A JERSEY family is set to step into the hospitality sector by offering overnight stays at their farm.
Laurent and Paris Coenen, the husband-and-wife duo behind Potage Farm and the popular Sheep Shed, are preparing to open Hedgerow House in next summer.
The new venture will feature six farm stay suites for up to 22 guests, with bookings opening on Boxing Day this year.
The Coenens have spent almost a decade developing the idea, building on their experience of welcoming thousands of visitors to the farm through the Sheep Shed’s parties and playgroups.
Hedgerow House will sit alongside the farm’s existing activities, with the accommodation intended to remain closely connected to the day-to-day life of the working family farm.
For Mr Coenen, whose family has farmed for generations, diversification is part of looking ahead.
“Looking after the land has always meant thinking beyond today,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve gradually diversified the farm through experiences and events and Hedgerow House is the next chapter in that journey – helping to secure the future of the farm while sharing the place we love with others.”
“We never wanted to build something that could exist anywhere.
“It had to feel true to our family, this farm and Jersey’s farming heritage. That’s what we hope every guest experiences when they come here.”
For Mrs Coenen, the project represents the continuation of a journey that began with opening up the farm to visitors.
“We’ve dreamed about Hedgerow House for almost ten years,” she said. “It felt like the natural next chapter in our journey – building on everything we’ve learned from welcoming people onto the farm, while staying true to who we are as a family.”
And the Coenens have a particular vision for what a stay at the farm should feel like.
“People talk a lot about wellness these days,” Mrs Coenen said. “We like to think of it as ‘wellness with wellies on’.
“It’s fresh air, muddy boots and time together as a family. If a child leaves having collected their first egg, discovered where their food comes from, or simply made memories together as a family, we’ll feel we’ve created something really special.”
The new accommodation comes as visitors increasingly look for holidays built around nature, local food and authentic experiences.
Tricia Warwick, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said Hedgerow House would add to the island’s visitor offering.
“Visitors increasingly want to feel connected to the places they travel, including the local landscape, food, and people,” she said.
“Hedgerow House is a fantastic example of Jersey’s accommodation offer evolving in a way that celebrates the island’s unique heritage while resonating with wider travel trends.”
People can register their interest and follow the journey at hedgerowhouse.je.
