their children’s birthdays in style. Chose from glow in the dark, disco, little monkeys and more. All parties include soft play and food as standard.
s
TER COLCHES www.go-bananas
Sarah’s Chocolate Kitchen and Eatery
latekitchen.com
.co.uk
www.sarahschoco
Come down to Easton Farm Park for your very own farm themed birthday party! With up-close encounters with our animals, party bags, a traditional tea party and even the chance to hug our spring babies!
E
m Pa r k r a F n o t s a E
The Little D re a m C o mp a
H
IPSWIC
Unforgettable Birthday Parties at Clip ‘n Climb Ipswich! Celebrate in style at the world’s largest Clip ‘n Climb centre – soar the climbing walls at 10 metres in height or perhaps take on the epic Extreme Challenges! Fun filled, stress-free birthday party packages, starting at £22.95 per child.
We also have the choice of pony parties and exclusive farm access packages, allowing you to create the perfect bespoke party for your child’s special day. “
WOODBRIDG
ny
o.uk
The Little Dream Company offers Indoor teepees for a DIY hire, themes include mermaid, unicorn, hocus pocus, gaming, jungle and boho. We also hire out Bell Tents for your garden, perfect for a garden party, birthday party, hen doo or baby shower. Teepees and Bell tents are suitable for children and adults. We are based in Ipswich but travel further out if required. Indoor teepees can be hired all year round, the bell tents are available April - Sept.
edreamcom
pany.co.uk
Colchester Castle COLCH
ESTER
15 Jimmy's Farm Shopping pages.indd 67
Clip ‘n Climb
Suitable for children aged 4 +. For more information or to book your party, please visit:
rmpark.c
tonfa www.eas
www.thelittl
-SEA
LEIGH-ON
IPSWICH
www.clipnclimbips
wich.com
Celebrate a birthday in style with Colchester Castle’s birthday party celebrations. Aimed at children aged 3-11 you will get to work with a member of the Castle team to choose the right party package for your child. Set against a truly remarkable and historic backdrop, let your child take centre stage on our special birthday throne and celebrate in style! With prices starting from just £180 for 10 children call 01206 282939 to find out more and book your party.
uk/parties
useums.org.
ester.cim www.colch
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15/03/2022 10:56
party like an
! l a m i an
Image credit natasha hurley
Something to celebrate? Birthdays Anniversaries Baby Showers Family Get Togethers Christenings
OUr restaurant celebration tent or hay barn are all available to hire for private get togethers For more information on booking your celebration contact events@jimmysfarm.com Image credit twenty-six films
Jimmy's Farm News 2022.indd 16
12/03/2022 10:09
News
80
Females can grow up to 50cm in length, while males can be as large as 80cm
SULCATA TORTOISE IN NUMBERS
150
These reptiles have super-long lifespans, living for anywhere between 50 and 150 years
100
Also known as the African spurred tortoise, the Sulcata tortoise is the third largest species of its kind in the world and can grow to well over 100kg – that’s 100 bags of sugar!
15 60
They can go weeks without food or water – and when they do drink, they can consume up to 15 per cent of their body weight
In the desert, Sulcata tortoises use their amazing claws to dig burrows where the temperatures are about 60 degrees at the bottom – half what they are at the top – and spend hot days and cold nights there to survive the extreme temperatures
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www.jimmysfarm.com
12/03/2022 10:10
Me m b e rs hi p
Your Summer Sorted! With the summer holidays just around the corner, the dilemma that every parent faces each year is…how will I keep the kids busy? Well, ponder no more – become a member at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park and reap the rewards, including amazing discounts at our onsite outlets* and on admission to many other great attractions**! Our fabulous Annual Membership gives year-round access for just £40 per child – that’s only 11p per day to keep the boredom at bay! And an adult pass is not much more at £55, with concessions available for £35.
*Your Annual Membership will give you: Free, unlimited access to the farm and wildlife park for 1 year 10% off at all food & drink outlets including The Restaurant 15% off at Joules at Jimmy’s Farm 15% off selected clothing and accessories, 10% off all footwear and trade terms for all building, garden & agricultural materials at Clarkes (including Walsham store) Up to 20%** off entry to a host of other major tourist attractions across East Anglia **You will receive up to 20% off the admission price at the attractions listed on our website unless otherwise stated: Enter your membership details when booking at other partner attractions. For full terms and conditions, visit jimmysfarm.com/membership
SHARE THE GOOD LIFE ON OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY
www.jimmysfarm.com
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Me m b e rs hi p
HAVE A ROARR-SOME DAY OUT!
Get an Annual Membership at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park and enjoy 20% off the admission price to ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure
If you have a dinosaur fan in the family, a visit to ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure in Norfolk is a must for 2022. The 85-acre park, which offers true family fun adventure of a Jurassic nature, will be opening a new attraction this spring. The Valley of the Dinosaurs will be bringing pre-historic creatures to life and will feature over 70 dinosaurs, including nine new static creatures and 11 new animatronic dinosaurs, in the brand-new trail. The immersive experience, with roarr-some photo-taking opportunities and new dinosaur sounds, will see visitors greeted by a statue of the
park’s legendary Norfolk-born explorer Cornelius Weston Smythe, the sanctuary owner for rescued dinosaurs, in the new themed area. The character will encourage little explorers to search high and low for the missing pages in his notebook as they travel through the valley. Other outdoor attractions to enjoy during a fun-filled family day out include Predator High Ropes – East Anglia’s largest highropes course and the world’s first parallel sky rails – Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf and the Secret Animal Garden, where children can learn more about animals from the park’s keepers.
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ROARR!’s loveable mascot, Dippy, and his dinosaur friends will perform a special live show at Dippy’s Theatre, a 228-seat auditorium which was a new addition to the park in 2021. Not forgetting the themed play areas such as Pterodactyl’s Treehouse, and if the weather takes a turn, there’s also Dinomite Indoor Play with exciting slides, ball pits and ropes bridges as well as a special under-fives area for extra-little ones to use. For more information about ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure, visit www.roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk
www.jimmysfarm.com
15/03/2022 14:58
S p e c i a l re p o rt
What a Journey!
We catch up with Jimmy and Michaela Doherty in Sri Lanka, as they explore more conservation opportunities, to reflect on 20 years of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park and look forward to the next amazing chapter!
www.jimmysfarm.com
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S p e c i a l re p o rt
Photo courtesy of Red Sky Productions, Spring at Jimmy's Farm
It’s 20 years since Jimmy’s Farm opened – how did it all start? Jimmy: It all started with placing an ad in the farming press; I was looking to rent a farm to start up a rare breed pig business. I looked at various farms, but when I saw this one, I knew straight away that it was the place. It was shrouded in brambles and was totally derelict, but it had the outline of an old farm while the others I looked at were just fields. It had a lot of past glory about it, all the character I was looking for and it was perfect for getting to Cambridge, London, Norwich, and all the centres I would be selling my sausages at. The old building had rough pasture, which was ideal for the pigs, and it had a nice chunk of woodland – I was obsessed with having pigs in the woods. How did you both meet, and did you share the same dream and passion for setting up a farm at that time? Michaela: I was working in London, in television at that time, and met Jimmy
33 21 20 Years 2022.indd 21
through a filming location, which was a pig farm in Cumbria. I just thought, you’re absolutely bonkers! Jimmy: I asked her out for a date, and I took her to London Aquarium because I used to keep fish, so I was able to tell her all about fish. Michaela: He absolutely worked his magic – he was very engaging. Both of us had been working in London before that, which is quite a transitory place. I remember the day when a guy was helping Jim on the farm (I was still commuting) and he said, ‘you have to stay here because you’re the only one who can add anything up, and Jim is really disorganised, and he needs you to be here’. I hated commuting – and I just loved being there. Jimmy: Caela has always been one for projects – her dad was always buying houses and doing them up, and I think she has that in her as well – she can see what I can see, but with more clarity and has a keen eye for aesthetics.
