Profile information
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
21 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
My name is Chris and my wife is Jess
I am a retired teacher of chemistry whose hobby over the last 45 years has been to develop this house and garden into a place that can be enjoyed by many people. The house was an industrial ruin, stabling for a paper mill and the garden has been developed from a wasteland that was formally occupied by a corn mill (from 1360) and a cotton spinning mill (from 1784) both of which had been demolished. The garden has been opened to the public for charity, the National Gardens Scheme, but not as a business, for the last 35 or so years. All my artistic endeavours have been invested into this garden.
Wildlife preservation is at the heart of how I garden. My observation is, that the countryside is now an ecological desert with mono-cultures. Only a fraction of life that was here is now present: my garden should present as much biological diversity as possible. I am always keen on increasing the count of species in the garden. I am looking at new nesting boxes for owls, swifts (birds) and hedgehogs to add to the bats (we have the biggest population of pipistrel in Lancashire, around 450) and two Jackdoors nest with us. There are otters not so far up the river and perhaps we can encourage them to come down to us. The pond already supports a large range of insects and amphibian life. I have two beehives. I don't want my hives to be in too much competition with the wild bees.
Crafts and art workshops:-
I have many skills, raised to do woodwork, I have a well equipped workshop. When I retired I took a degree in ceramics and have a ceramics/ pottery studio with kiln. In the house there is a large studio, which also lends itself for dance and movement exercises due to its wooden floor. These facilities are available to guests here. In both my house and garden I collect artworks and pieces of sculpture.
In my spare time I enjoy hill walking and visiting art exhibitions.
How we host:-
I belive that working together is one of life's pleasures, and most of the time I will do tasks alongside you or at least be around.
We eat and socialize together most evenings:-
We like animated discussions about life, politics, art, sustainability, crafts, lifestyles, walking, history, poetry and those things of interest I do not know about yet.
Learning English:-
We are happy and more than capable to improve the English skills of guests.
We have loads of books and material available and are said to be 'cruel' but good teachers!
People we like:-
We always look forward to enjoying the company of crafts -people and artists and those who are happy to share some of their stories and passions. We have hosted nature-lovers, circus-skills-performers, musicians, dancers, wood workers, arts therapists and life lovers. We love having multi generational exchanges over good food and sometimes a little too much wine. As long as you are happy to have open, critical dialogue, whatever your beliefs, you will fit in just fine.
Community:-
We eat together in the evenings in our large kitchen. We would like you to take responsibility for cooking some of the evening meals and take part in some day to day jobs around the house; we have a cleaner for the general maintenance. We eat breakfasts together but everyone chooses what they like. At lunch I usually make a soop which we supliment with bread, cheese etc.
Transport and location:-
We live rural, around 20 minutes car drive or 45 minutes bicycle ride (we have a bicycle you can use) away from the center with limited buses. If you like to have access to the center or see other tourist places, you need to be independent and/or organized. We have busy lives and will not always be able to give you lifts, but we try.
Garden and horticulture:-
The River Darwen flows alongside the length of my garden. There is woodland , a poly-tunnel , a wildlife pond, out-houses/follies and garden structures. I have designed and built all of them myself. The garden is beeing formally opened for charity four times this year in May and June.
Facilities, accommodation and leisure:-
You can sleep in one of our guest rooms in the house, or have your own hut; the guests share a bathroom. We provide all your bedding and towels. We share the fully equipped kitchen in the house. There is a washing machine and a dryer. Fast internet is available.
You can use the studio for dance, work out, gym or Yoga, there is a summerhouse for meditation or other. There is a decking directly over the river, lots of garden space and a conservatory for additional space. We have a Jacuzzi and a Finish sauna which we light for guests and ourselves.
Current projects.
Last year, with help from a workawayer who we christened 'Obelix' , we built a stone circle at the far end of the garden with stunning views back down to the river.
This year I want to finish the secret garden. This was delayed when a series of porcelain tiles fell off after severe frost, they should have had tile cement on their backs as well as on the wall .
A 20m long suspension bridge I built across the river was demolished by a tree falling on it in 2019 . It was rebuilt with the help of a guest in 2021. This March we have nearly completed a set of steps up the far bank to a viewing platform where you get a superb view of the garden, the river and their surroundings. Pictures of the bridge before and after can be found on my website,- ask me for the link
I am also working to improve the meadow land in the orchard by planting more perennials for the bees and other insects. I seem to have a good popunation of woodmice, I found a large cache of wild cherry seeds each with a small hole where the mice had nibbled to get at the kernal.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkArt ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
We can provide high quality English conversation, basic carpentry skills, gardening skills, intermediate pottery skills, basic bee keeping. English history , custom and culture.
Help
Large interesting garden which opens for the national Garden Scheme. On going projects. Allotment area, All good for bees! Help with general garden tasks.
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate
German: BeginnerAccommodation
A twin and two double rooms in my house. Living in vehicles or tents also welcome. We have two other independent, isolated rooms suitable for 1-2 people each if you would like to be more away from the house.
What else ...
Within reach of Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool and the Lake District. I am interest in walking myself. Train station Preston, Lancashire.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
the WiFi here is fiber to the house and so is fast.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (30)
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
We arrived at the end of summer so there was lots of clearing and pruning to be done which kept us busy. We were also able to help with Milling an old oak tree into planks which was a great experience.
We were very well fed and the conversation was stimulating. This… read more
I had a great stay with Chris, Jess and the other workawayers in May.
The place and especially garden is so lovely and just amazing. I immediately felt comfortable there.
It was fun helping und living at this beautiful place and the garden openings have been a nice experience too.
Chris and Jess are… read more
The garden is the most beautiful and imaginative place and we envoyed very much working in such a pleasant environment. Chris always made sure we were happy we the jobs he gave us and was particularly kind and… read more
User
Improve writing "My stay as a volunteer in this place was simply amazing. Cris and Jess are great hosts. The place that they have built together is very beautiful, it was a complete pleasure for me to help in this project.
Participating in the meals with them was very pleasant for me, due to the conversations… read more
We all had good discusions on both Australian and UK… read more
was an excellent workawayer. He fitted in as a member of the family, always helpful without being asked. He worked efficiently and with enthusiasm.
He also joined my walking group on a couple of Saturdays where he out paced everyone in the top group. When he came back from a visit to Wales I was not surprised that he had climbed Snowdon… read more
As mentioned in the profile the work is in a private garden. We worked with different things, especially a new aluminium stair for a place on the other side of the river. Also did som pruning of trees, one day… read more
He had extensive experience with all the tools that we were using on a major project to clear a large oak tree from the river in my garden. He… read more
The work outside was… read more
He wilingly accepted the tasks that I set him in the garden and it was only when I had not been clear about the task that we found that it hadn't been finished. Very helpful and voluntered for… read more
He helped set up a… read more
They are also the kindest,… read more
But, as Chris wrote in his feedback for me, our ideological positions were opposite. I must say more : his insistence on expressing it was very hard to bear for a catholic as I. Charity and patience can't do all. I… read more
We all went walking in the Lake District and I think that she… read more
Conversation (that for me was important to improve my English) was good, but not great. Chis and Imka love to talk about… read more
We helped Chris in their beautiful garden for a couple of hours a day and Chris definitely helped our muscles to grow.
They thought us about the typical british life and we got an answer… read more
These eccentric, energetic and utterly fascinating people have… read more