First load of roofing reed in the yard

There are 350 bundles here - a fraction of what is needed.  Not the best looking stack in the world but the first time we have ever done it and on one of the windiest days of the year so far - not too bad a job considering!

Now you might have to use your imagination here (!) but this is the yard for the barn, fully walled and safe for dogs.  We plan to have planting in pots and raised beds round the outside, some paved areas, some gravelled areas.  Outside furniture and a covered porch area are planned too. Should look lovely when finished.  The corrugated iron doors on the right will be the entrance into a hall way with utility room/wet room on the side.

Meanwhile, in the field the footings of the straw bale barn are being prepared.  This will house all the wood, (all of our heating in the house is wood fuelled and it is coppiced locally) animal feed, building materials etc that are currently in the big barn so we can actually do the conversion!  There are 500 straw bales in the barn ready for this project, all taken from the fields at the back of the house last summer.  A local coppicer will be supplying the hazel rods to secure the bales and our builder, Chris, will be doing the lime mortar render on the outside.