North Elkington cattery diversifies into countryside gifts business

Hannah Watts, 27, moved to the Lincolnshire Wolds after finishing agricultural college to set up a luxury boarding cattery.

East Lindsey District Council gave her a license to operate in December 2019, with a very high star rating.

The business started off well, with increasing bookings, but after only a few weeks the country went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the business was forced to close.

The cattery reopened in the early summer when the first national lockdown was relaxed. Unfortunately, because very few people could manage to get away on holiday and many had begun working from home, the business effectively now had no customers.

Unable to claim the government’s monthly grant payments (because catteries were legally allowed to remain open), Hannah decided to diversify.

Inspired by the cattery’s beautiful Wolds setting she set up a website (www.foxglovefarmcountrygifts.co.uk) to sell countryside-themed gifts.

She has roped in the whole family to help. Her mum (Annie) designed the website and her dad (Tony) built it, while her husband (George) began making personalised gifts ranging from signs to bird feeders.

To mark the launch of the new website, Hannah is running a competition to win a lovely Brown Chicken Clock and one pair of bamboo socks.

To enter, go to www.foxglovefarmcountrygifts.co.uk and click on the competition link.

If you can find the two handsome cockerels hidden on the site, your name will go into the prize draw which will take place at 4pm on February 14.