Designed to Give Back More Than It Takes

 Hidden within the rewilded landscape of our Dartmoor farm, The Book Nook is more than a cabin.

It’s a living storybook, crafted from memory, materials, and ecological intention. Built not just to minimise harm, but to actively restore the land it inhabits.

 

Beyond Sustainability:

When Nick achieved his Applied Permaculture Design Certificate in 2020 (now enlisted on the Diploma) it gave him an opportunity to understand and integrate permaculture principles: That everything in a system should support something else.

The Book Nook is part of our wider permaculture framework, where each element supports the others. This is design as a living system—adaptive, responsive, and regenerative. Instead of treating elements separately (like a house, a garden, and waste), permaculture connects them into a loop where nothing is wasted.

At The Book Nook, this philosophy is embedded in every decision

We’ve worked hard to ensure that The Book Nook contributes directly to ecological regeneration. Here’s what we’ve been doing:

Land, Biodiversity & Conservation:

  • 10 hectares managed using regenerative, low-intervention practices

  • Multi-species herbal ley established to improve soil health and support pollinators

  • Rewilded areas created around the cabin to support deer, birds and native wildlife Read our species list!

  • County Wildlife Site status (2026) following ecological surveys from Action for Climate, identifying rare lichens and diverse flora/fauna

  • Hedgerows planted with hedgerow trees to create bat corridors (in partnership with the Greater Horseshoe Bat Project)

  • 13 scrapes and ponds created to slow water flow and increase habitat diversity

  • Small on-site tree nursery established for future planting

  • Established a flower farm for organic planting and seasonal flowers guests can order should they be celebrating a special occasion.

 Carbon & Tree Planting:

  • 2,500+ trees planted in partnership with the Woodland Trust

  • Estimated 2,500–4,000 tonnes CO₂ sequestered across 10 hectares

  • Newly planted woodland projected to sequester 4,000–7,000 tonnes CO₂ over time. Did you know that in UK woodland, soils store as much or more carbon that trees?! Our soil is helping us to achieve between 150 -400 CO₂ per hectare.

 Soil & Farming Practices:

  • Devon Red Ruby cattle used to support natural grazing cycles and soil regeneration

  • All waste is filtered through a reed bed.

  • Composting system (including compost tea from guest food waste) returning nutrients to the land

  • Single late hay cut to support wildflower diversity and ground-nesting birds

 Water Management:

  • Historic water meadow restored and maintained

  • Water harvesting via header tank system for irrigation

  • Borehole installed for on-site water supply

  • Scrapes and ponds used to slow water and enhance biodiversity

 Circular Resource Use & Energy:

  • Timber from woodland management (including ash dieback) reused for fuel and pathways

  • On-site materials reused wherever possible—nothing wasted

  • 100% solar energy for the cabin from 2026

  • We use kind to planet toiletries and environmentally friendly cleaning products

 Wildlife Support:

  • Habitat creation for pollinators, insects and birds (wildflower areas, log piles, natural features, flower farm)

  • Birch polypore habitat created to support ecosystem health and pollinators

  • Active biodiversity monitoring and species recording

  • Bug houses to the rear of the cabin help even the smallest of creatures thrive

 Our Guests are invited to:

  • Tour the farm and flower farm

  • Read up on our biodiversity information and species lists

  • Watch the compost tea brewing process

  • Use the shared seed library allowing guests to take seeds home and extend impact

  • Understand how their visit helps us encourage low-impact, nature-connected stays

Partnerships & Collaborations:

    • Woodland Trust

    • Action for Climate Scheme Teignbridge

    • Defra (higher level Countryside Stewardship Team)

    • Devon Wildlife Trust

    • RSPB

    • Permaculture Association 

    • Engagement with local schools and regenerative agriculture students from The Apricot Centre Totnes.

    • Participation in stewardship and climate-focused initiatives

Living lightly creates deeper experiences. In fact we believe that the less you have, the more you value what you have.

We feel very proud that the cabin is “circular crafted” It’s constructed from 95% reclaimed and recycled materials, sourced from the farm and this approach reflects circular economy thinking: that waste becomes resource. We believe in living thoughtfully and The Book Nook is our way of demonstrating that with our guests.