A FARM will be joining the ‘glamping’ revolution as it adapts to the changing state of farming.


Harry Acland’s Notgrove estate rambles over 1,500 acres of picturesque Cotswold countryside not far from Northleach.


This spring they will be adding seven permanent ‘camping pods’ complete with showers, beds and toilets to their successful holiday home business.


‘Glamping’ – glamorous camping – combines the ruggedness of camping with the trappings of an indoor holiday.


The estate used to be a thriving farm that employed around 20 people for its 100 dairy cows, 1,100 sheep and 400 other cattle.


Since its heyday it has been hit by low food prices and bouts of bovine TB which have left farming a largely unprofitable enterprise.


 Now only one person is employed for its 80 cows.


“We lost three cows to TB a few weeks ago. But that is part of life and you have to learn to adapt,” Harry said.


The buildings that once housed the cows have been converted into a handful of holiday homes that can together sleep up to 50 people.


“The population of the village is about 80 now. At its peak it was about 240 – there’s been massive rural depopulation,” Harry said.


“With these holiday cottages we are now employing seven people to help with catering, laundry and cleaning, that kind of thing.


He added: “All bar two of them are from the village. We’ve got a full-time maintenance guy and a full-time painter and we make most of our own furniture.


“We are a small community and we like to try and do everything within the village, probably around two thirds of the village have something to do with the estate.”


The new camping pods will be part of the ’glamping’ revolution where campers can get some of the luxuries of the indoors – a toilet, a shower, electricity – without the expense.


Planning officer Martin Perks had recommended councillors at last month’s Cotswold District Council’s planning refuse the application, but after hearing Harry’s case they voted to pass it.


The three-by-six-metre pods have ‘U’ shaped roofs and are designed to be as eco-friendly as possible.


“Do I miss farming? I don’t miss getting up at 5am to milk the cows and getting kicked and my hand pooed on – and I love meeting our guests from around the country.”


To find out more please go online and visit notgroveholidays.com.