From mobile home to a palace made of timber (From Gazette & Herald)

From mobile home to a palace made of timber

A RYEDALE farmer and his wife who fell victim to the foot and mouth disease outbreak five years ago, have quit their mobile home of 26 years and moved into the district's first residential timber house.

Built by Finnish Living Homes UK Ltd of Easingwold, the home, at Newbridge, near Pickering, was completed in readiness for Arthur and Sheila Wardle to move in, when they were greeted by the company's managing director, David Campbell.

He became involved with the couple through his management consultancy company, Direct Farming and Rural Solutions, when the disease hit their Woodlands Farm, at Newbridge, where they bred turkeys.

Because of the disease, the couple's customers were no longer able to take delivery of the birds, said Mr Wardle.

"We found ourselves without any income. We explored other ideas and worked with a bed and breakfast company, but it went into receivership."

The Wardles then set about using their farming skills to rear young livestock, from calves of a few days old, to seven-month-old beasts - a business which has gathered momentum and is now a real success story.

But they were still living in a mobile home so, through Mr Campbell, his company produced an architectural design for a timber home which the North York Moors National Park planners supported.

It took just 10 weeks to build the home, which has been specially designed with high energy efficiency and CO2 ratings.

The home, which took 38 tons of timber to build, has a life expectancy of between 200 and 300 years, said Mr Campbell.

It costs 25 per cent less than a conventionally-built house - and at the same time slashes heating costs.

"It is our first in Ryedale, but we now have an order book for 143 in different parts of the country," said Mr Campbell.

The sectional building is manufactured in Finland from 80-year-old timber and for every spruce and pine tree felled to make such homes, seven new ones are planted.

The Wardles' spacious two-bedroom home also has a large lounge, office and bathroom plus utility room, and another one is now planned to be built in Pickering, with others in the Harrogate and Hambleton areas.

A delighted Mrs Wardle said: "It's wonderful.

''I just can't believe we are living in such a super home after being in a mobile home since 1978. Our lives have been transformed."

Updated: 16:55 Wednesday, March 15, 2006