The Dunbeag project is based in 30 acres of ancient oak woodland that was under planted with mixed conifer in 1963. The primary objective of the management plan is to remove the exotic conifer species and to allow the woodland to regenerate naturally. The project is also developing an agro forestry system that could be used as a model for forest crofting.

I have been working here for 10 years and learning how to make best use of the conifer species being extracted. In recent years, this has focused primarily on using the timber for building. This includes a workshop, stables, a summerhouse and most recently the roundhouse at Dunbeag. The timber is milled on site in the forest with a mobile mill, extracted by log chute, treated with Tim-bor and used in the building while still ‘green’.

Virtually all the timber was sourced from within 200m of the roundhouse; the rest was from within 5 miles. Learning from this house, I am developing designs for easily built, affordable housing straight from the forest. I am also involved in developing a model for forest villages that could use this design for the houses and build additional low-cost housing for the wider community whilst managing the forest sustainably.