Giving Back

✓ Panoramic Views ✓ Award Winning ✓ Eco & Dog Friendly

Our dedication to conservation and the community lies at the heart of everything we do.

Community, Conservation and Inclusivity

We have defined ‘community’ as the community of people that come to stay here, many of whom return many times and then naturally graduate to feeling they are a part of our ever-growing family. Our community includes people from minority groups and people with additional needs.

As the founder and builder of Upper Hurst Farm I am not shy of saying that I have a purpose and that purpose is to create beauty here - and that has to be - because what has been created has to mirror the indescribably beautiful landscape that we have at Upper Hurst Farm. Not only do we create beauty in everything we build, we create an environment where people naturally feel calm and nurtured.

The single most rewarding thing for us is when our guests take home special memories of their time at Upper Hurst Farm.

Children With Special Needs

We have several families who return to Upper Hurst Farm because their children feel very much ‘at home’ here. I believe this is due to two main factors, the first being that the land here is very healing. As such, it engenders in people, who are sensitive to their environment, a feeling of ‘at ease and peace’. The second factor is the welcome that everybody receives, particularly from Yvonne and Paul who unreservedly adore children and will always go the extra mile.

We are planning to have 1-2 weekends per year that are devoted to families with children who have special needs. The first one of these, a teddy bear’s picnic, took place on the 14th & 15th September 2018. As with any camping weekend this is a great opportunity for families to meet other families and be able to share experiences whilst the children connect with other children without being regarded as ‘difficult’ and that makes for a more relaxing time for the parents and/or carers.

Support For Charities

For several years now we have supported Barnardo’s Leaving Care Service Derbyshire by subsidising camping holidays here. Emma Atkins (leaving care worker) said “Over the duration of the camping trip our young people were able to spend time together in a safe environment where they did not feel judged and where they could simply have a break from the day to day struggle of being a young person leaving care. This helps to promote better mental health and well-being”

More recently we are supporting CPTeens UK (Registered Charity 1172105) which was set up by Ellie Simpson, who has Quadriplegic Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, in October 2013 when she was 18-years-old. CPTeens is all about providing help, hope, inspiration & friendship to children & young people with Cerebral Palsy and other physical disabilities, and their families.

In 2018 a total of £830 for CPTeens was raised through monthly events such as Halloween and It’s a Knockout. A cheque for £830 was presented to CPTeens on the 5th December of that year.

Environmental Impact

We have been awarded the Environmental Quality Mark Award which shows that we support the local economy, protect the global environment, enhance the local environment, invest in people and communities and celebrate what’s special about the Peak District National Park.

We have taken the following measures to help our carbon footprint and to respect our environment and community:

✓ 100 field-mounted solar panels

✓ Biomass boiler uses wood-pellets made from waste products

✓ MHVR unit in the toilet shower block recycles heat from the extracted air

✓ Environmentally friendly cleaning products

✓ Field management to encourage wild flowers

✓ Hedgerow management to encourage biodiversity

✓ LED lighting throughout

✓ Support Local Businesses

✓ Encourage children and adults with additional needs

✓ Meet the ponies for children to connect with animals