Growing with Nature
We believe the most sustainable way of caring for the land, while creating space for our lives, is to work with the landscape and habitats rather than trying to change it.
That is why we have taken our time and followed the principles of permaculture, the first being observation. So, every change to the land, be it building, path or road at Wildwood Croft, begins with the same simple question:
How can we leave the lightest footprint possible while protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of this place?
We don't always have the perfect answer, but we're enjoying working towards it.
Hopefully, we will become good stewards of this land and leave it a little healthier for wildlife, for future generations, and for anyone who finds a little peace here.
A taste of what we've been creating
Like Wildwood Croft, this page is very much a work in progress; below, we are sharing a snippet of what we have been up to and of exciting things to come
Like many dreams, we've discovered that caring for the land isn't about getting everything right the first time (honestly, where's the fun in that?). It's about listening, learning and making thoughtful choices along the way.
Every season teaches us something new. Sometimes our ideas work brilliantly. Sometimes they don't (we're still mastering the art of using a scythe!). Either way, we're always learning, adapting, and finding better ways to care for this special place while creating a peaceful place for our guests to enjoy.
Every stay helps us continue that journey.
Making space for wildlife
Some of our favourite projects have been the simplest.
Using timber from woodland management, we've built log-pile habitats and dead hedges that quickly became home to beetles, fungi, birds and countless other small creatures.
We've also created two wildlife ponds. One of our favourite moments came the morning after the first pond was filled, when swifts and house martins immediately began swooping down to drink and bathe. Since then, it's been wonderful watching the ponds develop naturally, filling with aquatic plants, tadpoles, water skaters, dragonflies and an ever-growing community of life.
It's a lovely reminder that if you create space for nature, nature is quick to respond "If you build it, they will come!"
A welcome surprise
This spring, a pair of swallows chose to build a nest in our new barn and successfully raised three chicks.
We were genuinely delighted to watch them coming and going throughout the day as the chicks grew. Swallows often return to successful nesting sites, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that they'll decide to come back next year.
Managing the land by hand
A slower approach
Keeping bracken under control is an ongoing job, but we've chosen to do it by hand using traditional scythes rather than herbicides or large machinery.
It's quieter, chemical-free and gives any small creatures the chance to move away before we continue. It also allows us to trim the bracken above the height of the bluebells during spring and early summer, allowing them to flower before the woodland floor disappears beneath the bracken.
We're still learning (and our scything technique definitely has room for improvement!), but taking things more slowly feels right for this place.
Still growing...
Over the coming months we'll be expanding this page with the stories behind:
🌳 Designing with the land and windscape.
🪵 Building with reclaimed and natural materials.
☀️ Living comfortably with off-grid power and spring water.
🌙 Thoughtful lighting that protects wildlife and our dark skies.
🐝 Creating more space for wildlife across the croft.
🛖 Our handcrafted yurt, already nestled into the landscape and currently being finished, ready to welcome guests in the coming months. We'll be sharing the story of its design, build, and the journey to opening its doors.
We're also planning...
🌳 Bringing back the oak, gradually restoring more native sessile oak to our woodlands.
🌱 Starting our own tree nursery, growing native trees from locally collected seed for future restoration projects.
🥕 Developing an organic kitchen garden, along with a small fruit and nut orchard for both wildlife and future guests to enjoy.
🍄 Exploring mushroom cultivation, probably one of my favourite project of all! From growing delicious edible mushrooms to sharing the remarkable role fungi play in healthy woodland ecosystems, it's something we're especially excited to develop.
🐖 Welcoming Tamworth pigs for conservation grazing. Their natural rooting behaviour can help restore woodland, create a rich mosaic of habitats and encourage biodiversity in ways that complement our wider conservation work. Can't wait to meet them!
♿ Continuing to improve access so more people can experience Wildwood Croft.
🌿 Continued woodland restoration, wildlife habitats and pond creation.
🌾 Sharing what we're learning through informal opportunities to learn, traditional countryside and off-grid living skills and, no doubt, a few lessons learned along the way (including how not to use a scythe!).🌾 Informal opportunities to learn traditional countryside skills (including how not to use a scythe!).
We don't pretend to have all the answers, but we love discovering them, and we hope our guests enjoy being part of that journey too.