Shelter
The structures housing the residents at the holding are Benders, Yurts and similar temporary low-impact shelters.

We participated in an independent Ecological Footprint Analysis, conducted by 4th WORLD ECOLOGICAL DESIG and the results showed that the shelters score a 94% lower ecological footprint than an average conventional house.

Traditionally some agricultural and forestry workers would have lived in similarly constructed shelters.

 The temporary low impact residential shelters have the following features:

Low impact on the environment
• They have no foundations.
• The materials used have a low embodied energy.
• The materials used are predominantly locally sourced and reclaimed.
• They can be dismantled and removed with no permanent damage to the land on which they sit.
• They are not connected to any mains services.

Low visual impact
• They are sensitively sited along hedges, so as to respect and enhance the profile of the field.
• They are sensitively located in order to minimize off site views and avoid any visual impact on the wider landscape. 
• By their nature they are curvaceous and in keeping with nature’s shapes.
• They are of a size proportionate to their environment.

Sometimes benders can look a bit scary from the outside, but when people go inside they find them magical. Here is a picture from the inside of a bender: 

Apart from the residential structures, other structures include 2 compost toilets, a firewood store, a tool shed, a timber store and a communal bender used as a shared kitchen, meeting space, library and workers’ rest room. All are temporary and of low visual/environmental impact.

We have also now built a timber framed barn. Although not a temporary structure it remains low impact. The frame was made with oak trees from our woods. Other materials have been sourced locally, windows and doors are recycled and there are no foundations.

Agenda 21, Chapter 7:

“All countries should . . . strengthen the indigenous building materials industry, based, as much as possible, on inputs of locally available natural resources . . . promote the increased use of energy efficient designs and technologies and sustainable use of natural resources . . . promote the use of labour-intensive construction methods . . . develop policies and practices to reach the informal sector and self-help builders . . . discourage the use of construction materials and products that create pollution during their life cycle”