We bought Shernick Lodge in March 2008 and have been busy creating somewhere to call home.  We have an acre of land surrounding the bungalow where we have made 27 raised beds for growing vegetables and have put up two polytunnels.  There is also a 5 acre field, some of which will be used as pasture.  We have planted a linear wood around three sides of the field to give wind protection, wood fuel and to increase biodiversity.  Incorporated in this will be a permaculture forest garden to add another dimension to the smallholding.

The land is in the Culm Measures so typical of this part of the country and as such has a tendency towards being wet and acidic with rushes.  The soil is clay over shillet  and we find that water sits on the surface for ages.  We are about 4 miles from the sea which is just far enough away to avoid the worst of the maritime weather, however, it is still a fairly windy site.  We are fortunate in having windbreaks planted by the previous owners.

As far as we know there was a dwelling on the site owned by a Yeoman Farmer and a map dated around 1906 shows the site as being called Pittons.  We are interested in finding out as much as we can about the history of the place.