Help save Wilton Farm, Family Business

For generations, the Evans family have managed a thriving local farm nestled in an area of an outstanding natural beauty in South Devon.

The farm has faced many challenges over the years, surviving foot and mouth, outbreaks of TB and family tragedies. With the farm’s dairy business collapsing due to BSE and the veg business struggling to compete against larger wholesalers, in 2011 we made the decision to diversify and set aside a beautiful corner of the land to camping.

Camping has since become the lifeblood of Wilton, providing the means to sustain our farm throughout the year. With people from far and wide coming to Wilton every year, we couldn’t be prouder to share our patch of Devon countryside with them.

But all of this is at risk.

The farm is caught up in a battle to keep the campsite open.

Wilton Farm Campsite faces opposition from a third party, and is going through a challenging planning process.

Our case depends on us demonstrating continuous use for over 10 years, which is proving to be challenging. A recent application has been partly rejected on the basis that we weren't open during the peak of the 2020 Covid lockdown, when all campsites across the country were forced to closes to avoid breaking lockdown restrictions.

We continue to fight this and are using planning and legal representation as we proceed with multiple applications and appeals.

But with legal bills running into the thousands, our campsite business is being severely stretched.

We are asking for donations, big or small to help contribute towards these rising costs and are hugely grateful for any support offered.

We believe our story is part of a bigger picture. It is vital small family farms are supported in any efforts to diversify. And in an area renowned for expensive tourism, environmentally-friendly and low-impact campsites such as ours offer families an affordable way of enjoying the South Hams and connecting to nature.

We are determined to ensure the campsite remains open, to support future generations and provide many more summers of memories for our campers.