Come to our conservation charity garden near Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK
Last activity
: 15 May 2025
Profile information
Usually responds within 2 days
Min stay requested: at least a week
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 393882544539
Website Safety
Feedback (17)
Left by host for Workawayer (Ingmar)
Ingmar was here for two weeks in April. He settled into the rhythm and routine of the house very quickly and was very pleasant to have around. He was quiet and courteous, friendly, considerate and helpful. We had regular interesting conversations, mixed with humour. He took over the feeding of the pond fish every night. And enjoyed playing the
… read more keyboards here.
He managed to do a lot of trips: Bristol, a London weekend (+ The Mousetrap at theatre), Salisbury and Stonehenge, Swindon train museum and Didcot Railway centre, Cardiff, Bath, Weston-super-Mare & Brean Down Headland, Bowood House & Gardens.
In the garden he enabled tasks to be completed which I had never found the time for especially restringing and repairing five zero gravity chairs; some pruning of conifer trees; re-laying part of the lawn path; repainting 4 benches in the Buddha courtyard, and repainting all furniture of the front garden.
We are staying in touch. He has joined the Trust past Workawayers family. And hopes to come back here. Thank you Ingmar!
Left by host for Workawayer (Martino)
Martino was very helpful in the charity garden with tasks of maintenance & changes:
Cut down/dug out big Pampas grass; pruned trees; reorganised part of the buddha quad; gave the Putti Hide bamboo hedge a good pruning & shaping; built a rabbit deterrent spinach fence in the veg garden; burnt up a huge pile of tree prunings in the woodland; pruned
… read more all the buddleia in the woodland area.
He also interacted very well with Downes syndrome and autism visitors.
He managed to see a lot (though he was doing on-line teaching for high school students every day) visiting: Bristol, Lacock Abbey (jogged there and back!), Bath, Oxford, Cardiff, Castle Combe (where we had drinks & cake in the tea-rooms), Aveburyhenge, Bournemouth, Salisbury. Also local walking & jogging.
Martino is diligent, focussed & organised in all assigned tasks. You can let him get on & do it unsupervised knowing he will make a good job of it.
Around the house he was very courteous, clean and tidy, very quiet and companionable and a pleasure to have around. He also made some nice meals, and we has fascinating varied conversations. He stayed an extra 5 days beyond his initially prepared schedule.
Left by Workawayer (Martino) for host
Spending two and a half weeks with Stephen at his charity was an amazing experience. From the very first moment, he made me feel at ease—at home and comfortable.
I truly enjoyed spending time with him, engaging in conversations on a variety of subjects. Not only did this help me practice my English, but I also learned so much about gardening,
… read more history, and nearby cities thanks to Stephen’s vast knowledge and experiences.
I also deeply appreciated the flexibility I had during my stay. Stephen always ensured I had enough time for personal activities and to explore the beautiful surroundings. In just two weeks, I was able to visit Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth, Lacock Abbey, Cardiff, Oxford, Salisbury, Avebury, Castle Combe, and the local area—an unforgettable experience.
Another highlight was Stephen's garden. Being able to spend time in such a serene and peaceful place was incredible. The work there was diverse, always well explained by Stephen, and carried out independently, without pressure or stress. Seeing the before-and-after results of each task was truly rewarding.
Thank you, Stephen, for this wonderful experience!
Left by Workawayer (Tom) for host
I had an amazing time staying at Stephan's place and helping him out with work in the garden. From the moment I arrived, Stephan instantly made me feel welcome and at home. The work was fun and left plenty of time to explore the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire, while also making longer trips easily possible.
I stayed with him from the end of
… read more September to the end of October, and thanks to his great advice and tips, I was able to visit many cities and beautiful places. I even made some friends in town in the short amount of time I had.
Living with Stephan was very cozy and mellow. He always made sure that I felt comfortable and that all my trips and plans worked out. He gave me a lot of privacy to explore on my own but was always ready to join me on trips and show me around places and cities.
Spending time with him and talking about my trips in the evening or while working in the garden was very pleasant. He has great communication skills and always knew some very interesting facts about places I visited, due to his great knowledge of not only the area but also English history.
I wish I could have stayed a lot longer and definitely want to return to Stephan's place next year to possibly make some even longer trips down to southwest England.
I can absolutely recommend taking the opportunity to stay with Stephan and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you for the great time! I hope to be back soon!Left by host for Workawayer (Tom)
As part of his year out after finishing school and before going on to university, Tom came to the trust from 24th of September to the 22nd of October. An intrepid traveller with his Under 25 Railcard whilst staying with me he visited:
Devizes, Calne, Bristol, Bath, Lacock, Swindon, Castle Combe, Malmesbury, Oxford, Reading, Wells, Glastonbury,
… read more Cardiff, Salisbury, Exeter, Gloucester, and Aveburyhenge.
Tom was a great help in the garden assisting with the remaining section of the back garden new turf laying by digging up the old turf; and also undertaking major pruning of specimen trees and perennial flowering shrubs for the winter - for which he has a good eye for shape.
He made friends with some people his own age in Chippenham. Tom liked playing the guitar in his room. He was great around the house, very mellow and vey quiet and good to hang out with.
He will now do a few months experience in industry in Germany and then go on to university. Before that he intends to come back to the Trust in 2025 for a longer time. And we also plan to hook up when I visit 5 other of my past German Workawayers in NorthRheinland in 2025.Photos
This is the Workawayers room. There are 4 shelves for personal items and a wardrobe in the hall. The bathroom is just a few feet away.
There is wifi-fi.
This is the Kitchen & Dining Room. Again carefully coded subject books abound (as they do everywhere). There is on tap beer and wine. The stable doors lead out to the utility/cloakroom and side garden with kitchen herb plants,
Two of our recent Workawayers:
Simon from Germany, and Jung from South Korea.
View of: Sitting Room (in the house).
Here we relax for a couple of hours after the evening meal to talk, read, watch some tv, listen to music.