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S p e Icnte i a l rv reipew o rt
What are your memories of those early days getting the farm up and running? Jimmy: I’d secured my very first book deal [On the Farm] and I’d started talking to the BBC about filming my farm project. They first asked me to do a pilot on killer diseases – I knew nothing about TV, but I knew a bit about malaria and parasites. And then they called me back and I told them I was going ahead with setting up the farm – they thought I was crazy, but that it would make quite an interesting show. I had a small amount of money from the book deal which was tied in with the series that I used as a seed fund to start the farm. We had spring, summer and winter to get it up and running to process and make some products.
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That entailed buying some pigs that were ready for slaughter, some to fatten up and some for breeding. We also had to build some rudimentary pens and a little processing area, which I made from old fridge panels and had to be approved by the Environmental Health Officer. And then I bought an old, knackered Mercedes van. With that, we were able to turn pigs into products and take them to market. Our target was the Food Lovers’ Fair at Covent Garden, but we had a rubbish chiller. I noticed that there was an Asda car park where the hedges were all rosemary, so I offered to cut them. I dressed my whole stand with this rosemary – it was a great way to disguise our ugly chiller with a bit of ingenuity and we gave our customers a
little sprig each to take home with their sausages! The first year was all about going out to farmers’ markets to sell our meat and I was visiting about six or seven a week. After the following spring, we opened the farm shop and then people started to turn up to buy our products. That slowly developed into people wanting to see the pigs and then have a cup of tea with something to eat. We started cooking sausages in the old cattle yard, which is now the herb garden, and we had an old tea urn. We then started running a farmers’ market once a month – it got super popular and had 100 stalls at one point. That was the beginning of the farm park and it all developed from there.
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S p e c i a l re p o rt
“I looked at various farms, but when I saw this one I knew straight away that it was the place! ”
Photo courtesy of Red Sky Productions, Spring at Jimmy's Farm
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What about your rare breeds – were they always part of the plan? The whole business was always about rare breeds. Farming had gone through a big transition because of foot and mouth and farmers were reinventing themselves; it was the renaissance of rare breeds. I’ve always been passionate about rare breeds and that came from a friend’s dad when I was 13. He had Gloucester cattle, Dexter cattle and Ryeland sheep – that’s when I fell in love with rare breeds. Little did I know that one day I would end up being President of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust – the longest ever serving president – and now I’m Vice-President. Was there an official opening day? We got Jamie [Oliver] to come down and cut a ribbon. It was chaos – we had a hand-cranked sausage machine, and we couldn’t turn the handle quick enough. It had been snowing the day before, but it was all right on the day and was really a very rustic and rural affair. There were only about 100 people there, but it felt like thousands. Now, we’re the fastest growing attraction in Suffolk with almost 200,000 visitors each year.
What have been some of the highs over the last 20 years – and what about any low points and challenges? When the financial recession [in 2008] kicked in, that was pretty devasting because everyone felt it. I remember our takings in the shop dropped by 50 per cent overnight. We had been building our business to that point and we still had all our overheads. Covid was a difficult one. We had to close and suffered like every other tourist business did, but we were able to get on with projects with nobody around and put a face of positivity on it in a time of difficulty. It also galvanised the core element of our team and showed the best in people. People didn’t even know if they had a job the next day, but they still turned up to help where it was needed. The highs have got to be when we held our very first festival [in 2009, pictured above] – that was amazing! And I remember there was one little lad who’d won a competition on BBC Music Introducing in Suffolk to come and play at our festival – the first he’d ever played at. And that lad was Ed Sheeran! Photo by Fae Loudoun
www.jimmysfarm.com
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Quote ‘Jimmy’s Farm’ when booking our Four Nights for the Pr ice of Three offer to rece ive a complimentary bottl e of prosecco! * Terms & Condi
tions apply.
FOUR NIGHTS FOR THE PRICE OF THREE GETAWAY
Enjoy our Four Nights for the Price of Three* staycations, a stone’s throw from Constable Country Near to the pretty quayside village of Wivenhoe, and minutes from Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester, Wivenhoe House offers the ideal base to explore both Essex and Suffolk. Sea, shopping and sightseeing are all within easy reach of Wivenhoe House, whether you are a couple searching for a romantic break or a family seeking an ultimate adventure, we have something to offer. Wivenhoe Park, Essex, CO4 3FA +44 (0)1206 863666 info@wivenhoehouse.co.uk wivenhoehouse.co.uk
Ads.indd 25
*Terms & Conditions Cheapest night free, subject to availability and excludes peak and key dates
14/03/2022 15:11
S p e Icnte i a l rv reipew o rt
“We love to see people enjoying themselves – the smile on people’s faces – there’s no better reward.”
Photo by Nick Ilott
The other big high was when Prince Charles visited [in 2017, pictured above] because he’s Patron of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and he wanted to see our farm. Nobody knew he was coming and couldn’t believe it was him! I got all the staff to meet him – it was really lovely, and he chatted to everyone and enjoyed a cup of tea with honey. What is your proudest achievement – what gives you both the most joy? I think the thing that both of us love is listening to people talking, and we love to see people enjoying themselves – the smile on people’s faces – there’s no better reward. We always try to look at it as – if we were visiting as a family, what would we like to see? The frustrating thing is that we can’t always do it instantly. Take play areas, for example – we’ve now got a brand-new
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adventure play area, two jumping pillows, a new snack bar and eatery on the wildlife park. That’s taken us five years to get to, but what we’ve done is listen to what our visitors want. We rely on our local area and what is lovely is getting messages from people saying they grew up watching the show, got married on the farm and are now bringing their own children. There’s one lady who visits, whose daughter used to love coming to the farm but, very unfortunately, passed away. To come to terms with it, she comes to the farm most days and she just wants to be part of the farm. She goes into the staff area and tidies it up, fills up the biscuit barrel, leaves a cake, and then goes around helping with the animals. That speaks volumes. We’ve turned this farm into something that means something to the community.
What’s in the pipeline this year and how do you plan to celebrate 20 years of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park? This Easter, the butterfly house opens again – we had to close it due to Covid and we’ve developed it to house the lemurs in. In terms of going forward, we want to develop a brand-new rare breeds area because that’s where it all started. We also want to develop the woodland area more, to expand the wildlife park and take on more species that are under threat. One of the reasons I’m in Sri Lanka is that I’m speaking to a couple of organisations that work closely with Asian fishing cats. I’m very keen that the animals we keep are rescue animals that don’t have a home to go to, like our monkeys, and animals that we can breed and hopefully reintroduce. Education and conservation are the key elements of our farm and wildlife park.
