Five Years On
- Mar 26
- 4 min read
This year marks 5 years since we lost my Dad, J W Meakin, the third generation of Far Coley Farm.
And somehow… that makes us the proud fourth generation, continuing what he started.
It doesn’t quite feel real writing that.
Five years has gone quickly. Time really does move fast, but when we stop and look at what Far Coley Farm has become in that time… it’s honestly incredible.
From Family Farm to a Place of Celebration
In Dad’s memory, we’ve tried to build something that he would love, not just as a farm, but as a place that brings people together.
We’ve hosted charity events like the tractor run with Young Farmers and our Summer Soirée raising money for Katharine House Hospice, something that sits so deeply with us as a family. KHH were there through every part of Dad’s cancer journey, before, during and after, quietly holding everything together in ways you don’t always see until you’ve lived it.
The care, the support, the presence… it never leaves you. They are truly unsung heroes and being able to give something back through Far Coley Farm, through events that bring people together in Staffordshire, means more than we can ever properly put into words.
But beyond that, Far Coley Farm has grown into something we never quite imagined… a place where people come to celebrate everything.
30ths with murder mysteries, 21sts turned hoedowns, hen dos and stag dos where the front lawn fills with pink cowboy hats and line dancing, golden wedding anniversaries, 80th birthdays under the stars, baby showers welcoming new life, every kind of moment, every stage of life.
More Than Just Your Wedding Venue
Far Coley Farm has never just been a traditional wedding venue to us - it’s a feeling, a place people arrive at and somehow settle into straight away. Out here in the Staffordshire countryside, overlooking Cannock Chase, it becomes more than just your chosen event space… it becomes part of your story.
Every wedding we have here is about creating something that lasts long after the day itself, memories, laughter, that feeling you can’t quite put into words.
We want people to feel like this place is theirs, not just ours, like they can call it home for the weekend and enjoy return visits for their Christmas trees, date nights or further special celebrations with friends and family.
And when it all comes to an end, no one quite wants to leave and the tissues quietly come out… that’s when we know Far Coley Farm has done what it’s meant to do.
The People Who Make It Special
We’ve had weddings with dogs running through the confetti, couples travelling from all over the country and even in some cases the world, ski stars celebrating milestones and even whispers of future Olympians to come.
There’s such a mix of stories, backgrounds and reasons to celebrate and every single one leaves its mark here.
Retreats, Wellness & Finding Your Best Self
And then there’s retreats… which honestly feel like they were made for this place.
Sunrise yoga as the light comes up over Cannock Chase, long runs out across the trails, track sessions, gym sessions at Storm Performance, sauna sessions, ice baths, sound baths. Moments of stillness mixed with moments of push.
It’s everything in one place - a space to breathe, to reset, to reconnect and to move forward stronger.
In a way, it feels like the perfect version of a weekend.
More recently, we’ve started run clubs and the community that’s grown from that has been unreal.
People showing up, supporting each other, pushing themselves, then staying for coffee, cake, hot tubs and recovery. It’s that mix of energy and connection that feels so right here.
And this year, we’re taking it one step further – we are hosting the first DNF X FCF Backyard Ultra. People coming from all over the world, pushing themselves through the night, mentally and physically, seeing how far they can go. It’s going to be something special to watch.
Christmas at the Farm
Every year Christmas tree at the farm gets bigger and better, every year it evolves and every year it feels just as magical.
Families returning year after year, couples who got married here coming back to choose their tree, with new additions, friends meeting in the middle of it all, people walking from the village and wheeling trees home in barrows, it’s tradition, community and something really simple and special all at once.
It never gets old and we loved seeing so many of our 300 trees in your homes this year.
A Legacy We’re Proud To Carry On
If Dad could see Far Coley Farm now… I think he’d be shocked (in the best way!).
Like, “bloody hell, what have they created?”
But also knowing full well we’d do exactly this if we put our minds to it.
He created something special here, something with roots and meaning and now we’re building on that, shaping it, growing it, taking it further while holding onto everything that matters.
It’s magical.
It’s challenging.
But it’s worth every second.
The Next Generation
And now, as the fourth generation continues to build Far Coley Farm…
We’re also welcoming in the fifth generation of girls.
Outnumbered now, Dad.
A Place to Pause
To mark five years, we’ve created a space here at the farm.
A bench, set at one of the most beautiful viewpoints, with two blossom trees either side.
A place to sit, to take it all in, to reflect, on what’s been built, on the years gone by and everything still to come.
To anyone reading this…
Whether you’re missing someone, planning something special or just thinking about what really matters.
This isn’t a dress rehearsal.
Make sure you celebrate it all.
Emily
Comments