Ludlow lad's living among the logs
You might expect to find them in the wilds of Scandinavia or the vast woodlands of North America – but now a county craftsman hopes to add log cabins to the Shropshire landscape.
Ludlow-born Edward Griffiths is launching Perch Cabins, which will see the businessman building traditional cabins using techniques he developed while training in Scandinavia.
The axe-man first considered the idea while on holiday in Sweden, and crossed the North Sea again to study a course with tool maker Gransfor Bruk that gave him the skills he needed to build the cabins.
He has since built and developed a range of ideas and designs, and he is working on a number of projects already.
"I have always wondered if something more could be done with our vast volumes of British grown softwoods, other than simply processing it into poor quality timber or paper," said Mr Griffiths.
"After staying in a log cabin, it very quickly became obvious to me, I simply have to build one."
He added: "With house prices continuing to escalate, the need for extra space has become more prominent. Small garden buildings are on the rise, and can provide much needed space for a variety of uses.
Sticking to the criteria set out by local councils, a small office or studio more often falls under the bracket of a permitted development.
"With so many options of 'off the shelf' cabins and structures, it is a minefield for customers, but the ecological impact of imported and factory processed timbers is a key factor in the future success of Perch Cabins.
"We specialise in building from scratch, starting with the tree.
"Harvesting and processing locally sourced timber by means of selective felling and mobile milling.
"From that point on we are using hand tools and traditional techniques where feasibly possible. This gives us complete control over our projects."
Many of the cabins are also built to integrate a wood-burning stove, meaning that excess material from the build can also be used to heat the completed cabin.
The new company is also offering to install back boilers and photovoltaic solar panels to provide hot water for a shower and low voltage lighting in the cabins.