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S p e c i a l re p o rt
I’ve also published my book, Tales from Jimmy’s Farm, which is out in October and covers 20 years of Jimmy’s Farm, and I’ve launched my podcast with some fantastic guests, which is all about understanding more about the environment, the crisis we’re in, and what we can do to mitigate it while also trying to enjoy a little slice of the good life along the way. There will definitely be a few shindigs to celebrate – that might be anything from a little sausage and beer night – maybe even a cowboy night! I’m also in talks with a festival organiser – I would love to bring our festival back, but there would be a lot to do, so I can’t promise when that will be. When you were a young boy, you used to spend time drawing a wildlife park – did you ever envisage your childhood dream would turn out like this? I would have been about 11. I used to stick all these bits of paper together and draw where all the enclosures
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would be. After working at Mole Hall Farm, I picked all the bits I loved and somehow recreated them. But no, I didn’t ever think I’d end up with a wildlife park – I certainly never thought it would be like it is now. There are now over 80 species and breeds at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park – which animals give you that sense of achievement most? We have an award-winning monkey enclosure. All that’s great, but when I went up to the saddleback pigs the other day, I thought to myself, this is where it all started. It’s easy to look at the lemurs, crocodiles, zebras, meerkats or anteater and think, wow, but the Suffolk Punches and saddleback pigs still take my breath away. It’s that lovely blend that’s really important to us. We continue to farm, promote traditional farming techniques and rare breeds, as well as highlight that farming is important for maintaining biodiversity – and that ethos that everyone can do their bit to help save the planet.
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14/03/2022 15:18
S p e c i a l re p o rt
Tales from Jimmy’s Farm To mark our 20th anniversary, Jimmy has written a new book about how he made his childhood dream come true! Jimmy says: “It’s been a bumpy ride, but one I never regret and would do a million times over. We have lots planned this year, from new animals, new adventure play, revamped enclosures and lots of collaborations.
Jimmy Doherty has authored a new book, which will be a celebration of the journey that he and his family have been on over the last 20 years since the farm first opened. In Tales from Jimmy’s Farm, Jimmy will reveal how he made his childhood dream of having his own wildlife park a reality and how he transformed a derelict and forgotten Suffolk farm into an A-Z of the animal world, from anteaters to zebras.
“To mark our 20th year, I’ve published this book with the wonderful guys at Headline Books. It’s the story of how we went from a pig farm to wildlife park! I’d like to thank everyone in my team – but most of all, the biggest thanks goes to my beautiful, wonderful wife, Caela – without her nothing would have been possible.”
Taking us on a trip through the seasons – spring lambs to rutting reindeer, sun-loving meerkats to festive monkeys – Jimmy reveals the ups and downs of a life immersed in the natural world. He explains how all of us, wherever we live, can benefit ourselves and the planet by embracing the remarkable animals around us. You will be transported into the landscape, learn of the practical day-to-day jobs on the farm, and fall in love with the animals through stories and funny anecdotes of where they came from, how they settled in, and their impact on Jimmy and his team.
Along with a whole host of other characters, Jimmy will introduce you to: • Teddy and Tip-Tap, our pair of tapirs, who are now parents to Tobias • Alice and Arthur, the Mongolian Bactrian camels • Basil, the giant anteater • Dolph, Mistletoe and Rowan, the resident reindeers Tales from Jimmy’s Farm by Jimmy Doherty publishes 13 October 2022 in hardback, priced £20.00 (Headline Home).
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On Jimmy’s Farm Podcast As we mark our special anniversary at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Jimmy Doherty has launched a new podcast about how to live a greener life. From bug burgers and sustainable football clubs to ‘Viagra’ honey and foraging fungi, Jimmy’s new weekly ‘On Jimmy’s Farm’ podcast series has been covering all things ecology.
The podcasts include:
Jimmy has been busy chatting to eco-experts and some well-known faces on the farm about trying to live a greener life for his History Hit podcast series, which launched in January on Thursdays.
Jimmy’s childhood friend, Jamie Oliver, was the first guest on the farm. Listeners discovered a new side to Jamie as they discussed his rise to fame and the dismissiveness he faced from other well-known chefs during the early Naked Chef days. They also chatted about the problems with Britain’s cooking culture, the future of the food industry, and nearly taking out chat show legend Oprah Winfrey on a scooter!
The guest line-up includes his old friend, Jamie Oliver, ecopreneur Eshita KabraDavies, the Eden Project's Sir Tim Smit, BOSH!, Dale Vince, Bez from the Happy Mondays... and many more. “I’ve been wanting to do this podcast for some time and now it’s a reality,” says Jimmy. “I’ve got some great guests, from well-known face to experts in their field. They’ll be chatting to me about how we can all do our best for the environment and get a bit of the good life along the way. Full of facts, tips and a lot of laughs. Everything from fashion, eating in season, wild swimming… and even viagra honey!”
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Jamie Oliver on Sustainable Eating & Nearly Killing Oprah
Sir Tim Smit on The Eden Project & Making Dreams Happen Since the Eden Project opened its doors in 2001, more than 19 million people have visited and it has contributed more than £1.9 billion to the Cornish economy. It’s now home to more than 135,000 plants of around 4,500 species. The founder of the Eden Project, Sir Tim Smit, who
is one of Jimmy’s heroes, explained how everyone thought he was mad when he first decided to turn to environmentalism after a successful career in music. Ecopreneur Eshita Kabra-Davies on Green Fashion & Renting Your Wardrobe Did you know that the fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined? Or that most of the clothes we donate to charity end up in landfill? Ecopreneur Eshita Kabra-Davies, who is the founder of the world’s first social fashion rental app, By Rotation, joined Jimmy to discuss green fashion and renting clothes. You can listen to the latest episodes of On Jimmy’s Farm via Apple Podcasts, Acast, podfollow and Spotify.
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14/03/2022 15:29
News
Working together to put science into practice Jimmy becomes the Chancellor of Writtle University College
Jimmy Doherty is celebrating an exciting new position. He’s been named the Chancellor of Writtle University College in Essex. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Middleton, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Jimmy Doherty will be our next Chancellor. Jimmy embodies Writtle University College’s values and has a long-standing commitment to conservation, agriculture and education. We look forward to working together to ‘put science into practice’.” The University College’s beautiful countryside campus is just two miles from the city of Chelmsford. Students study further and higher education courses in animal science and management, veterinary physiotherapy, sport science, art, floristry and equine, in addition to agriculture, landscape architecture and horticulture.
