About our EAFRD Grant
Our renovation, which took place in 2021, was part-funded by The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development.
The redevelopment was to include a rebuild of traditional farm buildings into a new café and retail space which would provide employment for locals and increase tourism in the Sherborne area.
THE BUILD
The build was undertaken by local firm Resolution Interiors who sympathetically restored the barns and surrounding exterior, ensuring that the buildings were able to offer a flexible and manageable space for the business to continue to evolve.
The result is a building that maintains it’s charm, continues to compliment the agricultural heritage of the farm whilst also providing a bright and spacious place both inside and outside for families to meet and play.
THE DESIGN
We had initially thought to add a café to our existing premises but with consultation, we soon had aspirations to evolve the destination as a whole to create a full family oriented experience. Working with Something Yellow, we developed the new Blackmarsh Farm brand with identities for both the kitchen garden and an evolution of The Toy Barn. As part of this process, we were able to design the interior and exterior spaces to retain the charm of the listed barns, whilst creating a bright and friendly environment, where muddy boots are always welcome.
We now have an accessible entrance and reception with a fully functioning café and retail space. Our Orchard Play Area is still a great showcase for our outdoor climbing frames, with the addition of a seating area to enjoy a coffee or ice cream from our café.