The tv is also connected to the internet and to skype (useful to stay in touch with family).
A view of the Gymnasium:
this comprises twin weight stack fixed weights with 3 separate seating positions and wide range of exercises/work stations. Plus free weights and a cycle machine.
It's also good terrain nearby for jogging and for cycling.
The gym is freely available to Workawayers at any time.
View of: the Summerhouse.
Here we relax during the day , have lunch, take regular breaks, read, study, plan/prepare projects , listen to music etc.
There are about 1000 books here (and another 9000+ in the house!).This Garden Library covers all aspects of gardening, landscape, ecology, conservation, wildlife, garden design and histry etc.
Me with the Cat and a view looking down section of garden towards the house.
Life size marble statues of Graeco-Roman deities adorn the various gardens- which are separated by huge wooden arches, pergolas, and paths and walls.
There is even a small beach!
A large pond has many species of fish. It is fed from a series of pools and waterfall.
View of the summer house which is beside the large pond and beach with an exquisite view down the length of the garden. Beside is (rhs) is an Exotics Garden and patio/dining area.
The Pond is quite large and additionally has a wetland extension for newts/frogs etc. In the Pond are: goldfish/blue orfe, honey orfe, green tench, blackamoor, blue panda, silver rudd, golden rudd, sarassa comets, canary yellow, three different species of shubunkin, and koi. There is a bridge across the pond and seating areas around it. A large waterfall with three separate pools/falls feeds into the pond.
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Left by host for Workawayer (Ingmar)
Ingmar was here for two weeks in April. He settled into the rhythm and routine of the house very quickly and was very pleasant to have around. He was quiet and courteous, friendly, considerate and helpful. We had regular interesting conversations, mixed with humour. He took over the feeding of the pond fish every night. And enjoyed playing the
… read more keyboards here.
He managed to do a lot of trips: Bristol, a London weekend (+ The Mousetrap at theatre), Salisbury and Stonehenge, Swindon train museum and Didcot Railway centre, Cardiff, Bath, Weston-super-Mare & Brean Down Headland, Bowood House & Gardens.
In the garden he enabled tasks to be completed which I had never found the time for especially restringing and repairing five zero gravity chairs; some pruning of conifer trees; re-laying part of the lawn path; repainting 4 benches in the Buddha courtyard, and repainting all furniture of the front garden.
We are staying in touch. He has joined the Trust past Workawayers family. And hopes to come back here. Thank you Ingmar!
Left by host for Workawayer (Martino)
Martino was very helpful in the charity garden with tasks of maintenance & changes:
Cut down/dug out big Pampas grass; pruned trees; reorganised part of the buddha quad; gave the Putti Hide bamboo hedge a good pruning & shaping; built a rabbit deterrent spinach fence in the veg garden; burnt up a huge pile of tree prunings in the woodland; pruned
… read more all the buddleia in the woodland area.
He also interacted very well with Downes syndrome and autism visitors.
He managed to see a lot (though he was doing on-line teaching for high school students every day) visiting: Bristol, Lacock Abbey (jogged there and back!), Bath, Oxford, Cardiff, Castle Combe (where we had drinks & cake in the tea-rooms), Aveburyhenge, Bournemouth, Salisbury. Also local walking & jogging.
Martino is diligent, focussed & organised in all assigned tasks. You can let him get on & do it unsupervised knowing he will make a good job of it.
Around the house he was very courteous, clean and tidy, very quiet and companionable and a pleasure to have around. He also made some nice meals, and we has fascinating varied conversations. He stayed an extra 5 days beyond his initially prepared schedule.
Left by Workawayer (Martino) for host
Spending two and a half weeks with Stephen at his charity was an amazing experience. From the very first moment, he made me feel at ease—at home and comfortable.
I truly enjoyed spending time with him, engaging in conversations on a variety of subjects. Not only did this help me practice my English, but I also learned so much about gardening,
… read more history, and nearby cities thanks to Stephen’s vast knowledge and experiences.
I also deeply appreciated the flexibility I had during my stay. Stephen always ensured I had enough time for personal activities and to explore the beautiful surroundings. In just two weeks, I was able to visit Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth, Lacock Abbey, Cardiff, Oxford, Salisbury, Avebury, Castle Combe, and the local area—an unforgettable experience.
Another highlight was Stephen's garden. Being able to spend time in such a serene and peaceful place was incredible. The work there was diverse, always well explained by Stephen, and carried out independently, without pressure or stress. Seeing the before-and-after results of each task was truly rewarding.
Thank you, Stephen, for this wonderful experience!
Left by Workawayer (Tom) for host
I had an amazing time staying at Stephan's place and helping him out with work in the garden. From the moment I arrived, Stephan instantly made me feel welcome and at home. The work was fun and left plenty of time to explore the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire, while also making longer trips easily possible.
I stayed with him from the end of
… read more September to the end of October, and thanks to his great advice and tips, I was able to visit many cities and beautiful places. I even made some friends in town in the short amount of time I had.
Living with Stephan was very cozy and mellow. He always made sure that I felt comfortable and that all my trips and plans worked out. He gave me a lot of privacy to explore on my own but was always ready to join me on trips and show me around places and cities.
Spending time with him and talking about my trips in the evening or while working in the garden was very pleasant. He has great communication skills and always knew some very interesting facts about places I visited, due to his great knowledge of not only the area but also English history.
I wish I could have stayed a lot longer and definitely want to return to Stephan's place next year to possibly make some even longer trips down to southwest England.
I can absolutely recommend taking the opportunity to stay with Stephan and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you for the great time! I hope to be back soon!Left by host for Workawayer (Tom)
As part of his year out after finishing school and before going on to university, Tom came to the trust from 24th of September to the 22nd of October. An intrepid traveller with his Under 25 Railcard whilst staying with me he visited:
Devizes, Calne, Bristol, Bath, Lacock, Swindon, Castle Combe, Malmesbury, Oxford, Reading, Wells, Glastonbury,
… read more Cardiff, Salisbury, Exeter, Gloucester, and Aveburyhenge.
