All about Bouncers Farm

All about Bouncers Farm

Shetland Soay at Bouncers Farm

Ann Bishop's family have been on the land at Bouncers Farm since her grandfather built the house in 1935, but Ann knows a fair bit about the nomadic life. She once made an eight-week pony and carriage pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela, camping every night. This love of life on the road and other connections to Gypsy culture, have led her to set up the camp in all its authentic glory. Other things at Bouncers Farm though, didn't happen with quite so much planning. Ann was given three of the Kune Kune pigs (the name means 'round and fat' in Maori) as gifts and before she knew it there were twelve. They live happily alongside Shetland Soay sheep, which will come and eat out of your hand.

Environmental policy

All the animals at the farm feed naturally wherever possible and the Gypsy Camp itself is off-grid. Her hot water is solar powered (she's had panels for 30 years) and she composts and recycles all waste. For all her wonderful cooking, she uses only produce from within a four mile radius of the farm and her own wherever possible.

Wildlife

Bluebells within the woods

There are of course the sheep, the pigs and the horses of Ann's own, but also Kingfishers that can often be seen on river walks from the camp and all sorts of wading birds on the large sweeps of tidal beach nearby.

The beautiful 300-year-old copse gives a wonderful show of bluebells with wild orchids and bee orchids growing in the nearby paddocks. There are resident owls that can be heard late in the evening and of course plenty of other birdlife, including both kinds of woodpeckers although these are very shy and so not easy to spot. If you are early the occasional fox or badger might still be out on the prowl.

The Gypsy Camp - details

• BBQ
• Camp fire tripod
• Queenie stove (just for warmth but can heat a kettle)
• Fridge in lounge area
• All pots and pans including a traditional heavy skillet

• All provided except towels
• Laundry and even ironing can be arranged for The Gypsy Camp guests

• Assorted board games
• Cards

• A torch
• Warm pyjamas!
• Wellies (you can't trust the weather)

• Check in time is 2 to 6pm
• Check out time is 10am
• Only well behaved pets will be allowed at Bouncers Farm
• Children of all ages are welcome
• A starter pack of firewood, gas and candles is included, but refills will be charged
• The free range chickens are really very free. Expect to find them everywhere!
• Apart from the shower and common room, the house and it's garden are off limits to guests
• If you're going to be late for check in, please let Ann know and if you're early, you'll be able to leave your things on site

Getting there

Bouncers Farm, Wickham Hall Lane, Wickham Bishops, Essex CM8 3JJ

By car

Come off the A12 onto the B1018, follow it past the golf course and over the river. Bouncers Farm is on Wickham Hall Lane, you can turn left off the B1018 onto Station Road and turn right onto Wickham Hall Lane at the T Junction or miss Station Road and turn left onto Wickham Hall Lane a bit further on. Either way, the farm is well signposted from the road.

By train and then horse and cart

Ann can arrange to pick you up in her pony and carriage from Wickham Bishops, a short bus ride from Witham station.

By cycle

Bouncers Farm is connected to central London by the National Cycle Network, so you can even ride all the way there from 'town'.

Things to do

Opera in the Orchard

Bouncers Farm is part of the Maldon Art Trail - a cultural tour of the area including the chance to see both opera and art in the orchard. This year the music will be a little Gilbert & Sullivan and some classic opera highlights. Taking place on 10th and 11th July.

Ann can also organise 'country explorer days' with herself and a local guide where you can try out everything from jam making to den building and 'mini beast hunt'. You'll need to let her know a bit in advance but it's well worth it for a fun day in the orchard.

There are a few lovely beach day trips around Bouncers Farm including the great stretches of sand at Frinton and Clacton, the classic seaside town of Walton on the Naze and, with a little local knowledge, a wealth of secret beaches just waiting to be discovered.

If Bouncers Farm somehow isn't wild enough for you, try Colchester Zoo with over 260 rare species, many of which are part of important breeding programmes.

Places to visit

Layer Marney Towers is an old Tudor house with a range of seasonal activities and beautiful gardens.
Cressing Barn Temples is a set of tithe barns that were built for the Knights Templar and are now home to St George's Day jousting among other things.

The medieval theme continues at Hedingham and Colchester castles but the church of St Peter-on-the-wall goes back much further. Its one of the earliest known places of Christian worship in the British Isles and right out on the beautiful Dengie peninsula.

Festivals, celebrations and special days

We've mentioned it already, but The Opera in the Orchard on 10th and 11th July is the big event of the Bouncers Farm year. Book the Gypsy Camp for a front row seat.

Eating & drinking

The Company Shed, Seafood paradise

Pubs & Restaurants

The Ducane is a fabulous gastro pub, only a two-mile walk from Bouncers Farm, in the village of Braxted. Chef Jonathan Brown has worked under many famous names including Raymond Blanc at the world-famous Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.

The Company Shed on Mersea Island is a truly unusual seafood eatery. They serve only the freshest fish and fabulous oysters, but the word restaurant is banned and for good reason. The décor isn't fancy, there's no cutlery and when they say 'only seafood' they mean it. If you want wine, bread or anything else, you'd better bring it with you.

The chef at Crofters Wine Bar in Witham was voted the best in Essex for 2009. The food is delicious and reasonably priced.

Ann also recommends the Blue Strawberry Bistro in Hatfield and there are many pubs in Maldon serving good quality, locally sourced food.

Eating & drinking at Bouncers Farm

Ann can deliver you a hamper of fruit, vegetables and meat from a network of small growers and farmers nearby, but she'll also cook for you, given enough warning. Come home to a slow-cooked stew or a basket of fresh produce ready for you to cook. The eggs are fresh and free range from her own chickens and the lamb comes from her own farm. She also makes just about everything that can be made out of apples; chutneys, jams, jellies and cordials to name but four. Even a cooked breakfast can be arranged (not entirely made of apples) and Ann's homemade quiches and cakes make great picnic food.

