Somali families, community groups and anyone with an interest in Somali culture and affairs. Degmo also works with schools, educational authorities, health services and mental health projects, the police, probation services, and social services. In all instances we believe strongly that Degmo offers the greatest benefit when visited by groups comprised of various generations.
Degmo is open during the warmer months from the beginning of May until the end of October. But be warned, due to its popularity, bookings are becoming increasingly necessary.
The arrival of the Holy Month of Ramadhan does not prevent you visiting Degmo. In fact in 2009 Degmo received visits from groups and families throughout the Holy Month. Full facilities for prayer and special fasting menus are available and the daily routine is adapted around the fasting schedule. Why not bring your family and friends and celebrate in the peace and tranquility of the farm? No neighbours to disturb if you wish to stay up all night, and plenty of peace and quiet for sleeping during the day!
Visitors may stay as long as they like, but we suggest stays of between 2 and 5 nights. Other lengths of stay are available but, due to the time taken in traveling to Degmo and in order to benefit more fully from your stay, we do not recommend visits of less than two nights.
What should we bring with us to the farm?
Much of your stay will be spent outdoors, so suitable clothing and footwear are essential. A pair of waterproof boots, or strong shoes, for walking, a waterproof coat, plenty of warm tops, a hat, and a change of clothing in case you get wet are highly recommended. You should also bring a towel and wash kit. Extra blankets are supplied to keep you warm but are meant only as supplementary bedding and so you should bring with you a duvet, quilt, or sleeping bag to go under the blankets. For those who do not arrive with bedding, sleeping bags and freshly washed sheet liners are available for hire at £5.00 per visit. Tents are equipped with lanterns, but torches must be brought for use at other times.
How many people can visit at one time?
To allow everyone a chance to get involved with activities and life on the farm, we prefer to have no more than between 30 and 36 people at one time. However, if numbers rise to say 38 or 39, we can usually accommodate the extra people. Groups larger than this are only possible on special occasions, such as festivals of music and poetry, seminars, workshops and weddings. In such circumstances it may be necessary to request that the additional guests provide their own bedding and it may not be possible to offer the same level of participation in the farm activities.
Degmo is not well served by public transport. The nearest railway stations are Leominster, 20 miles, and Hereford, 26 miles. Local bus connections are long and complicated, so for convenience, and to keep costs for all concerned to a minimum, we request that groups visiting the farm arrange their own transport in the form of minibuses. Most cities have community transport schemes which provide a range of vehicles at discounted rates, however availability is often limited and so advance booking is advisable. Private families will obviously use their own cars. See CONTACT for directions to Degmo.
How much does it cost to stay at Degmo?
We have two scales of charges: one for community groups, schools and other organised parties, the other for individuals and families wishing to make private visits.
Group prices are calculated according to the number of people in the party and the duration of their stay. They include food, accommodation and participation in a range of activities (see ACTIVITIES). Put simply, the larger the group and the longer the stay, the better value the package we can offer. Please contact us for full details, availability and bookings.
Family prices are charged per head per night and include as much fresh food as you require (see "Food" under heading WHAT IS DEGMO?) The price also includes participation in some, but not all activities. Please contact us for full details, availability and bookings.
Degmo was established for the benefit of Somalis living in the UK and this will remain its priority. However, as news of its appeal spreads, enquiries are being received from other communities, especially those whose origins lie in Africa and the Middle East. For these individuals and groups we therefore offer a limited number of visits tailored more generally to comparisons between rural culture in Britain, Africa and the Middle East. Please contact us for details.
On occasions we also welcome groups from organisations and institutions who wish to hire the facilities at Degmo. The profit from any such visit is then put back into the community interest company to support Degmo's work with Somalis.