Tom was a great help in the garden assisting with the remaining section of the back garden new turf laying by digging up the old turf; and also undertaking major pruning of specimen trees and perennial flowering shrubs for the winter - for which he has a good eye for shape.
He made friends with some people his own age in Chippenham. Tom liked playing the guitar in his room. He was great around the house, very mellow and vey quiet and good to hang out with.
He will now do a few months experience in industry in Germany and then go on to university. Before that he intends to come back to the Trust in 2025 for a longer time. And we also plan to hook up when I visit 5 other of my past German Workawayers in NorthRheinland in 2025.
Left by host for Workawayer (Max)
Max was a very helpful Workawayer and focussed and efficient in the tasks he did for the trust in the garden. He can turn his hand to things since he is flexible, intelligent, diligent and practical.
Around the house he was very companionable, supportive, courteous. And a very quiet and a very good house guest. A nice chap to have around the
… read more place.
Max plays great keyboards and guitar (used both of ours whilst here) as well as having a wonderful singing voice. His other great passion is going to theatre since his future career interests include theatre production and acting.
Whilst here he managed to get off and visit a lot of places including: Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Oxford, Avebury stone circles, Stonehenge, Marlborough, Castle Combe, Lacock, Bradford-on-Avon and London.
Max is joining our family of past Workawayers who contribute feedback to our quarterly magazine.
Good luck at university Max. Drop by and say hello next time you are in Europe!
Left by Workawayer (Max) for host
I have nothing but positive things to say about my experiences in the gardens. The work is light and fulfilling, his home is cozy and well cared for, and the surrounding area is very beautiful and full of hidden gems. All this aside the best part of my experience was working with Stephen. He will instantly make you feel at home, has great
… read more communication, will teach you so much about life, and overall will be a great friend and mentor for you on your trip. If any part of you is considering a stay with Stephen I would say "go for it!" you will learn more about the world around you and yourself than you ever thought possible.
Thank you for everything Stephen.
Left by host for Workawayer (Francesco)
Francesco volunteered here for 2 weeks in Spring. He was a very helpful and supportive volunteer. He is industrious and has an eye for solving problems, and getting on with doing things unsupervised once it is explained what is needed.
Francesco is a very good house guest and very quiet, you would hardly know that he is in your home and is very
… read more respectful. After dinner of an evening we had pleasant times watching documentaries and comedies and having conversation.
He was a great help in the garden: clearing the woodland area; sawing up 4 wooden pallets; constructing the new woodland arbour then painting it; pruning conifer trees; shaping overgrown shrubs.
He explored the local landscape, did a lot of cycling; and had excursions to Bath, Calne and London (for a weekend). And a long hike up to the Cherhill White Horse and the Petty Obelisk. And together we visited Bowood House and Gardens on the Easter weekend
Francesco is also a great chef, and a neighbour and I had the pleasure of enjoying his authentic Italian cooking!
Good luck in your next placements Francesco. You you know that you're welcome to visit here for another placement again or just stop over and enroute to somewhere else.
Francesco and I are are staying and he has joined our 'family' of past-Workawayers contributing to our charity's quarterly Magazine.
Left by Workawayer (Francesco) for host
My stay with Stephen was great! I stayed with him for two weeks at the end of April. I helped him out in the garden when the weather allowed it. The jobs I was given to do were fulfilling and reasonable. Working in the beautiful garden was always very peaceful. Stephen always made sure that I liked what I was doing and gave very clear instructions
… read more whenever I needed them.
Stephen also made sure that I was always feeling at home. In our free time, we spent some time having interesting conversations and watching TV. I learned about some really nice and quaint British comedies from the past decades!
He also helped me figuring out some day trips and some afternoon adventures! Since he has a lot of knowledge about the local area (and beyond) he gave me some great advice. It's also really useful that he has a nice one that is specifically for workawayers... there is a lot of nature and historical sites around the area that can be reached by cycling. We even spent a very nice day together visiting the beautiful Bowood Estate, which is basically nextdoor.
I'm looking forward to visiting Stephen again, and will be definitely keeping in touch!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Tyge)
Tyge from Denmark came 27th of August (and was able to meet Luis ftom Italy) and stayed until 14th October.
He's a big, tall, strong lad with tons of stamina , energy, enthusiasm and good will. He’s been of great help dealing with major construction and reorganization projects, including demolishing dilapidated pool shed and erecting new one,
… read more disposing of over 3 cubic metres wood pallets/tree branches etc; storing 26 m² of Brazilian slate porcelain; tree felling/pruning; dismantling the summerhouse veranda flooring for new decking and other tasks.
Tyge is very good natured, good company, easy to get on with, polite, courteous, intelligent, diligent, industrious and skilled. And a good house guest.
He is also an intrepid traveller! He helped extra hours mid-week so he could take off Thursday to Monday to have 4 day weekend, so he explored: Cornwall, Dartmoor, Snowdonia, S. Wales,
London, the Brecons, Bristol & Bath.
He's joined our Past-Workawayers 'family network'. And going to visit here agan next year. Good luck for now Tyge!
Left by Workawayer (Tyge) for host
Hello!
My name is Tyge, I am 20 years old, I come from Denmark and I stayed with Stephen from August 28'th to October 14'th.
I was starting my second gap year with the dream of exploring the whole world, and with a decision to join Stephen in his garden I got the blast I dreamed of!
My first evening in the house was also my predecessor, Luis',
… read more last, and after a meal we danced in a local pub, like we'd known each other for years and had just reunited! I can't think of a better welcome!
From that evening followed a lot of brilliant, almost relaxing, days as a student in the garden, interesting conversations in the evening, and the thing I am most fond of: advices and insight from Stephen. His advice made me able to discover England as if I had a personal guide at my constant disposal who almost knew what I could spend my time on, wherever I was located!
