Lake Farm became our home in 2020, made possible by the move towards ’working from home’.  Our dream to live in the glorious West Dorset countryside, close to the coast became a reality!

Having been a dairy farm and more recently a piggery it was time to start mapping the new course  that Lake Farm would take.  Located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and neighbours to land managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust our initial plans focused on protecting and enhancing the wildlife and native plant habitats which we found ourselves immersed in. 

There is an abundance of wildlife enjoying the neighbouring habitats. Kingfisher, hare, deer, pheasant, partridge, otter, heron, birds of prey, bats, owls and carp can all be spotted from the comfort of the shepherd's hut. Birdwatchers are in for a treat!

Toller Whelme is unknown to many people, even locally.  Being located off the beaten track the charm and character of the hamlet seduces visitors with the feeling that they are ‘far from the madding crowd’.  

We soon realised that we needed to share this special part of West Dorset and there would be no better way to do so than from a shepherd’s hut set in the heart of Thomas Hardy country.