Clophill Heritage Trust has sold the six woodland lodges it developed beside Old St Mary's Church to yoga teacher Hannah Fraser.

In a sale handled by specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, Clophill Eco Lodges were sold for an undisclosed amount – though last year, we revealed they were on the market for £495,000.

According to Clophill Heritage Trust, the sale will now release funds and volunteer time for the charity to grow its work with young people – while Hannah plans a phased refresh through 2027, keeping the site's community roots and eco ethos.

Set in woodland in the heart of Greensand Country, the site’s lodges sleep up to 24 guests – The Nest, a communal and events space, and The Hive, a studio space. It is licensed for civil ceremonies and also hosts family celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries.

Hannah Fraser, the new owner of Clophill Eco Lodges, being handed the keys

placeholder image — Hannah Fraser, the new owner of Clophill Eco Lodges, being handed the keys

The lodges will stay open as usual through the winter, including over Christmas, and all existing bookings and weddings will go ahead as planned.

Clophill Heritage Trust is a volunteer-led charity, founded in 2010 to find a sustainable future for the ruined Old St Mary's Church, a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The lodges were built in 2013 to help support this work.

Ali Bradbury BEM DL, founder and CEO of Clophill Heritage Trust, said: “The sale will release funds for our charitable work and, equally importantly, give us the time and capacity to develop new ideas, strengthen partnerships, attract additional volunteers and create more opportunities for young people.

“Following a thorough process, we're thrilled to welcome Hannah as the new owner. She understood the site, the trust's ethos and the village straight away, and we're confident it's in very good hands. We look forward to working with her and the team to ensure the continued heritage care, sustainability work and the prosperity of our local community."

Clophill Eco Lodges exterior and interior, and bottom right, St Mary's Old Church (Clophill Heritage Trust/Christie & Co)

New owner Hannah added: "Like a lot of working parents, I know how rare it is to properly switch off. The Lodges is one of those places where you feel it happens the moment you arrive, you’re able to disconnect from busy daily life and reconnect with those around you.

"The trust built something special here, with a lot of heart and a lot of volunteer hours. We'll invest carefully, keep what people love, and add the things that make a stay easy for everyone, from a couple escaping for the weekend to grandparents bringing the whole family. We’ll also offer a small number of bespoke weddings and other celebrations per year. I want it to be somewhere you create lasting memories with friends and family, and somewhere that the village still feels is theirs.”