Helping is in general one of Stephens most sharpend skills, and there havn't been a matter he haven't helped me find a solution for, whether it was about the garden, if I was on an adventure and suddenly faced a problem or if I had a question about almost anything.
Stephen is in other words near the very top of most clever, open minded and friendly people I have ever met and I have nothing but recommendations to give!
I truly hope to return some day!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luis Martin)
From Trento, Italy, Luis came here for two weeks in August and brought the sunshine with him!
He was a great help with garden maintenance and
quickly picked up an understanding of what had to be done and just got on with it. He was very good house guest , very quiet and amicable and we got on well and had great conversations over at dinner
… read more times. Luis is a postive guy and was always cheerful and was quite humorous.
We went on a trip to Castle Combe together and he also undertook day trips to Oxford, Bristol, and Bath. He used the bike to explore the local area and regularly went off walking locally. Whilst here he was also able to do some of his university studies
On the last day/night he met Tyge his Danish successor.
Luis is joining our Past-Workawayers Family: writing a 3 month life review for our Quarterly Magazine.
Luis: good luck at university. You'll be welcome come here again.
Left by Workawayer (Luis Martin) for host
Destiny brought me to Stephen's garden for 14 days, and it proved to be a great environment for stepping out of my comfort zone and developing myself. The place, helped me clear my mind and feel better overall. During my stay, I made some wonderful friends, including Stephen, the charming cat, and the incredibly plump fish in the garden
… read more pond.
Stephen is a truly intellectual, well-educated, and gentle man. One day, he kindly took me to visit a delightful old village nearby, which was a memorable experience. On our last night, with another Danish guy, we danced together at a local pub in the city like three old friends. Stephen was a really good travel companion, and if fate allows, I hope to see him again one day.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Jonas)
Jonas stayed here for 2 months in winter: but that didn't stop him from being a great help with two major garden projects for our charity. (He is the younger brother of Simon, one of our 2018 workaywers so I already knew him).
Amongst other things he was of immense support taking up an old wood decking, transporting sand, and laying in porcelain
… read more paving, reducing the height of an overgrown eucalyptus tree, digging up 92sq.m of old lawn turf and raking it levelling the ground for new turf, pruning tall leylandi hedges and much else.
Jonas is a tall and very strong lad and is very focussed in any activity. He is also very practical and good at logistics and overall planning. He is very mellow and good company and easy to get on with and fitted into to the routine of the house quickly. He is also a quiet and respectful house guest and I can highly recommend him.
He loves his volley ball (which he plays in league team in Germany) and was able to join the training sessions for 2 clubs here locally.
We had a lot of fun together and we also made excursions to Avebury, Stonehenge, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Weymouth, Castle Combe & Marsfield, Salisbury, Wells & Glastonbury. He also had excursions to Cardiff (Wales) and Birmingham. To finish we went to the Christmas Reception at Bowood House before he went home for Christmas.
Jonas and I are now in regular contact and will be back here for a short stay en route to his next placement (in Scotland). And we are planning on meeting up in Germany when I go there again.
Left by Workawayer (Jonas) for host
I have spent the last two months of my life with Stephen, and I can say that I have no regrets. My stay with Stephen was fundamentally formative and very enriching because I learned and developed myself a lot.
Since my brother had already been with him as a workawayer, I knew Stephen beforehand, which made life easier together and we quickly
… read more became very good friends. The working atmosphere and the work itself were very pleasant despite large projects in the garden, that Steven and I managed. Since there were many different tasks to be done there, I gained a lot of experience in a wide variety of areas.
In addition to working in the garden, we also went on many excursions, which sparked my interest in English culture and history. The best excursions among them, that I can also recommend to future workawayers, were in Stonehenge, Salisbury, Oxford, Weymouth, and Wells.
Stephen himself is very nice and helpful and you can experience a lot with him in your free time. Whether it's pub visits, educational excursions or dinners in restaurants, I enjoyed spending time with him in every activity.
To everyone who comes across this profile and is considering living with Steven, absolutely do it!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Alessio)
The Trust was pleased to welcome Alessio for a study holiday in September. He was assisting the founder and learning various skills, polishing his English language, and also exploring the heritage and sights of England. He arrived and departed via Bristol airport which us not far from here.
He undertook many excursions and by reorganising the
… read more weekday schedule he had 2 long weekends away. His visits included visiting Wales (Cardiff and Swansea) Aveburyhenge stone circles, Bristol, Bath, and the Somerset coast (Weston-super-Mare and Berrow Beach and Brean Down Headland).
Alessio is very good natured and pleasant and methodical and focussed in his approach to work and study. He's easy to get on with diligent and focused. He also got on very well with Oliver our young student from Spain.
If Alessio you comes to stay with you be sure to try his delicious pesto pasta!
We had great discussions on the Italian Renaissance at Florence and the Medici- especially the works of Sandro Botticelli and who the models may have been. It also resulted in our binging on 2 Netflix seasons of 'Medici'! Sorry you missed out on season 3 Alessio😂 Look forward to your future progress reports for our Trust
Good luck back at university in Brescia!
Left by Workawayer (Antton) for host
I couldn't have wished for a better host for my first workaway. Before I arrived, Stephen made sure that everything was well organized. He gave me a lot of useful info about the upcoming visit which was very helpful and made things so much easier for me.
Stephens garden is one of the finest I've seen, and working in the garden didn't really feel
… read more like work to me. The tasks were all very manageable and there was no hurry or stress. It shows that Stephen really wants you to learn and have a good time. I often spent time in the garden just relaxing and thinking, enjoying the atmosphere. Became friends with Emeer the cat, he would often supervise and check my work.
There are loads of interesting places and sites to visit nearby, most of which are accessable by train and bus. Stephen was a great guide, he knew to recommend various places to go to and also came along with me as often he had time. Since Stephen is also an expert on everything about England , he knew how to describe each visited location; its history, best places to see and what do there etc.
