Nub News gets UP CLOSE with wild camping trailblazers Claire and Sam Wrinch who tell us why diversification and sustainability are the way forward at Harkstead's Nether Hall Farm

We all love a good Christmas tree with the magic and joy they bring year after year. Imagine then, staying in a wood full of spruces and being at one with nature, without having to be all Bear Grylls about it.

That is where Claire and Sam come in with their wild camping site, nestled in woodland slightly off the beaten track in Harkstead, with countryside, a gentle river, and a gorgeous beach combining to offer the perfect mix for all happy campers.

With the government relaxing rules regarding farms allowing camping on their land from 28 days to 56 days, to encourage more staycations; and farmers needing to generate more income streams to make up for lost grants due to Brexit, utilising what nature has provided has been a sensible option for the latest generation of the Wrinch dynasty.

"It was a good adventure and we want to do this anyway but if farms can diversify it gives you more options.," said Claire. "This helps people that want a staycation and the new rules make it easier for us to make it happen.

"We always come down here to walk the dogs and it is beautiful, so it seemed good idea from the word go."

The couple can barely contain their love of the land and their determination to make subtle changes, which can make a big difference, and drives their ambition to do the right thing for the farm, and their son Edward's future, but in a sustainable and careful way.

Apart from cutting back the grass and removing a couple of tree stumps, Nether Hall wild camping site is as unobtrusive as it comes, with the pitches tucked into the natural clearances of the 1.6 hectare woodland with almost 3,000 trees.

Sam said: "This woodland could be farmland and perhaps be more profitable but it would be an absolute shame to lose it and we want to keep it for the birds and the wildlife, which is incredible here.

"We are not changing the landscape, we are nestling a campsite into the woodland and encourage people to look after it and enjoy the nature. People have been very respectful and we have seen virtually no litter because they take it away with them."

While Sam is a full time farmer, following in the footsteps of generations of the Wrinch family, Claire is a part-time vet and mum to their young son, who clearly loves the outdoors adventures.

The site is quintessential Shotley peninsula with the woods, fields and beach and you can even catch a glimpse of the the docks in the distance.

Everything is a reasonable walk away, with the nearest pub Bakers Arms a 15 minute stroll, or wander into Holbrook along the beach about 40 minutes.

Go the other way and you can be at Shotley marina within an hour easily.

"People coming here have said how much they love the peninsula," said Claire. "They enjoy what we have naturally and also other things like walking down to the Bakers Arms, or going to Woodys in Holbrook for their meat.

"We send out a list to all our guests showing what we have locally and they love walking to the butchers or the pub down the beach or through the country paths. I guess Londoners are not really used to that.

"The paths all link up and people have walked as far as Shotley. Enjoy a drink or lunch, or even go over on the foot ferry. We have had really good feedback on that too."

City dwellers won't be used to thee silent either, with just the symphony of songbirds to accompany their breakfast, while gazing down the Stour or over fields of crops.

Muntjac woodpeckers, buzzards, birds, hares rabbits, and highland moos, are their closest neighbours, while at night campers may hear badgers and foxes scurrying past.

The area is natural playground with visitors enjoying kayaking, paddle boarding or crabbing at the nearby beach, or just walking on the multitude of public footpath.

Novice campers, birdwatchers, nature lovers, ramblers, young families and trippers from London, Norwich, Cambridgeshire and Essex have all booked in using the Pitch Up system.

The small site, with up to six tents at time, has already proved popular with a wide variety of campers, with many extending their stays to further explore the pencil, or just to enjoy the tranquility.

While the camping is back to basics in many ways, there is a toilet and shower block, made from wood by hand, but temporary as legally required, while the waste is all cleverly dealt with on site, with nothing soaking away into the land or into the river.

The next move for the couple is to have a few shepherd huts, lovingly restored by Sam, on site and that is going through the planning process at the moment. UPDATE: permission granted see story here.

Many on the peninsula will have collected their Christmas trees from Nether Hall on an annual basis and Sam has no plans to stop supplying them far and wide, and is considering planting a new wood of pines while also keeping the indigenous species such as the wonderful oak trees.

Prices start at £30 per night for one tent with two adults.

For more details on how to book go to the Nether Hall Farm wild camping site on Pitch Up here...

Contact Claire and Sam via email [email protected]

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