The first sod has been turned on the start of the building project for this eco friendly family farmhouse, situated between Basingstoke and Whitchurch.
BCM act for James Hewetson – Brown for farm advice and estate management and advised on the project to provide a four bedroom farmhouse, so that James could make his family home on the farm, incorporating a home office. In one stroke this not only added to the improvement of rural housing stock in the area but also provides a modern eco friendly take on a traditional farmhouse design.
This new build is intended to include ground source heating unit, solar panels and grey water systems.
The farm itself is the now nationally known Coronet Turf Farm which has pioneered the unique environmentally sustainable method of growing turf on a special bed of compost so no top soil is lost when harvested. Following government encouragement for farmers to diversify into developing new enterprises, James changed some land from arable farming to developing one of the premier farms producing a specialist range of turfing. Part of their range of products include Wild Flower Turf for landscaping and 'green roofing', a growing trend of having domestic and commercial premises roofed with turf in this climate of striving to become more eco-friendly. The soil-less production system makes Coronet Turf Farm one of only a few in the country to have successfully perfected a wild meadow flower mix in turf which is in much demand.
The farm has a real claim to fame having been asked to provide turfing for the Harry Potter films including the famous Quidditch pitch!
Other innovations such as 'drive on turf' add to the portfolio of this innovative business and the building of this family farmhouse will only add to the concept of building for future generations and the continued economic viability of this valuable enterprise.