Stephens kind and wonderful friends helped out whenever they could, they took us to see the beacon lighting for the Queen's Jubilee - party and also visited the village of Lacock.
I also got to join the local wood working club (Via Stephens recommendation) ! I'm studying to become a handicraft teacher so that was useful and fun for me.
I really enjoyed my time with Stephen. We spent time together talking, laughing, watching tv, pub crawling, travelling. Truly had a blast with the man! He is very kind, helpful and fun to be around with. Stephen has a very unique way of viewing life and for that he became a great inspiration to me, I loved to listen to his stories and I think I learned a lot from him.I would love to visit him again.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Antton)
Antton spent 5 very successful weeks here. He is very polite, respectful, easy to get on with, mellow, and relaxing to be with and has a nice sense of humour. He fitted into the routine of the house quickly and amicably. Very good house guest. He was very much at home chilling in the garden and in the student private summerhouse study. He became
… read more best friends with Emeer the house cat!
He studies/works well on his own, quickly understands what needs to be done and just gets on with it. I can especially commend his skills at trimming & shaping shrubs, trees and olive bushes!
He joined the local wood carving club for regular sessions every week and made himself a beautiful hardwood tea-box. And explored the local countryside cycling and running, using the gym and pool in our garden. Quite an adventurer he undertook many visits including: day trips to Bristol and Bath, and a weekend in London. He also went to the Somerset coast to Western-super-Mare/Brean Down headland. And he had other days on the Jurassic coast exploring Torquay, Brixham, Weymouth. Together we also went to Malmesbury Abbey, Aveburyhenge stone circles on the summer solstice, and the Somerset coast. One of our trustees took him to Chalfield manor and Lacock (Harry Potter film location). We also went to Bowood House for the Queens Platinum Jubilee beacon lighting hosted by Lord and Lady Lansdowne. And we had some nice evening visits to the local town for a few beers.
Antton good luck with your craft teacher studies back in Finland. I am looking forward to your knitting my traditional Finnish socks! And do come back and visit again some time!
Left by Workawayer (Jonathan) for host
My time at Stephen’s beautiful garden and trust was simply amazing! I’ll segment this feedback into sections to make it easier to read:
WORK
Work was usually only for a couple of hours a day on weekdays and involved what you would expect from Stephen’s listing: helping out in the garden (digging out old roots, planting new plants, etc.) and
… read more aiding with small construction projects going on in the garden (repainting a shed roof or putting up new sheet rock in the summer house, for example). All tasks were straightforward, safe, and demonstrated by Stephen beforehand and, as he says, if he can do it at 71, so can you!
STAY
Stephen offers a wonderful private room loaded with books and space for your belongings. Staying in the winter can be Spartan, as Stephen puts it, with heat turned on minimally throughout the day and hot water only switched on for a once or twice a week shower. Meals were always excellent and you will not go hungry: Stephen provides an abundant breakfast, lunch, and dinner which he makes all by himself, in addition to frequent snack breaks. Stephen is also a friend inasmuch as he is a host, and will frequently offer to watch a movie or a comedy with you, which I thought was a very sweet aspect of the stay as well.
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Stephen really wants this to be a proper workaway: he does not see you simply as a cheap source of labor, but rather as someone that he can teach and show around the beauty of England. Stephen himself proves to be a valuable resource on all things English: he is an avid historian that seems to know just about everything on anything, and can regale you with fascinating tidbits of local history and etymology at the drop of a dime. Stephen also encourages frequent trips to local landmarks, many of which I got to visit during my stay: Stonehenge, Bristol, and Bath, just to name a very small few. His neighbor is also incredibly friendly, generous, and kind-hearted, and offers an interesting peak into the Irish perspective on English life whenever you are lucky enough to have a cup of tea with him.
Overall, I look back at my two weeks at Stephen’s with incredible fondness and am saddened that it had to be cut short by omicron. I would highly recommend this workaway to anyone and hope to one day be back myself! Thank you Stephen!!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Jonathan)
The Trust was pleased to host Jonathan from Brooklyn (just graduated from Cornell University) over the second half of December. He had wanted to stay for four weeks but the Covid situation made it sensible to return to the USA earlier.
Jonathan is very polite, sociable and amiable and has respect for the household and the house rules. He fitted
… read more in very quickly. He is friendly and is very pleasant to have around. He is a practical and skillful chap. And able to quickly apply himself and learn new tasks.
He is industrious and diligent.
We worked together on getting most of the insulation and sound board renovations of the summerhouse done in preparation for its conversion to a teaching area and undertook removal of old fruit trees planting new ones.
He enjoyed a daily jogging session around the woods and countryside hereabouts. He managed some good excursions: Bath, Bristol, Lacock Abbey and village, Avebury, Marlborough, Calne, Chippenham, Salisbury and… Stonehenge for the sunrise on the Solstice! And finally Bowood House for Christmas Eve carols.
Our long discussions over dinner on all sorts of subjects was always a delight.
We plan to stay in touch. Jonathan would be welcome back here if he chose.
Left by host for Workawayer (Levin)
Levin is a very useful chap to have around to help you. He is reliable and practical and hard working. And he can get on and carry out tasks requested of him on his own without having to be supervised. He is thorough and diligent and clears up well after each work session. He understands very quickly what has to be done.
He got to know the area
… read more well during his stay by doing lots of walks around the local countryside. And also doing trips to Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Devizes, and Bowood House and Park, And he got involved locally by joining the local wood-carving club in the village and and even tried his hand at playing golf by having some lessons at the Bowood Golf Resort.
Around the house Levin is no trouble at all and a very amenable house guest. He is very quiet, good company, self-sufficient and undemanding. He is very mature for his age and a good conversationalist. And he cooks very good German-style pancakes! He is also a great experimenter with meals, different preparations and combinations.
