Our Sustainable Journey

When in 1990, Keeper Doug began the long process of bringing the deserted Norman Church at the Lost Village of Dode back to life a lifetimes background in the preservation of listed buildings stood me him in good stead.

“The conservation of ancient buildings teaches you to think in pre industrial terms, in other words to make use of natural, renewable materials using hand made techniques” he explains.

So, over 30 years ago sustainability naturally formed the basis of the work which was to follow.

The first priority was the amassing of suitable reclaimed materials, many were found on site having been discarded over the almost 650 years that the church had lain disused, and particularly following the re- roofing some 100 years ago, “there were many tons of flint and old bricks each to be picked up by hand and stored for future use in retaining walls, some worked stone was also discovered, again to be set aside (one piece found a use as recently as 2022!)”

Initially the roof was substantially recovered using reclaimed Kentish peg tiles, sustainable English Oak was used for the new door, screens & furnishings. Disused scaffolding planks provided the shutters.

The retreat cottages were also constructed as far as possible using oak from a local forest (the oak doors were sourced from trees which were blown down in the great storm of 1987.) bricks salvaged on site and more reclaimed tiles, some of which came from demolished local oast houses! Internally natural stone floors and ironwork fittings forged on site form an important feature to this day.

Throughout the two acre site many deciduous trees were planted, often species that are currently out of fashion but which provide both shelter & food for birds & insects including quince, walnut, chequer, cob-nut and rowan. A small wildlife pond was provided, screened not by fencing but heavy bramble/nettle growth to encourage wildlife & naturally discourage undue human interference.

The recent construction of Holly Barrow, being semi subterranean, inevitably and regrettably involved the use of reinforced concrete although reclaimed granite, sandstone, and flint were used in abundance as were natural stone chippings for the floors.

“I genuinely believe that over the last 30 years we have taken the most sustainable approach possible in bringing Dode back to life but there is still work to do, it has long been a dream of mine to once again thatch the roof of the church with straw, a natural by-product, this would would not only be appropriate but free up the already reclaimed peg tiles to grace yet another ancient local building, a further project under consideration is to use the ancient disused village well as the basis of a ground source heat pump”.

Sustainability Statement for The Lost Village of Dode

At The Lost Village of Dode, we are committed to preserving the natural beauty and historic charm of our venue while promoting sustainable practices. We recognise the importance of protecting our environment for future generations and strive to minimize our ecological footprint through thoughtful and responsible stewardship.

Dode is more than a place to visit; it is a testament to what we can achieve when we prioritise sustainability. Join us in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.