Inspired by Dartmoor
The Templeton family live in the middle of Dartmoor where their wooden house and seven-acre smallholding serve as home, farm, classroom, and most recently - a workshop producing luxury shepherd’s huts.
Helen, Nick, Eva and Clara enjoy life in an idyllic spot sheltered by a small woodland with far-reaching views across the rugged Dartmoor landscape. It feels wonderfully remote, yet it’s still quite accessible along a single-track road. They first peered over the property’s gate four years ago when it was barely on the market, immediately falling in love with it, and hardly believing it when the sale completed. They moved in shortly before the first lockdown, and although that hindered meeting neighbours, it provided plenty to occupy them as they settled in and explored the moors.
Nick originally trained as a cabinet maker before working in antique furniture restoration for the National Trust. His first house needed a considerable amount of work, and he successfully renovated it, acquiring numerous building skills in the process. He met Helen when she was training in herbal medicine at university. They later married and Helen practised as a herbalist for a while, but also helped out with the series of house renovations, conversions and new-builds which followed over the next twenty years. Eva and Clara were born when they were living on a run-down farm near Cheriton Bishop. Over several years, they restored the farmhouse and completed two barn conversions; it was a huge undertaking and enabled them to climb the property ladder, although it was not without its difficulties, involving two years in a static caravan with a young family.
After recladding and insulating their current house, Nick and Helen have now turned their expert skills to a completely new venture - making and selling high-end shepherd’s huts. I had the pleasure of visiting their very first shepherd’s hut and every detail imaginable has been lovingly worked on to create a compact yet luxurious, four-season living space. Wherever possible they’ve used local materials and products, from Nick’s ripple ash timber drawers under the organic handmade mattress, to a local artist’s screen-printed blinds and a granite sink finished with Helen’s ceramic tiles. From start to finish, it has been inspired by Dartmoor and their life there, and the couple are now planning more shepherd’s huts which will be equally lavish, but all totally unique.
As you might expect in their current location, the family lives close to nature. Eva and Clara have always been home-schooled and have a particular interest, as well as extensive knowledge of birds and animals. Their education has always covered reading, writing and maths, and they have benefitted from Circle Study Group’s home-education support and guided sessions. Otherwise, they have focused on learning what they need for life and following their interests. The girls are devoted to looking after their two ponies, and have great fun going for rides with them on Dartmoor. In recent years they have rescued three birds and nurtured them back to health. In fact, animals of various descriptions, often rescues, play a significant part in the daily lives of the whole family, from their three dogs to the more recent addition of a flock of sheep.
The Templetons keep a brood of ex-battery hens and Nick has installed a huge outdoor hen enclosure to keep them safe from foxes and hawks. Helen described how discarded one-year-old hens are rehomed by the Battery Hen Welfare Trust; they often arrive with barely any feathers but over time their plumage recovers and they start laying eggs. I was lucky enough to leave with a box of freshly laid eggs, including a huge double-yoker. The girls have named all the hens and know all their personality traits - some hens even accompany them on walks.
The sheep are Helen’s new métier, and it’s easy to see how she has become smitten with them. She came across the Swiss breed called Valais Blacknose, largely bred as pets in this country due to their friendly nature and cute looks, although they also produce large quantities of excellent wool. Three years ago, she acquired three pregnant ewes and now has quite a flock. She sells lambs to the public and keeps in touch with all the owners, often receiving photos of their sheep’s progress. It has been a steep learning curve but great therapy, involving delivering lambs, medicating them, and even completing a shearing course, where she said her arms have never ached so much! However now she is a competent shearer and clips the sheep twice a year with the aid of a stand. The wool is particularly good for felting, and the girls have even created a mini replica flock for her. The Templetons are fortunate to live in a wonderful location, but the life they have created is all due to their efforts and skills, as well as making the most of the world around them.
Rosemary Best
For more details about the shepherd’s huts see thedartmoorshepherdshutcompany.co.uk and for Helen’s sheep see familyvalaisblacknosesheep.com