He helped with several garden projects and lots of painting of fences, gates and outbuildings, and Spring tidying of the garden. He was also able to work alongside Vito (workawayer) from Berlin for a week.
Levin will always be welcome back. Good luck with your internship and surfing and best wishes at University Levin!
Left by Workawayer (Niklas) for host
My time with Stephen was, and I can only agree with my predecessors, unforgettable.
I have enjoyed my time here sooo much. I was able to come down, sort out my thoughts, and prepare for the coming studies. Derry Hill is very small and cozy which can be a welcome change to a city life. The area is perfect for walks, hikes or to go jogging as I did
… read more from time to time.
First I had to get used to the house itself, but soon I felt almost at home, which is due to the very considerate behavior of Stephen. Even if you live in the same house you do not have to give up your privacy. All this first to the environment.
The work is absolutely feasible, too, for people who, like me, have barely had anything to do with gardening in their lives. Stephen explains everything very closely, is always nearby and will not judge you for any questions or mistakes.
Stephen himself is a great man. He is a very interesting character with whom you can talk about the whole world and in my experience has no prejudices in any direction. But it should be said that he has a special sense of humor that you might not expect from a man of his age. This should not be meant negatively, I found it very refreshing and could get used to it well. Nonetheless, with this feedback, I obviously want to prepare future workaways for their stay with him as best as possible.
Finally, a few personal words. Stephen, thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to meet you and Wiltshire. I noticed from the first second I met you, that you really care about the person you work and live with and that's definitley not the case everywhere! I had an unforgettable time and I hope I can visit you again sometime.
Best regards from Germany
-NikYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Niklas)
Nik came to us for 9 weeks during the depths of winter! But was cheerful and adaptable and settled in very well and quickly. He became a part of the house like he had always been here. And in his work helping the Trust he was very diligent and focussed. And was cheerful and uncomplaining. He always tidied up well after his work and he is very
… read more practical and notices things that needs to be done. Nik was a great help in getting the garden prepared for the Spring projects and clearing away the winter debris. He also built and cemented a stone column and painted all the new front gates and old fences.
He is very quiet around the house and is no trouble at all. Nik is very nutritionally focussed since he is a vegan and it was interesting to discuss how we all use food & the modern problems thereof. Nik is very self-sufficient and can look after himself and get on and cook what he needs with no fuss.
He is a very keen sportsman and made regular use of our Gym and went for running in the park and woods nearby. Basketball is his passion and he hooked up with teams in Swindon and Chippenham.
While here Nik was able to focus on his university application and get it all sorted. He will always be welcome back. We are planning to meet up in Germany during my next holiday staying again with a previous Workawayer. Good luck with university and basketball Nik!
Left by host for Workawayer (Giovanni)
We found that Giovanni is quite artistic. He has an excellent eye for shape & composition when pruning trees and bushes.
And a superb colour sense: he suggested improvement to all the arbours by painting the trellis sections in different/complementary colours then carefully painting them. I was surprised and delighted by his
… read more innovation.
Giovanni is very good in the house; he is mellow, calm and good company. No trouble at all and nice and quiet and friendly and respectful. Great to sit and enjoy intelligent evenings of tv documentaries.
And he doesn't slack at work. He was bang on time out in the garden every day and kept working diligently 'til called for a break.
Giovanni is very thorough in his working and needs no supervision. He clears up very well after himself at work. Is a very thorough diligent worker and understands exectly what is needed.
He also worked very well with Gabriel our Workawayer from France during the 7 day changeover period and they had a terrific weekend together in Bristol. And Giovanni was in our gym every day! Good luck at university Giovanni and do come and visit us again!
Left by Workawayer (Julian) for host
Stephen is a great host, he really cares about your interests, to make the stay as nice as possible for both sides. After I mentioned that I enjoy working with wood, he got me into the local carving club and gave me a lot of things to make out of wood.
I liked to tell him that he didn’t have the hang of hosting workaways: Instead of making them
… read more work hard to then feed them with a watery soup, he wants you to work only 4 hours, but often it’s less. Thus, if you’ve been at other workaways before, Stephen might be a nice holiday! (That’s at least how it felt like for me, as I more or less had the change described above.)
The region he’s living in is great, you’ve got Stonehenge and other prehistoric sites within range, as well as major cities like Oxford or London. And on top of that, Stephen is a great tour guide, who knows everything about the history of a place. He generally has got an amazing amount of knowledge in so many different topics. I had many great conversations with him heard brilliant stories, from which I learned a lot, whether it was about English culture, or when Cider is ready to be consumed. By the way, talking about alcohol, Stephen makes his own beer! Which is great, unfortunately I had a bit too much of it at the beginning so I kept away from it for the rest of my stay.
Dear Stephen, thank you very much for everything, when I’ll be around your area the next time I will definitely pay you a visit to see how things are going!
Cheers, JulianYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julian)
Julian came to us for five weeks in summer. He is great to have around since he is easy get on with; is mellow, polite, good natured, and great company. He is also very funny and great to chill with. His English language is impeccable. We had many long philosophical discussions.
He has excellent skills at and passion for woodwork. He made five
… read more large wood garden troughs from old pallets and also repaired things. He also built several low dry-stone walls, and totally revamped the large stone waterfall by raising it to 1.7 metres height.
He is very practical, diligent, hardworking, and focussed and does not need supervision. He is also intelligent and for his age knowledgeable and insightful. And demonstrates initiative to get on and do things he notices needs doing without being told.
Julian is quite sporty: used our pool and gym daily; went for regular cycle rides, and played football at the local pitch. He also went running around the countryside every morning before breakfast..... barefooot! If you like football then have him beside you watching a match.
Julian quickly settled into the life and routine of the house. And integrated well with the local community. He also joined the village woodcarving club.
I would certainly have Julian back and very much hope to see him again. Happy woodworking life Julian!