Learning About Animals
Like the Jimmy’s Farm team, the University College is passionate about animals. Alpacas, emus, capybaras, coatis, goats, rabbits, peacocks and a wide range of reptiles are just a few of www.jimmysfarm.com
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the creatures cared for at a welfarefocused animal centre on campus. The University College is also home to many horses. It features the UK’s only on-campus horse stud, which produces foals every year. Friendly chestnut filly foal Lordships Timeless (also called Tula) was awarded a ‘higher gold’ last year at the British Breeding Futurity. Tula, who was born and bred at Writtle, received positive comments from the judges and an impressive 8.525 score for eventing! The stud is just one part of a specialist equine campus, which received a £2 million refurbishment in the last few years. It includes two spacious indoor arenas, an outdoor arena, a horse walker and an equine hydrotherapy treadmill. If you’re thinking about working with dogs, the University College is also a fantastic place to study. Courses include dog grooming, canine therapy and much more. Veterinary Physiotherapy lecturers run a Canine Therapy Clinic using state of the art equipment – like an underwater treadmill and a hydrotherapy pool – to help pets, police dogs and even retired greyhounds.
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“Jimmy embodies Writtle University College’s values and has a long-standing commitment to conservation, agriculture and education.”
Food and Farming
Spring is always an exciting time, as students and staff enjoy welcoming new lambs to the campus farm. The University College has been teaching land-based courses since 1893 and is always interested in new, sustainable forms of food production. In 2020, it became the first UK university to offer a degree in regenerative agriculture. A section of its countryside estate features a new, student-led project that researches sustainable methods of growing and farming, using practices that increase biodiversity and soil health. In fact, students are taking steps to make the campus even greener. The Gaia Society has been working to plant over 700 trees, from oaks and hornbeams, to walnuts and cobnuts. The outdoor spaces include gardens as well as research greenhouses, colourful new basketball courts and a reservoir that has been used for kayaking and bodyboarding. There are spacious playing fields where a Male Rugby Academy and Male and Female Football Academies, receive coaching. Inside are sport and science labs, lecture theatres, a gym, studios and many other exciting resources.
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Friendly chestnut filly foal, Tula, who was born and bred at Writtle University College, the UK’s only on-campus horse stud, which produces foals every year.
Supporting Students
As Chancellor, Jimmy aims to help students to make the most of their experience at Writtle. He’ll volunteer his time to attend University College events, such as prizegiving ceremonies and graduation. Jimmy will also act as an unpaid ambassador for the University College and support students’ work. Jimmy said: “I am delighted to join Writtle in this role – we share the same passion for developing opportunities for young people to enter the industry and I look forward to work with the University College, not only in the ceremonial aspects of the role, but also in developing exciting opportunities to extend their learning through research, work experience and community projects.” For more information about Writtle University College go to www.writtle.ac.uk
“We share the same passion for developing opportunities for young people to enter the industry.” www.jimmysfarm.com
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13/03/2022 15:17
‘Rediscover your inner wildness!’ The father of British bushcraft, TV presenter and author Ray Mears, talks about his UK tour and invites everyone to reconnect with nature.
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Tell us a bit about your 40-date UK tour which kicked off in February – why did you decide to do it? I was asked to write a book a couple of years ago on rewilding, and I thought, other people have done that and they’ve done it better than I could. But what I was interested in was rewilding us. So, I wrote We are Nature; it’s not a lockdown book, it just coincided with it, and it’s about rediscovering our inner wildness – the abilities we have to see, find, feel, touch and sense. For two and a half million years, we have lived in various stages of hunting and gathering and it’s only very recently, in the last couple of hundred years, that we have ceased to use those abilities. We have inside of us an incredible sensory array and this tour is about exploring that, combined with some techniques to enable us to see and get closer to wildlife, and also looking at some of the technology we can use to super-charge our senses. I’m also going to be asking people to assist in the fight against wildlife crime which has increased over lockdown… and I’m going to explain what’s going on and what we can do, simply by
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being good observers. The more you see, the more you feel about nature, and the more connected you are to it. What’s your earliest memory as a child of being at one with nature and what triggered your interest in bushcraft particularly? When I was a kid, we had encyclopaedias, which were wonderful. One fell off the desk and I tried to grab it by a page (not realising, of course, that it wouldn’t hold the weight of the book and it tore out), and it was about cavemen sitting around a fire, so maybe my fate was sealed at that moment. I’ve just had a fascination for travelling in wild places and being able to live there. I was quite excited by the pioneers even when I was a kid. And then having the opportunity to travel in wild places has just sealed that. I started wanting to camp out when I was eight... it was on my own – I was an only child. I didn’t have any equipment, but I didn’t remember any hardship, although it must have been really uncomfortable. But when you’re that age, you have an enthusiasm that just overcomes all. www.jimmysfarm.com
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“There is nothing more precious in life than the minutes of the day because, if we’re lucky, we have 80 years – that’s 80 summers – don’t waste it looking at a phone.” Today, I love travelling with my wife because it’s nice to have someone to share things with, but if I can get away on my own, I still like to. I’m happy in my own company – you’re never alone because you’re surrounded by wildlife, and you see more when you’re on your own. It’s almost 40 years since you founded Woodlore – the UK’s first school of wilderness bushcraft. Did you think it would be still going after all this time and what has been the secret of its enduring success? I’ve never really thought that far ahead – I live very much in the moment. Its success is that we do it very well. I have an amazing team, which has got better and better over the years. We do it for real, there’s no pretence…we teach people the things that you would do if you were travelling in wild places. That means you can’t, for example, carry five different packs and 16 different knives – you carry one. We’ve stayed true to our roots and have also reinforced that by taking people into wild places. Our next course will hopefully be in Lapland, which we’ve run for nearly 30 years. It’s 70 degrees north, beyond the black spruce – we’re looking for minus 40, if we can get it, as an average temperature. The average home freezer is minus 18, so that to us would be a warm day. We’ve had many people come on that course who’ve never camped out before in their lives – as long as you do the right things, you’re www.jimmysfarm.com
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fine – that’s part of the magic. It’s a great reminder that there’s only one way nature teaches you: the right way – and you have to pay attention to it because you can’t beat it. Your tour is called ‘We are Nature – an invitation to reconnect with the natural world’. As a species, when did the disconnect happen and what caused it? We feel that nature is at our disposal, which it’s not – we’re part of it. We are stewards of our environment in a way that other species aren’t. I suspect an alien looking in would say every species on the planet is doing its thing except for the humans, who are ignoring the fact that they’re supposed to take care of the rest. Having grown up in the Sixties, I feel we were closer to nature then – I suspect it [the disconnect] has come along about the same time as the rise of the home computer. The Sixties and Seventies were very nostalgic – it was a good time to be alive and I think there was a lot of respect in the world. There was respect for teachers, there was respect for authority, and in a strange way, politicians seemed more grown up back then. I think we lost something in the Eighties for sure. I do think it’s recoverable and I think it will be like something new because of the advantages of our technology, but we have to learn to use it wisely. There is nothing more precious in life than the minutes of the day because,
if we’re lucky, we have 80 years – that’s 80 summers – don’t waste it looking at a phone. It’s a very short amount of time and there’s so much to be discovered in the world. I think we’ll look back on this time and see social media as a mistake that was brought about by teenagers coming up with ideas and not having wisdom. In the social media age, how engaged are our youth with the natural world compared to 40 years ago? I think it’s more polarised than it was back then – when I grew up, more people were interested but not necessarily, proactively interested. I think today there are some people who just couldn’t care less and then others who are maybe overly interested; we can see this at COP26 and the support that Greta Thunberg has – it’s almost too strong and they’re becoming zealots. The best way to get everybody to change is to discover the joy of nature – the simple things – and that’s what this tour is all about. We have to remember that the planet isn’t at threat, it’s life on earth that’s threatened – the planet will rock on without us, as it did without the dinosaurs. In correcting the mistakes we have made, we can improve the quality of our lives, which is perhaps now more important than ever with such high population densities. There is the potential for a renaissance of human-nature relationships, and I hope we will strive towards that.
