Farm

Bateman’s Barn South Elmham is at the heart of a working Suffolk farm. It always has been. And we would like to think that it always will be.

It has been in the Sanderson family for several generations and we care for 450 biodiverse acres and manage a range of livestock organically too.

As our spring lambing season comes to a close and our cattle head out to pasture, we are able to open up our farm and its buildings and welcome you and your guests, to celebrate your marriage in a real and beautiful place which is naturally wedded to the rhythms of the countryside.

So naturally beautiful

The landscape we farm is an ancient one – real, alive and very photogenic. Swathes of it have somehow dodged the ploughs of ‘progress’ and remained original and remarkably intact, allowing us the privilege and opportunity to restore and safeguard our countryside and its wildlife.

Pull on wellies with your wedding dress and head across the pastures.
Stand in a golden field at summer sundown...
Or under the falling autumn leaves in the ancient grove.
Feed the hens or go for a gander round the cattle sheds and cart lodges.

Now medieval - now modern. Now romantic - now real, the working farm is full of contrasts (and the occasional caveat) and makes for some magnificent and memorably different backdrops for your wedding photos.

Caring for all our guests

From Chinese water deer to Indian weddings, from flocks of tiny siskins to local ramblers, we seek to make all our visitors feel welcome.

The whole farm has been in Countryside Stewardship for over 30 years. Support from this scheme has enabled us to formalise public access, plant new woodlands, coppice and plant new hedges, restore ponds and plant areas specifically for pollinating insects and winter bird food.

We are also involved in a pioneering project with Natural England and RSPB as a rare habitat and site for breeding pairs of turtle doves.  

Bateman’s Barn South Elmham is able to accommodate weddings throughout the summer and into the autumn.