A cabin and yurt combination, so well set up for a summer gathering that it even has a house band on offer...

The Damson Orchard in the summer is the perfect place for a party. The cabin sleeps 6 in one double and two pairs of bunks and has the kitchen, the bathroom and the broad veranda that all go together to make it the natural hub for all the fun. The two yurts are 17’ and 10’ across. The larger (sleeping 4) has a double bed plus futons and the other has a double futon mattress. The resident house band, The Remi Harris trio, can provide a Gypsy jazz soundtrack to your special occasion or you can have the orchard all to yourselves, and enjoy the splendid views, the abundant wildlife and the unique atmosphere of tranquility that Ben and Nada have created.
The Damson Orchard is open in the summer months from April to early October. During the winter months, the yurts are packed away and the cabin on its own sleeps 6. In this guise it’s booked under the name of The Damson Cabin. If you want to book the cabin on its own, go to the Damson Cabin page.

• Esentials
• Getting there
• Eating & Drinking
• Things to do
• Booking terms
• Meet your hosts

The essentials

The important stuff

• Check in time is 3pm (earlier might be possible by arrangement)
• Check out time is 11am
• Pets are not allowed at The Hatch
• Kids of all ages are welcome
• Box of fire logs free. Any extra are chargeable
• The Damson Cabin has mains power

Sleeping arrangements

he cabin sleeps 6 in one double and two pairs of bunks. The three yurts are 17', 10' and 9' across. The largest has a double bed and the other two have futon mattresses – each sleeps 2.

Kids & Pets

Children are very welcome at The Hatch, but unfortunately pets cannot be accommodated.

Cooking

• Gas hobs
• BBQ nearby
• Kettle with coffee and teas
• Fridge with freezer compartment
• Cooking pots, frying pan and cooking accessories
• Crockery and cutlery for ten
• Sink

Heating, lighting & bedding

• Double and single duvets, pillows and covers
• Hand, bath and tea towels
• Box of fire logs free. Any extra are chargeable
• The Damson Cabin has mains power

Entertainment

• Games and books
• There is no TV
• Tennis court and rackets
• Musical instruments
• Magnifying glass for insect and flower inspection
• Note pads for doodling

Getting there

By car

The Hatch is off the A443 between Newnham Bridge and Abberley Hall. In the parish of Lindridge there is an Indian restaurant called The Nags Head and a sign-post to Frith Common. Take that narrow lane: The Hatch is the third drive on the left about 1/3 of a mile from the Nags Head. Go to the end of the drive, through the yard and The Cabin parking is on the left looking out over the meadow.

By train and then bus

Go to Worcester Forgate Street train station and catch the 758 bus from Crowngate bus stop nearby. Ask the driver to drop you at The Nags Head. It's about a 40 min bus journey and the last bus goes at 17:50. Call Ben and Nada when you're on the bus and they'll come to pick you up. Or you can walk up the lane if you prefer. It's a 10 min walk.

Eating & drinking

Eating at The Hatch

Of course, a big part of The Hatch experience is cooking for yourself. In The Hatch Cabin you'll find cookie and cake making utensils, plus there's the BBQ outside and in the future there'll be a pizza oven. Ben and Nada can provide veg boxes by arrangement from the organic garden.

Pubs & Restaurants

The Bell at Pensax (3.5 miles). A great pub for local ales. The Bell has won many prizes for the beers and serves good local food.

Ludlow is food heaven. As well as being great for events and festivals, there's the fantastic farmers' market and plenty of opportunities to nibble and sample local delights.

No trip to Worcestershire is complete without sampling a cider. Robinsons has been made in Tenbury for the past 200 years.

Rochford Meats at Stanford bridge is an excellent farm shop which stocks many local foods. The Keysell Family have been farming in Rochford since 1921. Their 90 acre farm has produced fruit, beef, lamb, pork, cereals and other things over the past century. Now they concentrate on rearing livestock in a traditional way, to produce delicious meat that they sell at Farmers' Markets. Andrew butchers all the meat himself as well as helping Jim, his dad, with the farming.

Things to do

Music!

making...

The studio is fully equipped with all the gear you need to make a great sounding recording.

It has been used by professional bands from all over the world and continues to get superb results. With the recent upgrade of the desk to a TL Audio M4, the experience has been tweaked further, and the seasoned musician who needs a change of scene or anyone who has been toying with the idea of recording some songs would be hard pressed to find a better place to come.

and listening...

There are quite a few 'house' concerts lined up. These are held in the main house and are wonderfully intimate affairs. Guests at The Hatch Cabin get free entry and, if they arrive early, the best seats in the house.

