In May we got the wonderful news from the National Lottery Community Fund that they were going to fund our idea for the common house and have awarded us £17,186 for essential things like tables and chairs for the main room, a range cooker, dishwasher and other equipment for the kitchen, fittings for the disabled toilet, lighting and acoustic …
Continue Reading about Fundraising News – Helping us finish the Common House →
2025 has been quite a year! After just 12 months of full occupation of our Hazelmead site, we are creating a community, looking out for each other, self-building our Common House, growing food, caring for our land, welcoming new residents and improving our governance. We have gained national recognition, won eight awards, were featured in a …
Our architect partners have been busy in May applying for various awards.....and winning them!! Hazelmead is generating a lot of interest in the way BC has developed this project and is building a strong community alongside beautiful and affordable eco homes. At the 2025 RIBA South West & Wessex Awards we scooped three awards: Judges …
Over the winter of 2023 we encouraged organised groups of visitors to Hazelmead to wait until spring 2024 to visit, when we would be able to provide some facilities for visitors. However, some groups have charmed their way past our defences. In early March we agreed a ‘bare-bones visit’ for a group arranged by Sustainable Bridport. …
Continue Reading about Local and International visitors to Hazelmead →
Way back in August 2022 the first household moved into their home in Hazelmead - it seems a lifetime ago now. Over time C G Fry, our builders, released the next two terraces, and by March 2023 these 16 homes were occupied. Judith moved into the home at the end of that phase of the development and found herself fascinated by the way the whole …
Continue Reading about People moving into their homes – at last! →
There have been three School of Natural Building courses here during 2023 – Concreteless Foundations, Straw Bale Construction and Lime Plastering. The Common House now has walls, some windows and doors, and a shiny tin roof. Once the building is watertight we will be able to run the final course and begin work on clay rendering the interior. …
Continue Reading about Progress update on our Common House →