Left by host for Workawayer (Gabriel)
Gabriel came to us for 9 weeks in the summer and quickly settled into the life and routine of the house. He was very helpful in working through the repainting of all the garden planters and tubs and the garden furniture day after day: there was lots of it but he was uncomplaining! He also power washed nearly all of the many paths and patios. And
… read more cut a very tall hedge which had become a row of trees!
He is a tall strong lad-handy for any hard tasks you have in mind. He applies himself well and can be left to get on with a job once it is explained. He is also knowledgeable about electrics (electrical engineering at university)- so quite a handy chap!
Gabriel is a keen basketball player. And he enjoyed using our gym daily and jogging in the countryside hereabouts. He also made regular use of our bicylces regularly going off to Chippenham and Stanley Park sports ground. Gabriel is knowledgeable about workouts/body training and nutrition.
If you like eating crepes then Gabriel is good to have around: he is good at cooking them!
And if you enjoy watching or talking football again Gabriel is the person to have! Gabriel is very sensible, calm and steady. Nice and quiet around the house. Bon chance Gabey! Hope to see you again! And don't forget 'Peaky Blinders' Series 5 next year!
Left by Workawayer (Jung wook) for host
"When I first arrived here, I saw someone waving at me smiling:
He was my new host!
He made me feel very welcomed and at ease. That was our first meet.
After I was getting to know about him. He was garden-lover. He was not only knowledgeable but also tried to give me understanding for the future.
His purpose is to live with nature and other
… read more people.
When it comes to working. Although people every work is hard, this placement was really good and easy
During my working time he was always showing me everything I needed to know and explaining everything.
If you are interested in gardening. You can extend your knowledge of garden. That would be great for you.
Yes he is really patient and respectful
He is like a guru to me! Because he knows many things and also taught me English a lot!!! And we had conversations on many subjects.
Expecially what he would say to me was about history of the U.K. such as King Alfred the Great and many other things!
Come here and learn and live up with your host!
All I regret now is my English!!
If I had a good English skill I would have talked to you a lot more!
Thank you.
I will never forget you and the time being here.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Jung wook)
Jung stayed here for a month, including a week with his predecessor Simon from Germany which provided opportunity for two excursions to Bath and to Bristol. He is a very polite young man. His English vocabulary and speech is very good but you need to not speak fast or he may miss some of what you say.
He enjoys being able to converse as often as
… read more possible with his host to polish his English. He has a lively interest in all things around him and about the culture he is visiting.
He is very good around the house, clean and tidy. We found Jung to be a very quiet and amenable house guest. He always volunteered to wash the dishes after a meal. And enjoyed making salads & pizzas.
Jung settled in nicely to the work and home routine and he works well and keeps going until told to stop. Once a task is completed he immediately comes to ask what the next task is, and for his work to be checked.
He'd be welcome back. Whilst here he completed his university application. Good luck Jung!
Left by Workawayer (Simon) for host
I can't really put it into words how nice it was to be allowed to stay
with Stephen for 6 weeks.
It has been a big new experience to help Stephen in his garden and
with his charity. Stephen has a terrific personality, so living with him for those 6
weeks was wonderful.
He has such a great humour, so we were making jokes all the time... It
was
… read more immense fun. Stephen is a very kind person and takes care of you in a way that you
will feel like being home.
He is one of the persons who does really understand what Workaway is
all about. So working hours will never be longer than 5 hour's, infact
you will work most likely only 3 hours each day.
Since he was a teacher some years ago he will be able to show and
guide you around all the lokal city's and sights like Stonehenge and
give you a lot of interesting information.
The accommodation and food in general is very good too. Stephen speaks a very clear English, that's why I was able to improve my English so rapidly.
I have learned a lot about gardening and building too because Stephen
offered me a verity of different working projects. I was allowed to
choose from and explained to me how it's done each time which is very
helpful too.
I got in touch with a lot of people from the village because Stephen
took me quite regularly to the pub. Being surrounded by native people
got me even closer to the English culture.
I even became a Trustee of his charity organization because I really
like the mentality and purpose of this trust.
Stephen and I are already planning to meet up again in the near
future, since we became really good friends.
Stephen thanks again for having me around your house and garden and
taking care of me during those 6 weeks.
Simon KerstanYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Simon)
Simon came to our Trust for 6.5 weeks in Spring and was a fantastic help. In particular in the arduous task of restoring/repainting 6 very large wooden arches then sealing them. And power cleaning the brick pathways of 4 years of grime! He also did pruning and hedging, general gardening and renovated the asparagus beds. Simon is a good and
… read more focussed worker, takes everything in his stride, is always calm and is very pleasant to work with. The work periods flew by fast due to his good nature, happy personality and diligence. It is impossible not to like him. He was of immense help and support to me personally and to the Trust and came up with ideas for promotion and improvement.
And he settled into the rhythm of the house perfectly- as if he had always lived here. A perfect and warm-hearted house guest as well as clean and tidy and sociable. He is companionable, gentle, courteous and good humoured. We can say with honesty he became a friend not just a workawayer and we will miss him. But he is now part of Steve's Workawayer Family!
Simon also encourages healthy eating: making big mixed salads and nice pasta dishes.
And our Gym was in daily use by him! He also braved the Pool on a few occassions!
We had some great walks together and several excellent heritage excursions all across the region, and watched many films. Whether in work or socialising Simon enhances and enriches all that he does.
Simon needs no supervision since once a task is explained he understands what is needed and carries it out diligently and expertly. He can take initiative and has an eye for detail. He is a skilled and professional worker. And also tidy and methodical. His level of English is excellent.
I highly recommend him for any job application or workaway placement for which he applies. I would most certainly have Simon back at any time. In fact we are planning a return social visit in the very near future. Good luck at university Simon and see you soon!
Left by Workawayer (Théo) for host
Stephen is a brilliant man, very kind and funny ! I was so happy to have him behind me for support and jokes !
Thank you very much for your help, your host and your joy ! You were a sunshine wich crossed the clouds and the snow this winter !
