Adam Henson's Farm Park to open new eco-lodges

Published by

Nicky Godding

Cotswold Farm Park, the popular farm attraction co-owned by leading agriculture personality Adam Henson and Duncan Andrews, is set to expand after announcing that it will be opening six new eco-friendly lodges with the support of a £150,000 loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

The loan is now funding the construction of the new five-birth lodges, which are due to open in May and will increase capacity of the farm park to cater for up to 7,000 additional guests every year. This translates to an increase in turnover of more than £200,000 and helps secure the employment of five new full-time jobs across the estate.

Cotswold Farm Park was opened in 1971 by Adam’s father, Joe Henson, to promote the conservation of rare breeds of indigenous British farm animals and educate people of all ages about the importance of caring for the environment and preserving natural habitats.

Maintaining this legacy, the new eco-lodges will sit among more than 1,000 native trees and shrubs that have been planted in the Cotswold countryside, and will have bat and bird boxes to help create new habitats and let visitors get up close and personal with the local wildlife.

Duncan Andrews said: “We have a long-term, estate-wide commitment to protecting the environment, and we’ve made every effort to put the natural surroundings at the heart of our new lodges.”

In keeping with this commitment, the new lodges will be constructed using timber that is all sourced within 15 miles of the farm, while the use of concrete will be kept to a minimum, helping to reduce embedded carbon by 3.5 tonnes. Central heating and hot water will be provided by solar panels, with draft proofing and double-glazed doors and windows helping to increase heating efficiency.

“Lloyds Bank has shared our sustainable vision from the get-go”, continued Duncan. “We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support, standing close by our side as we grow the business. We look forward to continuing to work with the team in delivering affordable overnight attractions to welcome even more visitors to this beautiful part of the world.”

Matthew Canning, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Nearly half of businesses in the region said that becoming more environmentally-friendly is important to them this year. The great work at Cotswold Farm Park should provide plenty of inspiration of how green practices can help to drive successful business decisions. This expansion will also benefit the wider tourism industry, as well as provide a boost for local restaurants and shops from increased visitors to the area, so we’re delighted to be part of it all with our own commitment to help Britain prosper.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.