Over Farm, a cherished farm shop and adventure park near Gloucester, is encouraging visitors to come this summer despite ongoing challenges beyond its control.
Operated by the same family for nearly a century, Over Farm has evolved into a popular destination since launching its farm shop in the early 1980s. The addition of ‘pick your own’ fields in the late 1980s, and the Countryside Adventure park in 2018, has further enhanced its appeal. The site also features Over Barn, a rustic wedding venue refurbished in 2021, that regularly hosts weddings, parties and Christmas Ceilidhs.
The attraction offers a wide range of activities for all ages, making it a treasured local venue. However, CEO Rees Keene estimates that trade has dropped by approximately 50% this summer compared to last, with two main factors contributing to the decline.
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A significant issue is an illegal waste site located just 300 metres behind Over Farm. This site has expanded over several years and has necessitated frequent interventions from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, with fires occurring almost monthly over the past year.
Rees emphasises that Over Farm has no connection to this waste disposal site; it is not situated on their land and is not accessible via Over Farm property. Nonetheless, customers have voiced complaints to staff regarding the impact.
“It is a frustration for us, which is a weak way of putting it. It’s a bit of a nightmare, really. We would like it not to be there as much as anyone else,” said Rees, who has been CEO for a decade.
He explained that while the site was originally a licensed tip in the 1960s, it became illegal in the 1990s and has grown significantly since 2018, with numerous 20-tonne lorries visiting daily along a public access lane adjacent to Over Farm.
Rees added, “We’ve had people come into the farm shop and complain about their behaviour, and some of the things that have been said to our customers. It doesn’t smell on its own, only when it is on fire. Unfortunately, that has been pretty constant over the last year.”
In addition to the waste site difficulties, traffic disruption caused by essential maintenance work on the A40 Bridge near Over Farm is affecting visitor access. The slip road linking the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 westbound has been closed 24/7 since last month and will remain so until March 2027. This closure is causing significant delays for visitors travelling by car, and several have reportedly found it too inconvenient to visit.
In a recent social media post, Over Farm sought suggestions from customers on how to improve access, considering options such as adjusted opening hours or establishing a satellite shop. They also provide a live traffic camera feed on their website, updating every two minutes with traffic conditions and journey times.
Despite these setbacks, Rees urges visitors to persevere: “Please do try and brave the traffic to get to us. We have a summer full of events for families, including our pick your own strawberries, and foam parties every day throughout the summer holidays.”