The Forest of Dean Cabiners Association.
We aim to rekindle the history and traditions of the Dean Forest Cabiners by reviving our most ancient right to build a cabin and live on the land.
Discover the History of the Cabiners...Wum Land Development
Cabins for Life.
The Forest of Dean is at a cross-roads. Either we are going to continue the same old development patterns, slowly nibbling away at our ancient woodlands and replacing them with concrete & over-priced housing developments with no means to ensure the basic needs of the household are met. Or, we are going to help to create another model, one which attempts to meet the housing and economic needs of the area in ways designed to benefit not only (certain) people but the Forest as a whole.
livelihoods
Low-impact Development (LID) has the potential to reinvigorate the local economy, by providing both affordable homes and viable livelihoods. This can secure a future here in the Forest for our young people and enable families to have quality of life without having to commute for work.
homes
LID means affordable self-built homes linked to land based livelihoods, like organic farming and forestry. Planning permission is granted on the condition that the development can prove itself capable of providing two thirds of the household’s basic needs from the land within 5 years.
woodland expansion
LID can assist reforestation intiatives, propagating saplings & providing temporary or permanent homes for forestry workers; revive traditional coppice management and lead to a patchwork of orchards and woodland landscapes producing a variety of food, fuel and woodland products.
culture and heritage
All land is imbued with historical narrative and comes with its own particular cultural inheritance. Developments must be sensitive to this and take steps to ensure continuity by celebrating and advocating for the land. Cultural inheritance and stories of place must be valued and preserved.
showcasing low-impact homes
In Wales and Worldwide...
Low-impact development has been active in Wales for a number of years, breathing life into local economies & creating real livelihoods for families.
The Hobbit House
Simon Dale's The Hobbit House dug into hillside for low visual impact. It took an estimated 1000-1500 man hours over 4 month to build and cost only £3000 in materials whilst complying with building regulations. Read More
Inside the Hobbit House.
It housed our family whilst we worked in the woodland doing ecological woodland management and setting up a forest garden, things that would have been impossible had we had to pay a regular rent or mortgage. Read More
Charlie and Megan's Strawbale
Charlie is a young man with a young family and like many others he found it impossible to afford a home. He had lived with his partner Megan in a damp caravan for 4 years, but with a baby on the way Charlie felt he had no choice but to build his house for just £15,000 without the approval of the planning authorities. Read More
The Undercroft
A simple dwelling, built at Lammas using similar construction techniques to the hobbit house.Read More
Family home in Upstate New York
A self-built, low-impact family home in the forests of Upstate New YorkRead More
Lammas community hub
The Community Hub building lies at the centre of the ecovillage in Pembrokeshire, it hosts a series of educational, community and recreational activities.Details
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Get In Twtch.
Send a message to the Cabiners Association, we'd love to hear from you!
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, suggestions or concerns.
Send Us A Message
Contact Information
The Cabiners Association
The Greater Forest of Dean.
"Happy is the Eye, betwixt the Severn and the Wye."
Email Us At
General: cabiners [at} wum.land
Press: thom [at} wum.land
Call Us At
Phone: (+44) 07521 267 906
Text [best]: (+44) 07521 267 906