Welcome to our home.
Set within 20 acres of rolling Worcestershire countryside, Wagtail Retreat is a working, sustainable vineyard and a haven for wildlife such as hares, geese, deer and of course Wagtail birds. We bought and moved into our house over 24 years ago and since then, have planted the vineyard, landscaped the grounds and worked hard to maximise the beauty and tranquillity of the site.
Three years ago, we made the decision to leave the commuter lifestyle behind. Together with our daughter and cocker spaniel Bertie, we decided to make Wagtail Retreat our main business by selling our wine and opening our home as a place to stay, relax and unwind from everyday life.
Larch, Gooseberry and Hedgehog
Working with The Hutbuilders, we have developed three luxurious Shepherds Huts – Larch, Gooseberry and Hedgehog. Our brief was simple. Let’s design something we would want to stay in – charming, stylish, very comfortable and full of little touches to make our guests smile.
Hand crafted
James has led the outdoor work, planning the orientation of each hut and building all the exterior oak decks. Chloe has designed the interior of each hut, sourcing paints from the Little Greene Company, wallpapers from Sandersen, handmade tiles and quirky interior finishes such as elephant loo roll holders! We have tried to make each hut stylish and unique, with beautiful attention to detail so that you have a choice of rustic charm in Larch, Scandi-chic in Gooseberry (and Miami-chic in Hedgehog.
Each hut has everything you need for a relaxing break in the countryside. If the weather turns chilly, there are log-burners inside or a fire-pit/BBQ outside. Fluffy towels, Bramley toiletries and Egyptian cotton sheets provide a luxurious feel and our well-equipped kitchenettes mean you can rustle up a hearty breakfast or pull-together some al-fresco dining to enjoy on your own, private deck as you watch our fabulous sunsets and enjoy a glass of wine.
With plenty to do locally from walks, to activities and places to visit (link to places page), Wagtail Retreat is the perfect spot to switch off from everyday life as you enjoy gorgeous views of the Malvern Hills, our lake, vineyard and ever changing wildlife.
What to see this month?
In June, our cuckoos have just stopped calling, to be replaced by the swallows and swifts circling in the sky. If you’re lucky you may see leveritts running in the vines or families of ducks nesting on the lake. In the vineyard we are busy ‘tucking in’ the longer vine shoots to keep the canopy up, as well as removing any growth below the knee – ensuring the vines are healthy and verdant to produce a plentiful crop of grapes later in the year.
