The Nidderdale Voices column with Anne Challis: Living the Dream at Studfold Farm

After a winter of bad news it is a pleasant change to retreat to the very heart of Nidderdale and talk with a family who have lived on and been guardians of their land for 16 generations. Whist still very much involved in a working farm, siblings Ian Walker and Anne Challis have managed Studfold Farm and enlarged the business to create a countryside experience that gives pleasure to visitors and work for local people.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th May 2020, 08:59 BST
There’s always plenty to do as we develop the Studfold Brand.There’s always plenty to do as we develop the Studfold Brand.
There’s always plenty to do as we develop the Studfold Brand.

Anne was born in Keynsham, near Bath where her parents Stan and Freda worked as teachers. Holidays were always spent in Yorkshire, either with her maternal grandparents in Skipton or at Studfold.

Anne attended Nidderdale High School and then on to St Aiden’s sixth form. She obviously excelled in the practical subject choosing Home Economics as a career.

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This took her to Edinburgh to train and then a PGCE at Bath. Armed with her teaching qualifications Anne headed home for Yorkshire. Marriage, two children and a short period in Middlesmoor and Anne came back to Studfold for good.

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Anne Challis.Anne Challis.
Anne Challis.

Describe one of your days

When Ian and I took over our parents had just bought a hut that was situated on our land. It had belonged to Goole Grammar School and they set about improving it as an accommodation hut. When Dad died, Ian and I officially joined Mum and took on major roles in the business.

We applied for and received a rural enterprise fund grant which enabled us to build a toilet block on the camping field. We were then able to expand the tourist side of the business and we now have four glamping pods, facilities for 60 static vans, 50 touring sites and five seasonal pitches.

In 2009 we developed the Studfold Brand and the Nidderdale Experience was born with the creation of the Adventure Trail which is a family activity. This took four years to develop and consists of a mile walk through the farm using a clue sheet.

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There are plenty of stops with activities to engage parents and children and a treasure box to fill. We do not stand still and the business is continually developing and we have won many prestigious awards for our contribution to tourism.

Our latest innovation is a fairy trail.

With all this development we found that a better use of the old hut would be as a shop, cafe, office and reception centre. Julia Hardcastle has made the cafe into a very attractive addition. During the season I spend most of the day on reception, but before starting this the campsite and the trail have to be checked. There is always office work and the inevitable VAT. During term time I teach one day a week at Upper Nidderdale and I am on Upper Nidderdale Parish Council. My new grandson Billy provides a welcome distraction.

What would be your perfect day out?

Just a local walk with my dog. At the moment she has a litter of puppies.

What is your favourite part of the dale?

Looking down dale from Middlesmoor churchyard.

What is your favourite business?

Newgarth Properties, run by Ruth Leeming Sykes. She does a fantastic job providing general maintenance.

What are the biggest changes you have had in your life?

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Developing Studfold has given me the opportunity of putting my dream of family stewardship and continuity into practise.

What makes Nidderdale special?

So much open space.

One thing that you would like to change

The end of uncertainty. For people to feel safe again.