The First Compost Toilet

I spent today building a Treebog with the help of my father-in-law. These are a type of compost toilet stood on stilts. Around the stilts are 2 layers of chicken wire stuffed with barley straw. Apparently this method is pretty smell free and the deposits break down fairly quickly. Tomorrow I need to go and install the throne  and fit a door handle then we're ready to go. Putting this in is a really important part of our development as it puts us in a position where we can start inviting groups to visit the site. Here are some progress photos from today.

 Getting the final post in the right place and square (the first holes were much smaller!)

 Base constructed

 Bob stuffing the sides with straw

 The walls are up

 Bob checking out the view

 Door on, pretty much done now!

Temporary lock.

A day in the woods with my boys

Just back from a fantastic few hours in Hakeford Woods with my two boys. The mission of the trip was to cook sausages and have hot chocolate in the woods (7yr old). The weather turned out to be fantastic, I'd even say that I felt hot at one point! With my two willing assistants we managed to complete the mission, built a fire, cooked sausages and marshmallows all whilst trying to build a den. I now know for certain that Ezra likes building and Louis likes cleaning. Today he was cleaning out all of the badger (or rabbit!) holes to make it nice and clean for them.
It was great to be able to spend a few hours just enjoying and playing in the woodland, the boys loved running about, exploring and getting to know the woods more intimately.
Spring is definitely on the way, the primroses are out, the catkins are on the hazel and willow and the bluebells are starting to push up in the woodland, I even saw what I think was a celandine in one of the meadows.

 Marshmallow time

 The builder and the cleaner

 Checking out the big badger hole

 Making the most of the part built den

Knackered but happy boys