A long while since I came across a place called Fforest farm. Owned by Sian Tucker and fforestchief James Lynch, I have been admiring Sian’s photographs on Instagram since, oh I forget exactly, maybe a year ago. Sian has an eye for colour, detail and places. Fforest farm is part of a larger enterprise including three sites with holiday and event accommodation catering for small gatherings to the largest of crowds. Sian and James purchased Fforest Farm more than a decade ago and have set about creating an amazing destination since.
Both are graduates of Art school and lived a very successful life in London for a number of years turning their hands to several projects, before seeking a slower pace and room to breathe for themselves and their four sons. They describe Fforest in three words as rural, coastal and quayside, three unique destinations of which you can find details on their website (I’ll share a link at the end), it is firmly on my list of places to visit next year. But that’s not where it ends, because you can enjoy a little slice of Fforest life at home too through Fforest General Stores!
Since our visit to Wales in October, I have been dreaming of the beautiful blanket I photographed Millie ‘wearing’, here I’ll show you…
… and when I realised it was from Fforest General Stores, well it really made me smile. Unfortunately it is now out of stock but there are other options available. Sian is passionate about the blankets and woven goods which provide comfort in their accommodation and are available to purchase through the online shop. They are made exclusively for Fforest and are woven just up river from the farm in an old mill using traditional methods, there is a truly local approach to creating each piece. Luckily for me the store stocks scarves in the same colour way as the blanket I fell in love with, and as for the cushions in the ‘cold at night’ category, well, I would happily have one of each colour though my favourite is this in softest grey…
But that is not the whole story. Take a browse of the store and you will find a multitude of local items alongside those from further afield. There are many options that would be great as Christmas gifts for all the special people in your life. I particularly love the Fforest enamel mugs and Nom Nom chocolate, made in west Wales and oh so delicious. Perfect stocking fillers or token gifts. There are paper goods and kitchen wares, rucksacks, utility tools and more besides. If you are at all outdoorsy, or are buying gifts for someone who is, this place is for you. Just have a look for yourself.
You can read more of the story of Fforest here (it is such an interesting read and makes me want to visit even more!) then browse the Fforest General Store here. The store really is a perfect place to find a not-quite-off-the-shelf gift for your nearest and dearest. Sian’s Instagram gallery, @coldatnight, can be found here. Pop over and say hello, tell her I sent you, then breathe in the happiness that she captures in her photos.
Whatever your plans are this weekend, have a good one!
Julia x
LINKS
Sian very kindly gifted items to photograph for this post, they are utterly beautiful and I can’t recommend them highly enough xx
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