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Théo)
Theo was shy and nervous on arrival but very quickly got to feel at home and to gain his confidence and adjusted well. He was able to practice his capoeria in the garden and surrounding landscape. I was also happy to see him making full use of our gym!
He worked very hard and diligently in the garden and understood new tasks very quickly. Theo
… read more provided great help clearing and preparing parts of the garden from the ravages of the winter weather, and preparation for the summer plantings. Unfortunately some late snowy weather in March restricted what we could do: but Theo kept cheerful and positive! He was also helpful around the house.
He liked to go for walks to explore. And although initially nervous quickly began to develop his use of English language and to gain confidence and improvement.
Theo is very good company and most considerate to others and also courteous. He was good to live with and no trouble at all. We had great philosophic discussions, and shared music and jokes. He is a very talented, knowledgeable and skilled boy.
We would certainly have Theo back- and indeed he has said he enjoyed his time so much he hopes to come back here sometime, which will be great!
Left by Workawayer (Ryan) for host
Stephen is great! Wiltshire is great! I definitely enjoyed my time here. It was great to see what life is like in a village in rural England.
Stephen is such a great guy. He will take care of you. The Garden is beautiful and will continue to build popularity in the community as a place to visit. I truly had all the time I needed to do the things
… read more I wanted to do. Stephen is very accommodating. Transportation can be tricky since it is not right in a city and he doesn't have a car. However, Stephen has thought of that and has a bike so you can pedal into town. There is also a bus stop right in front of his house with a bus that comes every 20 minutes so getting into town is easy if you know when you're going.
I would highly recommend giving Stephen a visit if you want a rural England experience. He makes a great effort to make sure you are comfortable, enjoying your stay, and are doing the things you want to do.
I will definitely be back to visit. I met such great people in that area that I have lots of love for.
-RyanYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Ryan)
Ryan came to our Trust in winter from sunny California (and survived!). He is flexible, sympathetic, polite, pleasant, easy to get on with and good company. He came up with some good ideas to improve The Trust.
Once a task is explained to him he can be left to get on with it unsupervised, make a good job of it and cleans up afterwards. He is
… read more always cheerful when working. He is focussed, practically minded and safety-conscious.
Ryan really is a very good (and passionate) cook: his meals are healthy and nutritionally sound. From German pancakes to colourful pizzas, highly tasty pastas to wonderful Californian cooked breakfasts.
He liked to regularly work out in our Gym and go for jogs and cycle rides. He is passionate about playing and watching English soccer, and whilst here he was able to do some training with some football clubs (Malmesbury Town F.C. , and Calne Eagles). He hopes to play professionally in the U.K. and we are now working on getting him some trials with U.K. League clubs.
Ryan plays piano beautifully and is a good guitarist. And has an angelic voice!
We would certainly have him back. Indeed he is already talking of returning to us!
Left by Workawayer (Bastien) for host
I spent six weeks with Stephen and it has been some really good time. The work in the garden is interesting and not so hard. Stephen is more than a simple host because he has exactly understood, I think, the purpose of workaway. He doesn't want workers only for the work they do, but to give them what they were looking for in their travel as well.
… read more
Stephen is a really funny dude and full of historical knowledge !
Thank you Stephen and happy Christmas!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Bastien)
Bastien came here for 6 weeks and wanted to improve his English language which we were able to do for him.
He integrated quickly and very well into the life and routine of the house and the work of the Trust. He is good company, gentle, pleasant and courteous. We found him to be very homely and good natured. At work he was diligent and
… read more conscientious carrying out all tasks with care and learning new items quickly.
And he was able to help us completely rebuild and extend our Alpine rockery.
He was also keen to take part in English life and all the village activities and customs, and church. He also made friends with local young people via one of the village pubs and went out with them on some nights to Bath and Chippenham.
And as it was getting near Christmas he was able to go to various traditional Christmas events at Derry Hill, Bowood, and Calne.
And Bastien cooks very good home-made pizzas! We would have Bastien back. We recommend him as a very good Workawayer!
Left by Workawayer (David) for host
My stay with Stephen is unforgettable. He was the best host I've ever had since now. During my stay we became friends. Stephen and I spent many evenings together drinking beer, making jokes and laughing together.
He was very intressted in my well beeing and as he knows a lot about history I learned a lot about the English history and
… read more tradition.
His house is a tipical countryside cottage. He decorated it nice. The garden is very big and contains different themes. The work in the garden wasn't to hard and it was really nice as we worked together in the garden and talked. (Only working is boring.)
I went often for a walk/run/biketour as the house is situated in the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire.
Thank you very much Stephen for this unforgettable stay.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (David)
David was a great boon to the Trust and we were enriched by his work and presence.
He quickly saw possibilities for improvements to the garden and also created proposals for future development. He has a sharp eye to quickly assess a given situation or job to both carry out a task and to see potential for development.
David very quicly
… read more integrated himself into the life of the house and was very homely and pleasant to live with. He is also a superb cook: more like a professional chef on fact.! Every night we had a different dish based on his own recipes.
He is very diligent and thorough and has a strong sense of responsibility, learns very fast and can be trusted. He can also execute a task beyond the original specification.
David is very good natured; good humoured; courteous; likeable- and really great fun to be with. He makes any task/project more enjoyable to undertake. He is a delight to have around the house and is most companionable.
I would certainly have David back again at any time- it would be a pleasure. Indeed it is hoped he will pop back later next year. Whatever job or project need being done David would be a great asset to assist you.Enjoy the beautiful Isle of Islay in Scotland
House-sitting in a lovely Wiltshire village, UK
We've noticed that there's less than 3 photos uploaded to your profile. With the new host profile layout this we would highly recommend having more than 3 photos so your profile stands out visually.
Please take a few moments to choose some images that show off your place or area:
Please log in to your Workawayer account to contact this host, or
sign up here!
Information for those planning to visit the UK
Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
