With a deep understanding and respect for the land and woodland in which they live Ross and Marina felt the building they wished to create had to be from their own wood, own stone and as much reclaimed and environmentally sound materials as possible.
They embarked on clearing a large area of windblown Larch trees by hand and then debarked them each individually with spades. These first timbers were to become the main skeletal structure of the building. Over months Ross and Marina carefully selected and felled more trees by hand from the woods. Luckily much of the woodland needed thinning for its own continued health and development. This work quickly became a labour of love, bringing them and the kids into the woodland every day, deepening their gratitude for the materials the land was providing them.
With the timber for the frame prepared they then began building the foundations and stem walls of the building from stone and lime mortar. They were adamant not to be use concrete in the foundation. They found an abundance of stone next to the area where we were to build that was once old walls and old buildings on the land. All the stones were handpicked and sorted over months to create the stem wall.
The timber frame of the building was erected using only the help of the tractor to keep any disturbance of the surrounding area of land and woods to a minimum. They are now erecting the reciprocal roof. The walls will then be constructed from hempcrete and lime plaster for warmth and breathability. Large glass recycled windows will occupy with whole south side of the building and the centre of the reciprocal roof. To minimise the buildings visual impact on the land a grass roof is being grown to install on the rooftop.
The building has a large circular main room with large windows and circular roof window as the teaching space, two treatments rooms for the herbal medicine clinical practice, a dispensary housing the herbal medicines, plus a large kitchen to cater for attendees on Ivywood courses. The whole space aims to reflect the natural surrounding with its gnarled wood roof beams and gently curved walls. The building is placed by the woodland, next to the river, and with nearby walks in the trees and part of the ancient Hazel grove. The teaching gardens of medicinal plants and the young food forest surround the building.
To learn more about herbal medicine from Ross and Marina visit the videos page and articles page and to check out the courses they run visit the event shop page. To find out more about the range of medicinal plants they grow visit their online herb nursery.
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