This Spring, alongside the beautiful countryside weddings hosted at our farm wedding venue in Hertfordshire , life across the estate has been especially rewarding. From the farmyard and smallholding to the gardens and grounds, the season has brought a host of charming new arrivals and exciting developments.
Enjoy a glimpse into life on the farm with heartwarming moments featuring our newest residents — downy ducklings, Buttercup the baby donkey, playful young kid goats and fluffy spring lambs – alongside updates on The Apple Shed, our thoughtfully designed morning preparation space for wedding parties.
Continue reading to discover the latest happenings around the farm!…
What’s happening on the Farm this Spring…
The Ducks
We’ve recently welcomed two broods of the sweetest little ducklings you could ever imagine — and they’ve certainly made themselves at home here on the farm. Waddling their way through our spring weddings, they’ve been adding a touch of charm with plenty of “oooh” and “aaah” moments to our recent weddings.
They’re becoming quite the seasoned “wedding crashers”… so if you’re lucky, you might just spot them making a special appearance at your outdoor garden ceremony!
We’re delighted to share that we had another brood of eight ducklings hatch just three weeks ago! Their clever mummy chose the cosiest nesting spot right alongside the Farmhouse, tucked safely behind the shrubs. We can’t wait to see these little cuties exploring our seasonal gardens.
The Donkeys
We’re over the moon to introduce the newest (and tiniest!) member of the South Farm family…our beautiful baby miniature donkey, Buttercup.
Buttercup made a surprise early arrival on the 18th of April here at the farm, and it’s safe to say she has completely stolen our hearts already. She’s incredibly sweet and settling in perfectly. Both mum and baby are doing wonderfully, and we can’t wait to watch her grow and become part of everyday life here on the farm.
A very special ‘Thank You’ goes out to Lucie Watson Photography, a local photographer, for capturing her so perfectly – she took to her first photoshoot beautifully and has loved the camera ever since!
The Goats
Spring is in full swing at the Farm, and we’ve been delighted to also welcome two adorable new baby kid goats — Milo and Theo. They are truly the bounciest little goats you’ve ever seen!
Their mums, Hazel and Holly, have settled wonderfully into motherhood, and the boys have already become stars of the Farmyard. Full of energy and personality, it’s such a joy to watch them bouncing around the paddocks and keeping everyone entertained. They’ve been especially loved by our younger wedding guests too, often providing the perfect little distraction and a calming moment for children who may be feeling slightly overwhelmed during the excitement of the day.
The Sheep
Last but certainly not least… meet our two new final little additions to the farm — May May & Pickles! ( err, yes they were named by our Livestock Manager, Brandon’s five-year-old)
These sweet lambs are still being bottle fed, and as you can see, the whole South Farm team, along with many of our lovely wedding couples and guests have been more than happy to muck in and help care for them.
They’ve already completely won us over, and it’s been absolutely wonderful watching everyone shower them with love and cuddles while making sure they’re thriving in their new home.
They are currently sharing a paddock with Milo and Theo, our two new kids, and they are just the best of friends
The Pigs
We’re delighted to share that we also recently welcomed 12 characterful little piglets to our Farmyard, nestled close to the grand Tudor Barn.
Full of character and curiosity, they’ve quickly settled in and have been stealing the spotlight with their joyful afternoon “zoomies” — a guaranteed smile for anyone passing by! Our couples have absolutely loved having them as part of their wedding day experience, with many enjoying a few truly memorable (and very cute!) photo moments during their special day.
Wildlife at the farm
Alongside all our Spring farm wedding venue, we’re excited to share some lovely news from our resident Kestrels.
Our Kestrel pair have now laid a total of four eggs in the nest box and incubation began on 24th April, which means we’re hopefully just a few weeks away from seeing some tiny new arrivals around the 22nd May so keep your eyes peeled. Both parents are proudly sharing incubation duties, carefully taking turns to keep the eggs warm. If you’ve been watching closely, you may have spotted the male — he’s slightly smaller and can be recognised by the soft blue-grey feathers on the back of his head and just above his tail.
Once the chicks hatch, the real excitement begins. The pair will spend their days tirelessly hunting for food, mostly voles and mice from our flower-rich organic meadows where wildlife thrives naturally across the farm. During the first 12 days, one parent must always remain at the nest as young Kestrel chicks are unable to regulate their own body temperature and rely on constant brooding to stay warm and protected. The chicks are expected to leave the nest around 28 days after hatching, giving us several more weeks of wonderful birdwatching opportunities here on the farm. Nature is thriving this Spring at South Farm and it’s a lovely way to stay connected.
You can tune into our LIVE feeds for a front row seat to all the action here at South Farm! Whether you’re an avid bird watcher or simply love a little moment in nature, it’s a lovely way to stay connected to life on the farm.
Livestream for our Kestrel box
The Apple Shed
The wait is FINALLY over and we’re so excited to introduce The Apple Shed, our elegantly designed new space, created especially for those precious pre-wedding moments.
The Apple Shed was thoughtfully designed by local Cambridgeshire architects, Freeland Rees Roberts, who worked in close collaboration with our good friend Kate Mackenzie from Mackenzie Home — the original designer behind our beautifully styled bedrooms.
Our couples will now have access to The Apple Shed from 8am — giving you a calm, private and stylish setting to get ready at your own pace, surrounded by your favourite people.