There's almost too much local produce to mention at Bouncers. Ask Ann about bacon from round the corner, fresh fruit and juice, the local bakery and even the Chigborough fish smokery.

All about Bouncers Farm

Shetland Soay at Bouncers Farm

Ann Bishop's family have been on the land at Bouncers Farm since her grandfather built the house in 1935, but Ann knows a fair bit about the nomadic life. She once made an eight-week pony and carriage pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela, camping every night. This love of life on the road and other connections to Gypsy culture, have led her to set up the camp in all its authentic glory. Other things at Bouncers Farm though, didn't happen with quite so much planning. Ann was given three of the Kune Kune pigs (the name means 'round and fat' in Maori) as gifts and before she knew it there were twelve. They live happily alongside Shetland Soay sheep, which will come and eat out of your hand.

Environmental policy

All the animals at the farm feed naturally wherever possible and the Gypsy Camp itself is off-grid. Her hot water is solar powered (she's had panels for 30 years) and she composts and recycles all waste. For all her wonderful cooking, she uses only produce from within a four mile radius of the farm and her own wherever possible.

Wildlife

Bluebells within the woods

There are of course the sheep, the pigs and the horses of Ann's own, but also Kingfishers that can often be seen on river walks from the camp and all sorts of wading birds on the large sweeps of tidal beach nearby.

The beautiful 300-year-old copse gives a wonderful show of bluebells with wild orchids and bee orchids growing in the nearby paddocks. There are resident owls that can be heard late in the evening and of course plenty of other birdlife, including both kinds of woodpeckers although these are very shy and so not easy to spot. If you are early the occasional fox or badger might still be out on the prowl.

Booking terms for The Gypsy Camp

Booking Conditions 2010

Please note that Canopy & Stars is acting as an 'Agent' in the booking of Bouncers Farm on behalf of Ann Bishop (hereafter referred to as the 'Owner'). The Owner of the property is responsible for your stay and is the 'Principal' in this agreement. Customers renting property through Canopy & Stars are referred to as the Guest. The rental arrangements are made by Canopy & Stars, on behalf of the Owners and the contractual relationship is directly between the Owners of the property and the Guest.

The Canopy & Stars booking line (01179 247 877) is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm except on public holidays. When using the online enquiry form, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours. Online enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment.

1. Booking and payments

1.1 The dates of your booking will be held upon payment of a non-refundable deposit of 25% or payment in full. Deposits are only payable when booking more than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date. Any booking less than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date must be paid in full immediately.

1.2 On receipt of the deposit, a booking confirmation will be sent to you within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, containing the details of your stay and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible. We're sorry for any inconvenience, but payments can only be made by credit and debit cards. A 2% surcharge will be applied to credit cards. We do not accept American Express, cheques or cash.

1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.

2. Cancellation

2.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.

2.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.

2.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.

2.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.

3. Alteration

3.1 Alterations to your booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations will incur a £30 administration fee and are subject to availability and at the discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the Owner of the property.

3.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.

4. Complaints

In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner of the property as soon as possible and they will use all reasonable endeavours to resolve the issue. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback.

5. Pricing

Prices on the website are not binding, but costs stated in any booking confirmation email you receive from Canopy & Stars will be honoured as shown and will include all VAT and any charges.

6. Information

Information on the website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but circumstances outside of our control may cause it to become inaccurate. We apologise for any inconvenience that may result from this.

7. Liability

7.1 Canopy & Stars accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.

7.2 Canopy & Stars will not be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the Owners or any other person not within their employ or otherwise under their control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the Guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless Canopy & Stars is responsible. In addition, the Owners and Canopy & Stars accept no liability for loss of or damage to the Guest’s possessions on the Owners’ property or land.

7.3 Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits the liability of Canopy & Stars or the Owners:

a. for death or personal injury caused by Canopy & Stars or the Owners negligence.

b. for any matter which it would be illegal for Canopy & Stars or the Owners to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.

7.4 The use of swimming pools, lakes, climbing trees, tractor rides and any other activity on the Owners land is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.

8. Pets

Pets are only permitted with the prior consent of Canopy & Stars and the Owners and where pets are permitted they are to be kept under control. Pets must not be left in the Property unsupervised as this could result in damage to the Property and distress to the animal(s). A weekly charge may be made for each pet.

9. VAT

Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable the tax is included in the weekly rent.

10. The Holiday – Guest Conditions of occupancy and Conduct

10.1 The Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid for holiday period only (within the meaning of Schedule 1 Paragraph 9 of the Housing Act 1988).

10.2 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with the Agents. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property.

11. Breach of Booking Conditions

11.1 If there is a breach of any of these conditions by the Guest or any of their party, the Owners or Canopy & Stars reserve the right to re-enter the Property and end the holiday and ask the Guest and their party to leave in addition to their other rights specified in these Booking Conditions.

11.2 Ending the Holiday by either the Owners or Canopy & Stars, or the Guests does not affect that party’s other rights and remedies.

12 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Any dispute will be governed by the non-exclusive law and jurisdiction of the English or Scottish Courts depending on the location of the Property.

13. Authority to Sign

The person who signs the Booking Form certifies that:

1. he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date;
2. the signatory is over eighteen years of age;
3. they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy & Stars if they are not a member of the holiday party.

14. Discrepancies

In case of a discrepancy between these Booking Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Booking Conditions shall prevail.

15. Validity clause

In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Booking Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Booking Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.