The farm and surroundings
According to the Doomsday Book, Earl Morcar, brother-in-law of King Harold, owned the land in Bredestorp, an area famous for its well, which was said to possess special healing properties. The area consequently became known as Helewell and the name Bredestorp was dropped in later years in favour of the present derivation of its name, Holywell.

Holywell today is a small, charming hamlet nestling in a hollow on the borders of Lincolnshire and the rolling hills of Rutland, Britain’s oldest and smallest county, known particularly for its great tradition of farming and hunting. The village is within a stone’s throw of the architecturally

and culturally interesting town of Stamford, famous for Burghley House (the Horse Trials are held here each September), and often the setting for period productions on television and in film. Holywell is a true delight with all the beauty of steep winding lanes and a shimmering lake teeming with waterfowl, Black Swans, ducks and geese. Sheep and cattle graze peacefully on its tranquil shores in the shade of towering trees – this is quintessential English countryside at its very best. Located only 3 miles off the A1, Pettywood farm is very easily accessible and lies just 90 minutes from London and not more than an hour from the major East Midland cities of Leicester, Nottingham and Peterborough.

The farming at Pettywood farm
Pettywood farm is a family-owned working farm comprising 350 acres of woodland and 450 of farmland, which is a mix of arable and livestock. The livestock on Pettywood farm includes a herd of suckler cows, sheep and 3 free range Berkshire pigs who love to take a walk with the farmers, Richard and Katy.

At dawn and dusk, wild deer can be seen grazing close by whilst families explore the 150 acres of surrounding woodland, listening to the owls as they drift off to sleep and wake to the cuckoo, adding to the tranquil atmosphere on the farm. Children will enjoy discovering the workings of the farm; feeding the orphan lambs, collecting the eggs from the hens and chasing the hens out of the tent at breakfast time!

Pets not allowed
Pets are not allowed on Pettywood farm.

The location of the Feather Down tents
The tents are beautifully sited in open woodland, a perfectly sheltered South facing spot, next to the farm fields which are home to the Pettywood farm suckler herd and the sheep. Pettywood offers the perfect setting for family walks as well as a safe environment for children to play outside the tent so the parents also get to relax'. They are perfectly placed to enjoy extraordinary views over the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside.

The Pettywood farm family
Richard and Katy, with support of

Richard's mother Judy Machin, are the farmers on Pettywood farm, not forgetting ofcourse, Richards two loyal companions: Jess and Ziggie the Sheepdogs!