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15/03/2022 13:54
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“It’s really important to understand how everything in nature connects together.” How would today’s average adolescent cope in a world that required bushcraft skills? If you took your average inner city youngster who’s obsessed with his trainers, hoody and phone and threw him into the wild, you’re going to have temper tantrums, but I suspect that – given the right tuition – he or she would become very capable very quickly because we still have in our systems the things we need to deal with that, and people are more resilient than they know. That’s something I’ve seen many times on expeditions – we have strengths that we just don’t use anymore. Of all the bushcraft skills you have learnt and taught over the years, which is the most essential and useful? That’s easy – it’s developing a sense of humour! To give a serious answer, it’s what we’re doing on this tour. Using our senses can be life-changing – it doesn’t matter where you go in the world, what the season is…the climate…the environment – this underpins everything. Whatever you do in the way of bushcraft, you have to be able to find the resources that you need, and that means you need to be able to seek them and find them and identify them, and using your senses is the most important thing of all. That’s why I think this is the most important book I’ve ever written – it’s taken my normal audience a little bit by surprise because it’s not a manual in the normal sense. But everything that’s in there is not theoretical – it’s all based on real, lived and hard won experience – it’s all validated. When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your spare time? I like spending it in nature, but just not teaching, which is lovely. I live what I do – that’s the only way to be good at anything.
What else do you have coming up for 2022? I’m going to be doing a lot of teaching and running a lot of courses, which I’m really looking forward to. I feel like that there could be a day when I retire – I’m not at that point yet – but I want to make the most of passing on what I know. I did quite a lot in 2021, which was great. I worked with my team in a way I haven’t for a while and that was very rewarding. I want to develop a few ideas once Covid eases and we’re able to think more ambitiously, so it’s quite exciting. What would be your final message to everyone about reconnecting with nature? The joy of nature is seeing how we connect with it. Biologists have said that there is no such thing as a role in nature – well, there is if we choose there to be and we have a choice that other creatures don’t. It’s really important to understand how everything in nature connects together. I’ve always felt that when I’m in big forests, that I’m in one entity rather than multiple…the trees within it all act basically to support the future of the forest, sometimes in a selfless way, and this is revolutionising our understanding of biology.
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Ray Mears We Are Nature tour kicked off at theatres around the UK from 22 February 2022 (including The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 7 April). Ticket information www.raymears.com
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‘ We wanted the WOW factor – and we got it! ’ Vikki and Dan wanted a wedding that was unique, as ‘green’ as possible, and at a venue they could visit one day with their children – and Jimmy’s Farm came up trumps!
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XWe x xdx d x xi ngs xxx Tell us about the proposal; was it expected, discussed or entirely spontaneous? We got engaged on our last night in Malta, on 6th October 2017! The weather had been some of the worst they’d seen for early October in years, but we managed to make the most of our last couple of days. Dan asked me on the harbour in Gozo, close to our hotel. We’d been together just over four years at that point. What made you choose Jimmy’s Farm for your big day? We’d been to see a few venues, a little closer to home in Bury, but none of them had that ‘wow’ factor. Jimmy’s is completely different to an ‘ordinary’ barn or church wedding. We were very keen on having a wedding that was as sustainable as possible, and we found exactly that at Jimmy’s and were able to really build on that as a theme. We also really wanted somewhere that we could visit in the future with our children, and there’s not that many wedding venues you can do that with! When did you start to plan your wedding, was your partner involved in the planning or did you both instinctively know what type of wedding you wanted? We booked Jimmy’s in Oct 2018, having been to a couple of wedding fairs and show arounds. When we booked the venue, it was completely different to how it was when we actually got married. We were blown away by how much the venue had changed and how nice it was on the day. Dan was really keen on being involved as much as possible, which was really nice. How was planning your wedding during the pandemic? Did you have to move dates and did you get support? We had four dates in total! Planning it during the pandemic was STRESSFUL; there was tears and laughter. We did get very good at rescheduling though, we had tons of support from Natalie, our wedding planner, and friends and family, which made it a lot easier. It worked out perfectly in the end and we absolutely couldn’t have wished for a better day. Tell us about your ceremony – was anything special to you as a couple incorporated? Due to the pandemic and having to plan things with very little notice in the end, we actually got legally married the day before with very close friends and family present. That meant we could have a lot of fun with our ceremony at Jimmy’s! Thanks to Rob, our unofficial celebrant, it was light-hearted and funny, and really helped to bring out the chilled-out vibe
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we wanted for our wedding. We also had a ‘flower man’ which was brilliant, who walked in to the song ‘Sweet Cherry Pie’. It was also really important to us both to have our dog, Finn, at the wedding, which was another reason Jimmy’s was perfect for us. How was your wedding breakfast? What was on the menu? Our wedding breakfast was amazing! We wanted to keep it nice and simple while also having wonderfully hearty meals, so went for Homemade Soup, Roast Dexter of Beef dinner and some scrumptious dessert. It was perfectly organised and went really smoothly. Our guests kept telling us how lovely the food was, which is always good! What did you do to make your wedding personal to you both? Aside from having a really relaxed ceremony (and a flower man!), we wanted to do as much as possible ourselves. Making the table decorations, venue decorations and favours as sustainable as possible, www.jimmysfarm.com
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we opted for wildflower seeds and wild bird seed as favours and all of our decorations were gifted on to a friend’s wedding. What was your most memorable part of the day? I don’t want to single out one moment because all of it was perfect. Having waited for 14 months longer than we envisaged and everything else that had gone hand in hand with pandemic life, we really appreciated the simple feeling of being surrounded by our nearest and dearest without any restrictions. The sense of achievement when we finally were able to celebrate – it was all we could have wanted for our wedding day! What entertainment did you have? We had our reception in The Barn, and our first dance to ‘When You Got A Good Thing’ by Lady A as our first dance, on the raised steps outside the double doors. It was lovely as everyone could see us. Given the situation on social distancing, we just put a playlist together for a chilled-out evening. We did have a fire pit with marshmallows, which was a hit!
Where did you go on honeymoon or what do you plan to do once lockdown is lifted? We are going to Italy in June (fingers crossed) for a tour! We’re going to Venice, Verona, Florence, Rome and Sorrento, with day trips and activities planned all the way through. What was your favourite wedding purchase? Not so much an item, but I think the best money we spent was on the Exclusive Wildlife Park visit. It was so nice to be able to have the place to ourselves and let our guests enjoy feeding the animals. Do you have any tips for future couples? Literally everyone will tell you to really take the day in because it flies by, and they’re not wrong. Just take five minutes to appreciate everything you’ve achieved!
