a place for change

The People Behind Folly Farm

Philip Niemand - Centre Director
Philip Niemand

I have been involved in the hotel, restaurant and hospitality industry for over 14 years.

Although I do have a Bachelor of Science Degree, I have always enjoyed being in the service industry and my part-time job to pay my student fees has become my career.

I enjoy the challenges of managing a multi-faceted business on a daily basis and Folly Farm definitely has buckets of diversity, being both an Eco-Centre and State-of-the-Art Conference Facility. My affiliation with Eco-Tourism first started several years ago when I had the privilege of managing an Orient Express Lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I have since moved to the UK and I have recently developed the first accredited Eco Hotel in Wales. I will now focus my efforts on establishing Folly Farm as one of the leading Conferencing Facilities in the South West, whilst maintaining and furthering our relationship with the local community.

I have recently become a father and I am excited about the opportunity of settling my family in a caring and supportive community such as the Chew Valley.

Lucy Owen - Programmes Manager
Lucy Owen

I've been involved with the exciting Folly Farm project for over a year now and it's been fantastic to be able to witness the daily development of the renovation, and with swallows dancing around our heads and the yellow ripples of Folly’s meadows in June – could there be any better inspiration for an exciting programme of courses to entice anyone to enjoy this magical spot?

In my previous role as Education Officer for a busy residential education centre, I was no stranger to hard work- designing, planning and delivering educational courses about wildlife for schools and adults. However, the new challenge for me here is being involved in such a grand scale project! The potential for learning and enjoyment at Folly Farm is vast - there are so many areas to delve into; the fascinating history of the Strachy Family and the farm, the rich history of the landscape, the huge abundance of nationally important wildlife, the conservation efforts made by the Trust, the sustainability ambitions of the project…the list is endless!