There is nothing better than waking up in the midst of the lovely Wakelyns Agroforestry alleys. When they are in season you could literally lean out of the window to fresh pick your breakfast apples, cherries, plums or pears, straight from the trees! And if you’re lucky you’ll see deer, hares, badgers, turtle doves and other wildlife right around your pod.
Ley Alley Pod?
We designed and built the pods to be located in those alleys which, in any particular year, are ‘ley’ within our organic rotation. So the pods move each year with the organic rotation and, even within the year, they move within those alleys. So they do not impact on our farming at all – they are completely additive to the farming. We have not turned farmland into ‘glamping’ or anything like that. We are making better use of the land.
Electricity/water/heating
All the pods have electricity (with plenty of 13A sockets), basin with hot and cold water, a hob and kettle, a mini-fridge and an en-suite toilet (as well as use of our toilet/shower block).
Fire bowls/BBQs/cooking and our summer kitchen
Fire-bowl and wood available if you want to BBQ by your pod rather than cooking in the pod; or use our fully equipped ‘summer kitchen’ area (which has plenty of pans and cooking equipment, cutlery, crockery, fridge space, oven/microwave and hobs.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the pods.
Accessible pod
Eating out
If you prefer to ‘eat out’ we can let you have suggestions for pubs etc in the area. But, be aware, for the best and most popular, booking ahead is essential, particularly at weekends and in holiday periods.
Pod Booking
Each pod can accommodate up to 4 people in two double bed bunks.
Out of school holidays October-March is £80 per night.
Out of school holidays April-September is £100 per night.
During school holidays each pod is £120 per night.
Those prices include the lower (double) bunk being made up with linen and with towels provided. ‘
For the second (upper) bunk also to be made up with linen and towels we charge you what it costs us which is an extra £40 (regardless of how long you stay). Please make sure you tick the option on the booking confirmation form.
Discounts are available for stays of more than 4 days – please email us directly.
Significant further discounts are also available for NGOs and similar groups wishing to hold their internal events at Wakelyns out of school holidays.
For more information see the pod FAQs below. If you have any questions, or want to ask about NGO or weekly rates, please email us
“Loved being amongst the alleys of YQ and agroforestry plantings. Plus all the delicious fresh veg and goodies from the Bakery – heavenly. Thank you!”
“We had a great weekend at Wakelyns and enjoyed staying in the alley pod.
C really enjoyed her basket making with Emma and Adam and has developed her willow weaving skills.
I had a great day on Saturday with the Wheat, Walk, Talk ‘n’ Bake course with Henrietta, Maisie, Helen and Nick. Baking sourdough loaves and our own lunch with expert tuition from Hen and Maisie, and the very informative walk round the wheat plots with Helen and Nick. I shall definitely be baking bread with the same recipe and will be planting wheat on the allotment this autumn – I’m aiming to go ‘seed to bread’!
I had a good walk round the farm on Sunday while C finished her course. Love the QR codes!”
Pod FAQs
Dogs? Well behaved and clean dogs are welcome but please bring and use poo bags.
Linen? Each pod comes with full bedding including lovely mattresses, duvets, pillows, sheets, towels etc.
Food? Pre-order food from the Wakelyns Bakery as suits; or self-cater – see “cooking” below.
Purchase meals and food basics from Wakelyns and from Hodmedods from The Wakelyns Car Port
If you want to eat out, there are some great pubs and restaurants within reasonable drives of Wakelyns – we can help with suggestions but would also strongly advise booking ahead.
Cooking? Each pod has a fridge, sink (with H&C water), induction hob with kettle and cafetiere, and – on request – pans and other equipment for basic cooking. Let us know if you’d like a fire bowl, wood and equipment for BBQs. Or you can use our shared ‘summer kitchen’ which is fully equipped with hobs, ovens, microwave, fridges, sinks, equipment, etc.
Washing and showering? Each pod has its own toilet and sink with hot and cold water. But you may prefer to use the shared toilet/shower block a short walk from the pod near our farmyard.
Are pods only available in conjunction with courses at Wakelyns? As long as you are undertaking some sort of activity at Wakelyns, you are very welcome to stay in one of our pods. That includes coming to have a look round and learn about everything happening at Wakelyns, as well as the pre-booked courses and other events in our calendar.
.How we built the pods
During 2020, with help from Jeremy and Pedro we built a prototype pod (black), then a first production pod (yellow), then four more (purple, grey, blue, green).
As you can see, each is fully insulated and weatherproof. Built on a 3.6m X 2.4m footprint, they stand on stilts which allows us (using the special hydraulic trailer built here by Paul and Mark) easily to move them around behind a tractor.
The pods live in the agroforestry alleys between tree lines 38-56, moving around in whichever alleys are in ‘organic ley’ in any given year so that they do not impact at all on our farming. The easily mobility means that we can configure them on a solo basis, or group them for family or friendship groups who want to be together.