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“It was so nice to be able to have the place to ourselves and let our guests enjoy feeding the animals.” Top 100 pla to get marrieces d the world. in
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www.jimmysfarm.com
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Big day tips from our wedding planner, Natalie: • Make some time to be with your partner alone. Even for 15 minutes, take it all in – the day goes by so fast. • Talking to your guests is obviously a must, but you may end up not getting on the dance floor and missing your evening buffet – break away and have some fun! • Don’t forget flat shoes or flipflops for evening shape shifting • Make a list of photos you would like to be taken with family members and friends – it could be overlooked if it’s not written down and organised on the day.
Suppliers Photographer: Ella Violet Photography Celebrant: A very good friend of the couple, Rob, who was more than happy to step into the role! Bride’s dress and accessories: Karen Elizabeth Bridal, Bury St Edmunds Groom’s suit: Moss Bros, Ipswich Bridesmaid dresses & accessories: EverPretty Groomsmen’s suits: Moss Bros, Ipswich Cake: Cupcake Cloud Flowers: Alison Liddiard Entertainment: The venue - an Exclusive Wildlife Park visit with keeper talks Table plan & stationery: The couple with the help of Etsy and Denny Bros in Bury and local artist, Jenny Sheridan (illustrationbyjenny) Hairdresser: Gina Haddon Makeup: Makeup By Rosie D Transport: Kindly provided by a family friend Totally wild, totally unique The Jimmy’s Farm Weddings is the most amazing venue to host wild and unique wedding celebrations across East Anglia. On such a momentous day, you deserve nothing but the best of local food and a little bit of countryside living. A relaxed and beautifully rural venue that offers everything you dream of and now taking bookings for 2023 and 2024, with very EXCLUSIVE OFFERS for remaining 2022 dates. For more information, ideas and inspiration, head over to our Instagram page @Jimmys_Farm_WeddingsTo secure your date, contact us today weddings@jimmysfarm.com
www.jimmysfarm.com
Jimmy's Farm Weddings 2022.indd 48
• Have fun, laugh, eat and be MARRIED!
Wedding review
An incredible wedding venue! Venue Service By Sarah and Rohan, Date of Wedding - 22 Jun 2019
“Put simply, we could not have picked a better venue for our wedding. We loved the whole process from the beginning, when we first visited the farm and learned about the amazing animal rescue work they do, to the end, having a good chuckle with Head Chef Andrew about how many potatoes could be eaten by one person. On the day itself, we were lucky to have bright sunshine, but Jimmy’s came up trumps with everything else to make the day one to remember: a beautiful marquee with scenic backdrop, a super fun farm experience for all our guests, incredible food in the atmospheric barn, seamless organisation, and superb staff who worked brilliantly throughout what was a very long day. And, last but not least, the pleasure of working with Natalie; fun and resourceful, a safe pair of hands with tonnes of brilliant ideas. Jimmy’s is a beautiful, rustic, charming and unique venue made exceptional by the friendliness of everyone who works there.”
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www.jimmysfarm.com
13/03/2022 15:30
Ga rd e ni ng
Springtime in the garden We catch up with Gemma Marriage, Estate Manager at Jimmy’s Farm, who has been busy as a bee preparing for spring! Spring is the most hopeful time in the garden, with all the new life beginning to show and the promise of bountiful harvests on the horizon. As the threat of overnight frosts starts to lessen, I start thinking a bit more seriously about sowing some seeds. I like to make a plan for all our vegetable beds to give visual interest for our visitors, but also to supply the farm shop and restaurant with fresh produce. Some edibles are frosthardy and take a long time to become ready to pick, so these are the ones to sow first, including many brassicas such as kale and artichokes. By the time they are ready to plant out, it’s warm enough for
more temperature-sensitive edibles such as squashes and runner beans to be sown, making the most of the propagation space. An additional aspect for us to think about this year is our hive of honeybees, which arrived in September. We’ve been carefully tending to them over winter, providing additional food, and on warm days they have rewarded us by being very active, flying about collecting water and visiting any blooms that are open such as the winter flowering cherry tree directly next to their hive area. Once spring hits, we’ll be undertaking regular hive inspections to check the health of the colony and assess whether we need to add any extra frames to the hive for honey or breeding.
In terms of flowers, we’ve left lots of the more interesting seed heads over winter for their shape and structure, as well as providing some hiding spaces for insects such as ladybirds. Once it warms up, it’s time to have a little prune back, to maintain the desired shape of your plant and make space for any new growth. I’ve noticed a lot of our Verbena bonariensis plants starting to produce new growth very early, so I’ll be using the opportunity to take some cuttings and increase the number of these to plant around other areas of the park. These will be especially well received in our butterfly house, which is due to reopen this spring – restoring the more tropical planting scheme in there is a whole other challenge! This winter so far has not been particularly cold, and I’ve found the weeds have not been as dormant as I would have liked! A regular job has been keeping on top of these and continuing to mulch afterwards to suppress their growth and provide nutrients for the desired plants – if in doubt add more mulch!
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We have also completed our first grass cuts in a couple of areas on the park already because of the warm weather. We have a few areas of bare soil that are due for re-seeding, where work has taken place, such as installing of our new adventure play area. Early spring is the perfect time to get the grass growing, giving the seed some time to germinate and establish before the footfall that the busy summer season will bring. There are going to be lots more exciting new developments at Jimmy’s Farm this year for our 20th anniversary. For my team, this includes brand-new planting across all areas of the park to complement new buildings, provide enrichment opportunities for our animal species and extra habitat space for our native wildlife, making everything just that little bit more special!
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Fo o d & d ri nk
Coffee Love
We have a chat with our friends at South East Coffee Company to find out what it takes to make the perfect brew.
South East Coffee Company is a friendly, family-run business situated in Norfolk, founded in 2012. Roasters and suppliers of great coffees, machines and barista training to well-loved establishments throughout East Anglia, its extensive range of coffees, including both artisan single origin coffees and bespoke blends, are lovingly roasted in North Norfolk. We speak to Company Director Carl Chilton...
How long has coffee been around and what’s its origin? Coffee most likely originated from Kaffa in Ethiopia. The first historical references to coffee are from around 850AD in Persia, but there are stories mentioning coffee dating back further than that. Coffee was first used for medicinal purposes in Ethiopia when its stimulant property, caffeine, was recognised. Sufi monks in 15th century Yemen would use coffee as a stimulant to stay awake during allnight meditation and prayers.
How is it grown? A coffee bean is actually a seed that comes from the cherry of a fruit tree. Coffee trees are in the genus, coffea, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family. There are 50 countries between the Tropics and within the coffee bean belt that produce the two main species, Arabica and Robusta. Arabica grows on steep slopes and plateaus 600 to 2,000 metres above sea level, while Robusta grows in humid tropical climates from sea level to 600 metres.
It is thought that the use of coffee as a drink originated in Yemen. Coffee arrived in several European cities before it came to England, with the first shipment arriving in Venice from Turkey in 1615. The first coffee houses in England opened in 1650 in Oxford and 1652 in London. By 1675, there were more than 3,000 coffee houses in England serving this mysterious, exotic and intoxicating liquor said to resemble ‘syrup of soot or essence of old shoes’!
www.jimmysfarm.com
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Fo o d & d ri nk
There is a five-year growing cycle from seedling to mature bush. On maturity, a white blossom flowers and then forms a bud, which turns from dark green to bright red; this dark red ‘cherry’ usually contains two coffee beans. The outer fleshy layer, inner parchment and silver skin layers are then removed by either the Wet or Dry methods of processing…the cleaned coffee beans are then graded for quality and size for export to consumer countries.
