Camping at Farm Lator

Alison Charles

Camping at Farm Lator
27th.May � 8th.July 2006

Alison Charles November 2006

Many people have written excellent reports on their visits to Farm Lator, detailing the amazing variety of flora and fauna recorded during their stay. This is an observation from, perhaps, a slightly different angle. Continue reading below the Image Galery…

For many years now, since retirement, we have tried to spend as much time as possible during the spring and summer, living in our camper-tent, searching for and photographing butterflies in Europe. This is how we were privileged enough to spend six, incredibly happy weeks, camping at Farm Lator, when most people would necessarily have had to be satisfied with far less.
As we had never visited Hungary before we were keen to meet people and learn a little of the Hungarian way of life, the area around us, with its promise of such rich and varied habitats, and the way in which conservation is managed, as well as photographing Eastern European butterflies. We certainly found all this and much, much more at Farm Lator. We didn�t know until we got there what a remarkable place it is. This is entirely due to the warmth and sensitivity of Rob and Barbara who, from the initial vision of the farm as a Nature Centre, have each used their own particular expertise to ensure that everyone is made welcome and given the opportunity to achieve their aims, whether it be just a few days relaxing and enjoying the idyllic surroundings of the Centre and what it has to offer, or, in the case of the experienced naturalists, a more in-depth approach.�This was where Rob�s perception proved quite extraordinary.�He was very quick to grasp where people�s interests lay, as well as assessing their levels of understanding and aptitude. As a result of this he was able to guide each group or individual in such a way that they could get the very best from their time spent at Farm Lator.
When we arrived we had a lovely warm welcome from Barbara and the two little girls, Suzanna and Flora; then, later, from Rob, bringing with him a folder containing maps of the area and interesting reports from previous visitors (all in English!) for us to mull over, as well as giving us sound advice as to how and where to start our �searching�. This kindly help and interest continued on, more or less, a daily basis, for the whole of our stay, and both he and Barbara were always ready to make time for us, as they did for everyone, treating us all as special, respected guests.
The camping arrangements were excellent and we were encouraged to use the �community� room, which held a very good and informative library, whenever we wished, and to join the house guests for the evening meal when cooking seemed too much of a chore!�These were lovely occasions as we met so many interesting people, Dutch and Belgian as well as English, all very different but with�one thing in common, namely, an interest in the natural world � the food was excellent too!�What was particularly nice was the charming way in which Barbara came and described each dish to us, especially if it was a Hungarian recipe. She made good use of her well-tended kitchen garden and we thoroughly enjoyed eating the fresh vegetables and herbs that we had watched growing! Barbara�s, apparently relaxed, efficiency in dealing with the domestic arrangements meant that everyone benefited by feeling part of a very happy, smooth-running family home.
As we had more time than most, we were perhaps less intense in our approach than some, but this is the way we like it; after all there is always excitement in meeting��old �butterfly friends��; and as for meeting new ones such as the Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell and Pallas�s Fritillary � well!��.quite amazing! Remember, neither of these should we have found, had it not been for Rob and his wealth of local knowledge, which was invaluable. This is why this trip proved to be so very different from anything that we had previously experienced, as we had never before stayed anywhere where this kind of information was readily at hand, nor had we ever found such a sympathetic, happy family as there is at the heart of Farm Lator, giving it that very special ambience.