Fibre Farm and Smallholding
Shropshire
Hello WWOOFers!
We are Helen and David (both 60 yrs old), and we have a smallholding in the south Shropshire hills. It is beautiful, quiet and remote - the perfect place for tranquil off grid, sustainable living. This is mostly a fibre farm and we keep herds of Alpaca and Angora goats. Their fleeces are processed to make beautiful hand dyed knitting yarns and alpaca duvets.
We aim to live as sustainably and as self sufficiently as possible. We keep chickens for their eggs, and currently have a of pig to clear bracken from the land. We organically grow a wide range of vegetables and are looking to constantly improve this, and develop this maybe into a veg box scheme, providing organic veg to the local community. We are also developing a mushroom shed to grow oyster, shitake and medicinal mushrooms. We have the building for this, but yet to actually grow the mushrooms.
We have lots of plans and ideas and just need help to push these projects forward.
We have 3 pet dogs and farm cats too!
Here are some of the things we would like you to assist us with...
Helping us with the vegetable growing, and development of range of produce. The pigs have been busy clearing a new growing area, where we want to put a couple of polytunnels. We have grown veg for years so have lots of expertise to share, but we are always open for new ideas.
Helping develop the mushroom growing project - We have built the mushroom barn, and we are getting ready to grow exotic mushrooms all year round. We have been on a course, and have made an outdoor mushroom area - so have some knowledge to share
Helping with the animal care and welfare. We have alot of experience of alpacas, goats, chickens and pigs. We will be giving you hands on experience with these animals. If you would like to learn about processing their fibre you can help with this too.
Some farm construction tasks – fencing, barn maintenance, animal shelter making. There is always things to do on the farm - from mending a hole in the fence to creating a new space for vegetable growing or the animals. We use locally sourced materials, and recycled materials wherever possible. You will gain experience and learn to be inventive and resourceful.
This all sounds like alot, and we are always full of ideas, but its not to be done in one week! Pax, our farm worker, is moving on at the end of June, so we are now able to accept shorter stays, however we would love you to stay at least 3 months, and maybe longer if you are enjoying it.
We do have a small pop-up campsite happening during August and September - You will not be expected to help with this.
We have a caravan on the smallholding, with a shelter built around it, providing sleeping and seating areas, cooking facilities, off grid electric, warm shower, compost toilets, wood fired stoves (in the caravan, and another in the shelter), stream fed water supply (safely filtered for drinking), with attached eco-greenhouse.
Along with the accommodation, we will provide:
Food/drink – let us know what you want in addition to the food grown on the smallholding. We’ll even throw in the odd bottle of wine!
Laundry and bathroom supplies
Fuel – gas bottles and wood (though you will have to help chop it down to size!)
12v charging facility, and there is 4g internet, via your mobile phone signal. EE gets the best reception, but it can be a little patchy at times. If you need a more reliable connection at times I can offer my workshop (about a mile from the farm) which has 240v electric and a strong phone signal.
I really enjoy being around the animals and enjoy working with their fleeces and fibre based hobbies. David still works mostly full time, and the farm is his hobby. However we also enjoy music, reading, cooking and a good chat around a campfire with glass of wine.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Sheep or goat farming
Raising of other farm animals
Wild foraging
Traditional crafts
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
25.5
Hectares
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63
Acres
Helen
Member since 2025
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 2 days
Shropshire
Craven Arms train station
Reviews
Caroline
United Kingdom
•
April 2026
Our 1 month stay at [Host] Farm was a great experience.
Our daily tasks included weeding (preparing the beds for the season), planting out cabbages, and helping feed the alpacas, angora goats, and chickens. Weekends were when we got stuck into the bigger projects as Dave (Helen’s partner) and friends of the farm were around. Tasks included building a new shed and fencing to protect the garden from deer.
Helen is a lovely host - we worked together for around 4 hrs per day, and she always made sure we were well fed. We also got to enjoy produce from the farm itself: leeks, purple broccoli, eggs and mushrooms.
We’d highly recommend [Host] to WWOOFers looking to get hands-on experience with animals.
Thank you Helen and Dave - Looking forward to coming back in August.
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Elizabeth
United Kingdom
•
March 2026
It has taken me a while to get round to writing this, after spending a little over 3 months at [Host]. It would be impossible to put into words how much I enjoyed my time there. Briefly, Helen and David are wonderful hosts who became friends, they treat their wwoofers super kindly and are really thoughtful and considerate people. The land is beautiful, the caravan was cosy even through a cold winter and the animals are so much fun. I loved looking after the goats so much. From a fibre arts POV there is so much to learn and Helen is so generous with her time. I only wish I could have stayed longer.
I have done several Wwoof placements over the years and this was easily my favourite. I literally can’t think of anything to complain about at all!
Thank you!
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Alice
United Kingdom
•
February 2026
Had a great 2 weeks wwoofing at the farm. Helen and David are extremely friendly and generous with their time. I had the opportunity to learn how to spin, see Helen’s workshop and understand all the processes involved in processing fleeces, trim goats feet and feed all the animals daily. I also went to the local panto and a lovely cafe in Clun a couple of times. The accommodation was cosy with the log burner, so even when it was sometimes minus temps outside I was warm and comfortable. Oryx the cat will also keep you warm - the friendliest cat you’ll ever meet!!
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Pauline
France
•
February 2026
I had a fabulous stay at Helen's farm. I couldn't have asked for anything better for my first WWOOF experience.
Helen and David took great care of me during those two weeks. They are both welcoming and thoughtful.
You will find there someone passionate and full of knowledge, ready to share.
It is the ideal place to learn about working with fibres.
I recommend it without any hesitation.
Pauline
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Sampras
United Kingdom
•
October 2025
What a wonderful first WWOOFing experience this was! Helen and Dave made me feel right at home right from the get go - they were so generous with their time, energy and knowledge about running a farm and processing fleeces. In just a couple of weeks I had such a diverse range of experiences: animal feeding, goat shearing, sausage making, fleece processing, weeding etc. They always made sure I was fed and comfortable, and assured me that I could take on the work at my own pace. The farm cat Onix, so cuddly and friendly, made the stay at the cabin/van all the more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend [Host] Farm to any WWOOfers that are looking for a lovely experience!
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