What’s the secret to a great tasting coffee? The secret is to start with good coffee beans that are fresh, as temperature, air, moisture and light can impact on the coffee’s flavour. Coffee is 98 per cent water, so make sure the water quality is good too. Water temperature between 195 and 205 degrees is ideal and getting the perfect extraction is crucial…the best coffee to water ratio is 1 part coffee to 15-18 parts water. Lastly, keep your machine clean and descaled! How important is the caffeine factor in the flavour? Caffeine has a flavour of its own, bitter and alkaline, which reacts with the natural oils and fats within coffee to contribute to the overall taste.
What’s involved in the coffee roasting process? The green bean arrives at the roaster in 60 or 70kg sacks. Cleaning processes remove dust, any metal particles and stones. The coffee roaster fired by gas burner or hot air circulation is pre-heated.
The beans enter the roasting chamber and are constantly turned and, most essentially, must reach 220°C before they physically ‘pop’ and begin to yield their aroma and coffee character.
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Ensuring correct development, the roasting process continues until the required roast colour is reached. Roasted coffee is then cooled and conveyed to the packing process either whole bean or ground.
www.jimmysfarm.com
13/03/2022 16:03
Fo o d & d ri nk
As a nation, why do we love coffee so much? The UK population now drinks on average between 95-98 million cups of coffee in a day! Coffee not only smells and tastes good, it makes us feel good and with many people choosing to incorporate socialising (who doesn’t like to meet friends and family out for a coffee or two?) and working with drinking coffee, it has become an essential part of British life. How many varieties of coffee does South East Coffee Company produce? We have 27 different single origin coffees from around the world, which can also be made into bespoke blends – that is a lot of coffee to choose from!
What are the most popular coffees – and what’s your favourite? Our most popular coffee that we roast and supply is a blend of Ethiopian, Brazilian and Vietnamese beans, resulting in a well-balanced and medium to dark roast coffee. My favourite coffee is Hawaiian Kona coffee, a coffee of exceptionally high quality which has an incredibly smooth and unique taste. Hawaii is on my bucket list; I would love to visit the volcanic mountains of Kona to see where this amazing coffee is grown.
What’s new in the coffee world? Coffea stenophylla, a rare coffee species, has been discovered in Sierra Leone that tastes as good as Arabica coffee, but grows in warmer conditions. This discovery is vitally important to the world’s future coffee market as it is predicted that, due to climate change, about half of the land that is used to grow Arabica coffee will be unproductive by 2050. www.southeastcoffee.co.uk
What is your strongest coffee? A blend called Mocha Brazil.
5 things you didn’t know about coffee Beethoven was such an avid coffee drinker that he would count out 60 coffee beans per cup before making his brew. In 2010, a modified VW Scirocco called Car-Puccino was driven from London to Manchester powered by coffee. Bees love coffee plants and are attracted to the caffeine in the flowers’ nectar – caffeine can even help to improve a honeybee’s memory. In 1675, Charles II issued a proclamation banning the sale of coffee from shops and houses – he declared they bred a breach of public order! Coffee plants were not native to Central and South America; they were brought over by Europeans as seedlings in the early 1700s.
www.jimmysfarm.com
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You can discover more interesting coffee facts, by visiting South East Coffee Company’s Instagram page @southeastcoffeeco or #southeastcoffeefacts
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Fo o d
Crunch Time
Easy to grow and available virtually all year round, carrots are as healthy as they are colourful! They’re known for their bright orange hue and being Bugs Bunny’s favourite chomping snack. But did you know that when carrots first arrived on the scene in ancient Egypt as a natural remedy for an assortment of ailments more than 5,000 years ago, they weren’t orange at all but purple? By the time they were farmed in Afghanistan in the 10th century, purple carrots were joined by yellow ones and then red, white and even black! It’s only thanks to Dutch farmers in the 16th century that we have today’s orange carrot, which was created by crossbreeding red carrots with yellow ones and is the most widely consumed variety today. The veg is one of the most popular across the world – and it’s no surprise.
IN NUMBERS
19
The world’s longest carrot was grown in Nottinghamshire in 2007, measuring 5.84 metres or over 19 foot long
Not only is it tasty and versatile, the carrot is a health powerhouse! Half a medium-sized carrot counts as one of your five portions of fruit and veg a day and is high in fibre. It is an important source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant which belongs to a group of coloured pigments that protects the body’s cells from harmful radicals and makes a valuable contribution towards vitamin A requirements. Vitamin A is a nutrient that aids vision, bone growth, healthy hair and skin, and cell functionality and immunity. Studies have also shown that carrots are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers and strokes. What’s more – it’s all in the crunch! Carrots are natural toothbrushes, scraping off
100
Brits eat 700,000 tonnes worth of carrots every year – about 100 per person
2.3m
plaque and food particles by stimulating the gums and saliva, and boast minerals that prevent tooth damage. So, brush up on your carrots now!
Grow your own
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), carrots are easy to grow from seed, taking up little space, rarely need watering and can even be grown in containers. You can sow small batches regularly from early spring onwards, for harvests almost all year round. Carrots like the sun and light, and well-drained soil, so if your soil is stony, shallow or heavy clay, go for short-rooted types or grow them in raised beds or containers to avoid stunted or forked ones.
18000
The total area in Britain planted with carrots each year is 9000ha – the equivalent of 18,000 football pitches
If you laid all the carrots grown in this country in one year end to end, they would reach 2.3 million kilometres – that’s two and a half return trips to the moon
Source: British Carrot Growers’ Association
If you want to support British farmers and are mindful of cutting down on your food miles and carbon footprint, then carrots should be top of your shopping list, according to the British Carrot Growers’ Association. British carrots are available in shops almost all year round, from early to mid-June right through to May.
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www.jimmysfarm.com
16/03/2022 10:12
Fo o d
What’s cooking? If you’re in need of some comfort food, try this tasty recipe with a chili kick for a chilly spring night in!
Braised Beef Shin Chili One of the most popular dishes we’ve served on our Big Beef Nights has been our Shin Chili. As we tweak the menu each time, it won’t be on for ever, so we thought we’d share it in our magazine for you all to enjoy.
Method Rub the shin with salt and pepper, then seal in a medium pan. Add the beef stock, cover and simmer for 7/8 hours until soft (you can use a slow cooker if you have one), set aside to cool, then pull into chunks.
Ingredients 1kg beef shin Salt Pepper 1ltr beef stock 3 onions, diced 4 cloves garlic, crushed 60g ginger, grated 150g red chili, sliced 500g chopped tomatoes 500g red kidney beans, drained 1 lime, zest and juiced 1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped
Sweat the onions and garlic, add the ginger, chili, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and cook slowly for an hour until soft, then add the beef, lime and coriander and check for seasoning.
www.jimmysfarm.com
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Serve with tortillas and sour cream.
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We Build Great Gardens
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Fo o d Unfortunately, these are no longer ‘one a penny, two a penny’ due to ever-rising inflation, but one thing is guaranteed – they are still delicious!
