27/10/2026
🌿 Six years at Frowen Fields — big dreams, a small budget and a whole lot of love! 💚
More of a short story than a musing, but hey snuggle down and make a cuppa and learn of our dreams and creations of the last 6 years. Thank you Wales for allowing us to grow.
This week marks six years since we arrived at Frowen Fields. We had big ideas and a small budget. And wow, that budget got even smaller once we arrived and discovered just how much it costs to keep animals, look after 28 acres of land and comply with all the rules and regulations that come with it!
When we arrived, Helen was determined to make a difference in the local community. Having spent years working in Reading, running craft workshops and supporting people experiencing social isolation through community projects and social prescribers, she wanted to bring that same passion to rural West Wales. She also dreamed of creating a place where people could come together, feel welcome and enjoy the benefits of nature.
We also had grand ideas about living off-grid, becoming self-sufficient and growing our own food.
Six years on, if you ask Helen what we grow, she’ll cheerfully tell you… weeds and grass! 😂
Ashley is never quite sure how that answer will be received, but Helen tends to say the first thing that comes into her head. And that, really, is Helen!
It’s also a little bit of what makes Frowen Fields what it is. There’s no judgement here, plenty of laughter, a fair bit of hilarity and usually something being created out of absolutely nothing. The recycling bin regularly gets emptied into Helen’s craft room, and somehow something wonderful appears at the other end!
We might not have mastered self-sufficiency, but we’ve certainly mastered making the most of what we’ve got.
So, what have six years taught us?
Growing vegetables is considerably harder than Helen imagined, particularly when you have to do it alone and would much rather have company! The dream was to build a big community of people who would come together, work alongside us and share in what we created.
What we hadn’t quite appreciated was that rural communities are spread out, people have their own commitments, and there are only so many hours in a day. Managing 28 acres, caring for our animals and developing a holiday business takes a lot of hands — and ours are often already full.
Ashley works full-time, and Helen works part-time to help keep everything going. Our holiday business continues to grow, but it needs constant care, investment and support to keep moving forward.
We’re tired. We’ve had a few jobs along the way, learnt a lot, tackled challenges we never expected and achieved things we’re genuinely proud of. But there’s still so much we’d love to do.
Our dream remains the same: to create more spaces where people can get away from everyday pressures, reconnect with nature and feel comfortable being themselves, without fear of judgement.
Having a child with additional needs, alongside Helen’s own growing realisation that she may be neurodivergent, has made that passion even stronger. We know how important it is for families to find places where they feel understood, accepted and able to relax. Everyone deserves the chance to enjoy a holiday without feeling they have to explain themselves.
💚 And it’s not just about holidays.
Helen has been busy planning workshops and opportunities to bring people together over the winter months, particularly women who may be experiencing menopause, loneliness or simply a need for some company.
We know how much a little connection, creativity, laughter and time in nature can lift your spirits, especially during the darker months.
There is funding available for community projects, and we’d love to do more with it. The reality, though, is that finding the funding, filling in applications and chasing opportunities takes time, focus and energy — things that are often in short supply when you’re busy keeping everything else going!
So, as usual, we get on with it, do what we can, and share what we have with our community, alongside the support of our wonderful little team of volunteers.
There’s always a welcome here. There might be a workshop that’s just right for you, a chance to spend time in nature, or simply an opportunity to sit, chat and have a cuppa.
And there’s plenty more planned!
🐑 A little word about the animals and the pennies…
We currently care for around 80 animals, and they certainly don’t come cheap!
Yes, we are a business. Yes, we sometimes eat what we raise. And no, we’re not a CIC. But whatever we earn needs to go back into caring for the animals, maintaining the land and keeping Frowen Fields going. We don’t take a salary from the business.
In many ways, we’re doing what farmers do — caring for land and livestock — but with a very different mix of income streams and the added challenge of building a small holiday and community business in rural Wales.
Every holiday booked, every workshop attended, every share, like, comment and kind message genuinely makes a difference.
As the 2026 holiday season draws to a close, we’re already looking ahead to 2027. We want to continue improving what we offer, creating more opportunities for people to visit, and doing our little bit for the environment, nature and future generations.
🌱 Six years on, we’re still dreaming, still learning and still doing our best.
We’re not where we thought we’d be by now, and sometimes it’s exhausting trying to make everything happen with limited time, money and people. But we’re still here, still caring, still creating and still believing in what Frowen Fields can be.
Thank you for being part of our journey, whether you’ve stayed with us, attended a workshop, volunteered, shared a post, recommended us to a friend or simply cheered us on from afar.
You may not realise it, but every little bit of support helps us keep going.
Here’s to another year of muddy boots, happy animals, creative workshops, new ideas, unexpected adventures and hopefully a few more vegetables! 🥕😂
Keep looking out for one another, and don’t forget to look after yourself, too.
With love and heartfelt thanks,
Helen, Ashley and all of us at Frowen Fields 💚🌿