Outdoor & active  

Walking

Tenbury is a prime location for walkers. Situated on the borders of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire and close to the Welsh Marches it offers the chance to explore some of the finest scenery in the country. The area also gave inspiration to some of the world’s leading writers and artists. There is information available at the library and maps and books for purchase at Books Books Books and at the Tourist Information Centre in Teme Street.

The Tenbury Walking Weekend

This takes place early in May every year and a choice of guided walks is available. Full details can be obtained from the TIC and on the website. There are lots of walks, some of which are led and others allow you the freedom of self discovery. Please follow the Country Code and only use the official rights of way, details of which are available at the TIC, the Library and Books Books Books.

Festivals & events

Tenbury plays host to many events throughout the year. Tenbury In Bloom transforms the town during the summer when nearly every building is adorned with flowers. Tenbury has had a long association with apples and is often described as The Town in The Orchard. Tenbury holds an annual Applefest which takes place in October.

Festivals going on nearby include Ludlow Castle and food festival, Mosley Folk Festival and Malvern Festival. Nozstock and Hay on Wye festivals are also possible to visit from The Hatch. Then there are the numerous local village fetes and fairs.

Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire are the three main growers for mistletoe in the UK. There are over 100 varieties and Tenbury is famous for its Mistletoe auctions that take place in December. The annual Mistletoe Festival also takes place at this time, incorporating music, storytelling and the Mistletoe procession.

The Tenbury Countryside Show takes place at the beginning of August. (Local livestock show and country pursuits). This show has now expanded to being one of the major agricultural events in the West Midlands being the home for the national Hereford cattle competition.

Applefest has now become a regular event in Tenbury in October each year. The apple is celebrated in all its forms, including cider. Keep an eye out for further details.

The Martin Homer Painting & Pottery Summer School has been running for over 20 years and is located just 2 miles from Tenbury at Aston Bank. The courses attract people from all over the world who enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Teme Valley. The pottery and painting studios are situated in the barn and hop kilns attached to the house. The Lower House is an attractive seventeenth century farmhouse set in a large interesting garden for your perfect pottery or painting holiday.

If you like motor racing, visit Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb, said to be one of the oldest and most popular hill climbs in the UK. The course is in the heart of the Teme Valley and well worth a visit. Check their website for race dates.

Courses & classes

There are occasional creative workshops at The Hatch such as:

Weaving and Felting with Jane Meredith

Willow basket making with Frances Keenan 

For more info on The Hatch workshops please check their website.

Meet your hosts

Hundreds of years ago, The Hatch was the last farm before entering the Forest of Wyre; a gateway to the territories governed by 'forest law'. This is how the place got its name. Discovered as a ruin by Robin Salmon and his mother Patricia in the mid-1950s, the cluster of buildings sits in its own quiet nook of rolling countryside. It took hold of their hearts, and has since been home to four generations of the family. Today Robin’s son Ben and his wife Nada live at The Hatch with their two young children. As well as the Cabin, they host art, music and craft workshops, performances and concerts and run a state-of-the-art professional recording studio.

Nada has a small cut-flower business and they are also involved in regenerating the surrounding woodland through coppicing and the establishment of rich habitats for wildlife. Set in a valley of such biodiversity, Nada and Ben are hoping for The Hatch to become a Site of Special Scientific Interest through the ‘Natural England’ scheme.

The Hatch is registered as a Wwoof host, which means that throughout the year there are visits by volunteers who come from all over the world to help out on the farm and in the garden, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere.

In mid-September The Hatch becomes a gallery, exhibiting work by artists as part of the Hereford Arts Week. Future plans include a cabin in the damson orchard with accommodation in shepherd's huts, yurts and Gypsy caravans; foraging workshops, charcoal making workshops, forest education and more amazing gigs...

Environmental Policy

Each bunk has its own solar-powered reading light. Ben and Nada are avid recyclers and have compost/bottle/glass/plastic bins. For the BBQ, when available, they provide their own Hatch-produced charcoal. All of the food comes from the organic garden or is locally sourced.

There really is an abundance of wildlife here, thanks to the presence of ponds, woodland and wildflower meadows: it’s a rich ecosystem, providing a haven for the insect population, which of course lays the foundation for a broad range of creatures higher up the food chain.

In spring you're surrounded by blossoming fruit trees. There are close to seven hundred fruit trees including cider apples, perry pears, damsons, cherries, sweet apples, pears and plums. Come in September or into autumn to help with the harvest: season of mists, mellow fruitfulness - and fruity over-indulgence.