“Little Lions Farm is in a great location to explore the New Forest and Dorset coastline.”
The property was spotless, very well equipped and surrounded by beautiful countryside. We were met by the host who is very friendly and accommodating. Hoping to stay there again in the very near future.
Apologies Lesley for the delay in replying to you and thank you for your kind words. I have now done some research -
LITTLE LIONS FARM is 300 years old. It was part of Lions Hill Farm which is the other side of the trailway. The cottage is described in the 1916 Somerley Estate sale as being part of Lions Hill Farm but in the 1921 sale of Somerley Estate it is not mentioned. So presumably Little Lions Farm was sold off during those 5 years.
Lion’s Hill has the apostrophe in on some of the older deeds; earlier records show that it was called Lyon’s Hill. Or possibly even Lyne’s Hill as there was a long association since Elizabethan times of land ownership by a family of that name.
However, descendants of the family who used to own Lions Hill Farm say that they understood it to be called that as the last lion in England was buried there.
In 1858 Parliament brought in a Bill authorising the building of a railway. The Trailway is named after Charles Castleman who, with others, bought the land and built the railway running from Christchurch to Ringwood and on to Wimborne. Another paper shows that the railway was built earlier than this, in 1845.
Sadly the railway, like many others, was closed down in the early 1960s.
In August 2022 Waggy Tails Rescue purchased Little Lions Farm for an animal sanctuary. Helen’s House, the present property at Magna Road, is small and as so many more animals are in need of shelter a larger space was needed. In 2024 we had over 800 requests to take in dogs which we could not help. Also there is house building taking place, and more planned, all around Helen’s House creating more disturbing noise for the dogs and a much busier road outside.
The trustees had looked for 6 years for a property before finding Little Lions Farm; with 17 acres it is perfect for a sanctuary, not just for dogs but horses, donkeys, goats, etc.
After the pre-app procedure the planning officer told us that we could build an extension to the large barn which would be the canine accommodation. This was in Spring 2023 – so plans were made out in accordance with that recommendation, bat, ecology, tree, noise and other surveys done all at great cost to the charity, but in October 2024 Dorset Council refused our plans.
The main reason was the objection by Natural England that we would walk the dogs on the heath – the other side of the trailway – and disturb the ground nesting birds. We made it absolutely clear to NE and DC that we would not walk the dogs on the heath, why would we with 17 acres at our disposal? But NE were insistent that maybe in the future, when there were “other people” in charge of the charity, they would walk on the heath. . . . . . .
The heath is very small and we know that there are snakes there, but with the number of foxes and badgers around there is some doubt that there are any ground nesting birds. The Herpetological Trust, who own the heath, did not raise any objection.
Having searched for so long for such a perfect property, the trustees felt we had to go to Appeal in the hope that the Inspector might have a clearer understanding of the situation. This may take many more months.
So in the meantime, letting the cottage is the only income we have to pay the bills for the farm, and we are grateful to you for your custom.
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Property Owner
