Swallowtail Hill - Using Glamping to Educate

Christopher and Sarah moved to their farm in East Sussex in search of a more rural lifestyle. Sarah freely admits that she’d, “only had a guinea pig as a pet” before moving out of London and into the country, but they soon acquired an extensive menagerie of goats, pigs, chickens and donkeys. They have carefully managed their land and see the glamping spaces as just a part of a wider idea – a way to put people in contact with nature and make them think about how they interact with it.

Guests are welcome to help in the feeding rounds, getting to meet animals and learn about their care. It’s this sort of casual contact that really inspires people to think more about their connection with nature. It might seem strange to people who have lived in the countryside all their lives, but there really are people out there who have never met a goat, or given a pig a belly rub! 

The whole site, a patchwork of wildflower meadows, reedbeds and hedge-lined lanes, is bursting with biodiversity and the land has qualified for the Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. This is something that guests perceive more subconsciously, but which still leaves a lasting impression. To spread the message even further, Sarah and Christopher work with local schools, inviting groups to come out and hear about the work they’ve done and the need to preserve our wild spaces. 

If you have animals or have done conservation work on your land, consider giving guests a little information about it, or looking for ways they can get involved. While some people are just looking to switch off and relax, some will really appreciate the chance to gain a little knowledge and you never know, you might inspire someone to change their life.