Inside, you’ll find a light-filled main room for hair, makeup and relaxing, a separate dressing room to keep everything perfectly organised and also just right for that ‘First Look’ moment, a spacious bathroom, a fully equipped bespoke kitchen, and a cosy lounge area to settle into the morning.
Step outside and take a breath of fresh air in our stunning season-inspired garden complete with stylish seating perfect for those pre-ceremony celebratory drinks. Every little detail has been carefully considered to make your wedding morning feel just as special, seamless and memorable as the rest of your day.
A very BIG thank you to our fabulous recommended photographer Cat Lane Weddings for capturing this space so beautifully for us — we couldn’t be happier with how you’ve brought the magic of this glorious place to life.
If you’d love to book The Apple Shed or find out more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our planning team on 01223 207581 or email [email protected]
Spring Blossoms
Spring has certainly arrived, and everything is looking stunning in the gardens with colourful blooms bursting into life (helped by the sunshine and a little rain!). Our glorious seasonal gardens are being enjoyed by our wonderful couples and their guests, creating the perfect backdrop for elegant outdoor garden ceremonies, relaxed drinks receptions, and stunning wedding photographs.
Our beautiful cherry and almond blossoms put on a spectacular display earlier this Spring and have now been joined by vibrant spring bulbs and our much-loved Wisteria, which is currently cascading around the farmhouse, garden terrace and charming walkway. Together, they create the most magical setting and an unforgettable scene across the farm this season.
There’s so much colour and life appearing in every little corner of the farm, making it such a special time to visit our outdoor wedding venue in Hertfordshire. We can’t wait to see the farm continue to bloom as the season unfolds.
Styled Shoots
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a wonderfully talented group of local wedding suppliers, many of whom feature on our Recommended Suppliers page, for a beautifully styled ‘Alfresco Spring’ photoshoot in our formal gardens, nestled between our spectacular Chinese Laurels.
The outdoor dining set-up looked absolutely incredible, with flower-filled tablescapes, the prettiest spring-themed wedding cake and thoughtful details that all came together to capture the essence of the season.
Of course, no Spring shoot at South Farm would be complete without a little visit from some of our newest residents… Our adorable baby ducklings made a surprise appearance while the team were setting up, and very quickly stole the show. Thankfully, they seemed to give the shoot their seal of approval — although we’re not entirely sure they didn’t cause a little distraction along the way!
The Team:
Flowers | The Stable Blooms
Cake | One Part Love Bakery
Photographer | Lucie Watson Photography
Stationery | Eliza May Prints
Furniture | Stories Event Hire
Styling | Miss Carlysle and Co Events
Sustainability
At South Farm, caring for our natural surroundings is at the heart of everything we do and our garden birds play such an important role in keeping our eco-conscious wedding venue thriving. From helping to naturally manage pests like slugs, snails, aphids and caterpillars, they’re true little heroes of our sustainable grounds.
We’re so proud to share that our wonderful garden team have recently handcrafted 60 beautiful bird boxes on site (with another 30 ready to be placed around the farm!). Each one has been lovingly made using leftover wood from a local theatre company, Set Up Scenary, giving materials a second life and keeping everything in line with our sustainability mission.
We were absolutely delighted to have Geoff Barlow with us, a wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate ornithologist, at South Farm, to help us carefully position our new bird boxes around the grounds. Geoff plays an important role in maintaining the annual records for our local Nature Reserve, as well as a rolling species list, which has now reached an incredible 125 species! It was a real privilege to have his expertise guiding us, ensuring our bird boxes are placed in just the right spots to support and encourage even more local wildlife at our eco-conscious wedding venue.
There is a mix of traditional enclosed nest boxes and open-fronted boxes, each designed to support different species that call the farm home. The enclosed boxes, with their small entrance holes are ideal for blue tits and great tits, while those placed near our buildings may also attract house sparrows.
Our open-fronted boxes are perfect for species such as robins and pied wagtails, and we’re always hopeful they may tempt spotted flycatchers too — a much-loved species that has nested at South Farm in years gone by. As these birds often return to familiar nesting spots, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a special return this season.
It’s small, thoughtful touches like these that help us protect and support the biodiversity at our wonderful sustainable wedding venue in Hertfordshire.
Organic South Farm Honey
We’re super excited to introduce our brand new organic, eco-friendly South Farm Honey Wedding Favours. Lovingly produced and beautifully presented, these little jars of golden goodness are the sweetest way to thank your guests for celebrating with you. A thoughtful, sustainable keepsake for them to take home, and a little taste of South Farm to remember the day by. A favour that’s meaningful, delicious and made with love… what could be sweeter?
If you’d like to order some honey wedding favours just drop an email through to our lovely team at [email protected] or have a chat with our planning team.
If you’re dreaming of a green wedding that’s magical, romantic, and also kind to the planet, we can help make it a reality. We are dedicated to offering a breathtaking setting empowered by sustainability and our long-held green values. We know how to balance the beauty and joy of a fairy-tale wedding with our deep commitment to environmental responsibility. Our sustainable mission is at the heart of everything we do, helping you create a truly memorable, environmentally friendly wedding day to cherish forever.
Check out our Instagram feed and Facebook page for more photos and updates. If you would like to visit us to see all that our countryside wedding venue has to offer and talk to our wedding team about plans for your dream wedding day please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!
