The family who run Wookey Farm have praised the support they have received from people in the Wells area during the coronavirus lockdown.

Ian and Sarah Davies have been at Wookey Farm for 10 years, and say they are being kept incredibly busy due to the amount of local support and orders they have received.

They have had to close their campsite, but the farm itself carries on. Their farm shop is open and they have also started doing home deliveries.

Sarah said: "We are predominantly a dairy goat farm but we also doing more and more goat meat and also a small amount of lamb and pork.

"We normally have a thriving campsite which is very popular with families. We have lots of people coming back year after year - they love that the children and adults can come and watch the milking and feeding, maybe even have a go at milking the goats.

"The River Axe runs through our farm and there is a lovely shallow point where families can paddle or build damns.

"We currently have a tiny farm shop in the shape of a horse box but Ian is in the process of building a bigger one so we can better display our produce, and expand to more things.

"We also run children's farm and outdoor activity days where children can get involved in looking after the animals as well as exploring nature and making lots of outdoor crafty things.

"We built the farm up from scratch, there was no water or electric when we arrived so its been an evolving process since the start."

Sarah said the main affect from the coronavirus crisis has been having to close the campsite, which they rely on for both the revenue from pitch fees as well as the produce sales from the campers.

"Our camping customers have been brilliant and most, if they can, have been happy to postpone their holiday until life is a bit more back to normal," she said.

"This has been fantastic that we don't have to pay out refunds but obviously this it the time when we would be getting lots of advance bookings for the summer holidays so that is a challenge.

"The farm carries on - still milking, still sending animals off for meat. We have noticed more people buying locally which is fantastic. Their support has meant a lot.

"The other big challenge is having two lively boys at home - as well as trying to fit in our usual work, we have to fit in home schooling too.

"But thank goodness we have so much space for them to burn off some of that energy. I think they're loving it."

For sale in the small farm shop is goat meat, pork, lamb and all their dairy - goats' milk, yoghurt, soft cheese and hard cheese.

The goat kids are not weaned yet so they are still sharing the milk and therefore not processing to full capacity.

However, Sarah said: "We've started doing home deliveries, particularly to families in Wells, who usually buy from the market or who are self isolating.

"It works really well - people set up BACS payments then I can just leave on the doorstep, ring the bell, and wave from two metres away.

"Lots of other producers I know are rushed off their feet which in some ways is great for business but if they need to get in extra help, they can't, so there is a lot of pressure on too.

"I think we were all a bit worried about markets closing down but then direct orders have increased so it has balanced out.

"Lots of local food delivery services like Somerset Local Food Direct are booming so we are supplying them with much more.

"There is a lot of press about how the supermarkets are coping and not much mention of all the farmers, still producing the food but local people are very appreciative so it makes it all worthwhile. We're a small farm with a small team so we're in a lucky position.

"I'm amazed at how people have adapted - pubs doing takeaways, our local shop doing local deliveries, etc.

"I would like to say thank you to local people and please keep supporting your local producers and businesses."

For any order, you can contact Sarah or Ian on [email protected].