Devon SSSI nature reserve and eco lodges - Maggie's Blog
23 February
Shiver me timbers!
We have a couple of sheds here at Wheatland Farm that have sagging roofs that are threatening to fall down, and we've been told by our local surveyor that it's because the roof timbers just aren't substantial enough to take the span. They have to be replaced before we lose the buildings.
So we're thrilled to have found not just a local and sustainable source of timber, but one that is actually helping improve Devon's wild habitats - and restoring ancient oak woodland.
Mike Moser has a substantial woodland at Week, only about 7 miles from us. Much of it is conifer plantation, about 55 years old, and on the site of a much older oak wood. And when the conifers were planted, a few big oaks were allowed to stay. Now Mike, who bought the land about 10 years ago and has got the woodland bug, is liberating them! The site is going form this ... (above)to this... (right)
And here's what comes out of it... Mike is part of a cooperative that has bought a mobile mill. He's clearing the conifers, selling the timber (at a very reasonable price) and regenerating the original woodland.
Today we went to see some of the timber we've ordered being cut. Mike's enthusiasm was infectious, but Ian didn't need much encouragement to get really enthused about the possibilities. If we get planning permission to convert the cattle barn into an new, really low impact lodge, we hope this is where the timber will come from...
This is Mike milling our very own timbers...
And Ian seeing the possibilities...