Slightly warm the milk, then add the eggs, sugar, and yeast. Slowly add the wet mix into the dry, giving a tacky dough. Prove in a warm place until doubled in size.
Ingredients For the buns 700g strong flour 2tsp mixed spice 125g butter 100g sultanas 50g mixed peel 350ml milk 2 eggs 150g sugar 25g yeast
Divide the mix into 10 balls, then place on a tray with enough room between them. While these prove, mix the plain flour with a little water until you have a thick paste, then pipe crosses onto the top. Once these have doubled in size again, bake at 170C for 15-20 minutes until golden. While the buns are still warm, heat up the apricot jam with a splash of water, then brush over the buns and allow to cool.
For the top 75g plain flour 50g apricot jam Method Beat together the strong flour, mixed spice and butter, before adding the sultanas and mixed peel.
Hot Cross Buns
Jazz Breakfast is Back
Start the weekend right by letting our chefs prepare a fresh ‘Farm to Fork’ breakfast fit for a farmer and be entertained by the soothing sound of live Jazz from 9.30am-11.00am.
Saturday 23rd April 2022 Saturday 11th June 2022 Saturday 10th September 2022 Secure your tickets today by heading to the website www.jimmysfarm.com and click on Events or call our Events Team on 01473 604206.
www.jimmysfarm.com
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S ho p o nli ne
Spring to it
Check out our hand-picked selection of garden, Splash fashion and shopping essentials for this season.
out
BEE FRIENDLY
Blooming marvellous
Sit back and relax this summer in a deckchair from Perkins & Morley. Featuring a vibrant floral watercolour print by Jan Morley, this deckchair is designed and made in the UK, and will bring a splash of colour and personality to your garden, wherever it is placed. £149. perkinsandmorley.com
BREKKIE BEAUTY
Garden spaces If you want an extra room in the garden, Multi Space offers bespoke spaces that combine creativity with functionality, built to last and with a strong focus on using eco-friendly materials where possible. From garden offices, studios and gyms to larger projects such as pool houses, annexes, and self-catering accommodation pods. Price dependent on project. multispaceuk.com This personalised Pretty Flowers Breakfast Set in Bone China by Sparkle Ceramics will give any child the perfect start to the day. Available in a range of designs and dishwasher safe, each set features a bowl, mug and egg cup (with a choice of three mug sizes). From £45. sparkleceramics.com
This stylish, all-weather, acrylic bean bag chair from Armadillo Sun offers the perfect comfort for chilled out days and evenings in the garden. Lightweight and extremely durable, it is fade, mould and stain resistant. Available in a variety of fabric designs. From £239. armadillosun.com
FULL OF BEANS www.jimmysfarm.com
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Help our bees by growing nectar-rich wildflowers and providing a garden home with the Bee Block Hotel and Seedbom gift set from Kabloom. Designed and made by Green & Blue using up to 70 per cent waste material from the Cornish China clay industry. The perfect combo with Pollinator Beebom Seedboms, produced from 100 per cent compostable materials. £28. kabloom.co.uk
Deck it out Trex Enhance® decking offers the beautiful look and style of natural timber without the hassle. Composite decking is versatile, durable and low maintenance, saving time and labour, plus it has a longer lifespan than traditional timber. Featuring built-in fade and stain protection, as well as mould and mildew resistance. Basic range from £8.29/M, Naturals range from £11.17/M. uk.trex.com
SPLASH
OUT Keep the kids dry as they explore with the Puddle Buster range from Frugi, which has unveiled its latest collection of ethical and sustainable outerwear made mostly from recycled plastic bottles. This Fluorocarbon-free coat has a waterproof rating of 10,000HH and a recycled polyester fleece lining. Coat from £45, unisex waterproof trousers from £28. welovefrugi.com
14/03/2022 13:45
2022 02Jimmys Farm General.qxp_133mm h x 93mm w 01/03/2022 12:59 Pa
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S ho p ne a rby
Shopping ‘St. Lucia’ Garden Furniture
Get ready for warm weather with our stocked ranges of premium rattan garden furniture. This set is great for all the family with unique rising table, perfect for lounging or dining. W195 x H74 D 185 cm Previously £2,799 Sale £2,099
‘Arizona’ Ceramic Vase
This monochromatic vase features a geometrical style and unique shape, producing an elegant and eyecatching art deco-inspired piece, perfect for any home. Dimensions: W12.7 x D12.7 x H32.5 cm. After Sale Price £65 Sale Price £55
Established in 1886, Hatfields remains a family owned local retailer, providing quality furniture, flooring and home accessories
‘FRENCHY’ BUTLER FIGURINE This adorable bulldog is at your service with the Gold tray he holds in his mouth! He will gladly hold your keys, post, candles or even a plant and the tray is removeable too. H40 x W36 x D25 cm. After Sale Price £199 Sale Price 169
Hatfields is just 21 miles away from Jimmy’s Farm… Monday - Saturday, 9.30am – 5pm Sundays, 10.30am – 4.30pm Bank Holidays, 10am – 5pm Hatfields Furniture & Interiors, Peartree Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0LA www.hatfields.com
‘Lenny’ Leather Armchair & Footstool
An iconic design with a clever combination of curves, swivel base and rocking mechanism, which combine with the footstool to create a unique and comfortable set. Chair Size: W71 x D103 x H95 cm Previously £2,419 Sale Price £1,935
‘ATLANTIC STREAKS’ RUG BY LOUIS DE POORTERE
This colourful and abstract rug has a real personality; designed to show the sandy shores of New Jersey and Long Island when whipped by the winter gales! Available in 8 colours and many sizes. Priced as 200 x 140 cm in ‘Montauk Multi’. Previous Price £425 Stock Sale Price £295
www.jimmysfarm.com
Jimmy's Farm Shopping pages.indd 64
This exquisite wall mirror will be the focal point of any room and creates a light and elegant space. A showstopper that is also available in silver. W91.4 x D5 x H91.4 cm After Sale Price £199 Sale Price £169
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Gold Framed Wire Mirror 13/03/2022 19:07
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Kashqai - Pure Natural Wool Rug
Peartree Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0LA
01206 765444 www.hatfields.com
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Map NEW FOR 2022
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MADAGASCAN EXHIBIT & MEERKAT ENCLOSURE
Dogs Welcome
www.jimmysfarm.com
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Pig (12cm)
£4.95
66 13/03/2022 19:11
Preparing your child for a bright future
"Pupils achieve considerable success in a range of academic and other achievements." Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
We are an 'excellent' rated (ISI) school for ages 2 to 11, where happy children make excellent progress. Call to arrange a tour and find out how we can give your child the very best start in life.
OPEN MORNING: SATURDAY 23RD APRIL 2022 w: stmargaretsprep.com t: 01787 273 050 e: admissions@stmargaretsprep.com Gosfield Hall Park, Halstead, Essex CO9 1SE Ads.indd 67
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FOR CHILDREN FROM 21/2 TO 11 YEARS OLD www.littlegarth.org
01206 262 332
Horkesley Park, Nayland, Colchester, CO6 4JR Ads.indd 68
20/11/2021 23:45