Windows on wildlife
Hanmer Lodge’s large pond is a stunning liquid asset,
WHEN it comes to nature-watching, many homeowners make do with a simple garden bird table. However, Hanmer Lodge boasts its own extensive man-made pond, which acts as a magnet for all kinds of wildlife.
With trout in the water, it attracts feathered visitors such as herons, grebes, moorhens and ducks.
The pond is also home to two types of newt, toads and frogs and the owners are so considerate that they put the blades on their robotic lawn mower to ‘high’ so they don’t cause carnage among the tiny visitors.
‘At mating time, birds come from all directions. It’s as if someone had flicked a light switch,’ said owner Tina Oakes.
‘There’s loads of tadpoles, and baby frogs start leaving at the same time.’
She added: ‘It’s a stunning location. You can’t see another property and you have these amazing views towards the Morven hill, in Caithness, with snow on the top.
‘We had been looking for a property for a while. When I first saw this place, we drove down the lane and saw the pond. I just thought wow! My own private lake.’
Located on the outskirts of Buckie on the Moray coast, Hanmer Lodge was designed by an architect and built in 2011.
As well as the wealth of wildlife to watch, the owners have good coastal views.
Moray is believed to bask in one of the gentlest climates in Scotland.
The estate agents describe it as an ‘ecofriendly’ home, with gorgeous design touches such as the bespoke kitchen, underfloor heating on the ground floor and oak finishes throughout.
The underfloor heating is powered by a multi-fuel stove in the living room, which supplies hot water as well. If the stove goes out, the oil-fired boiler kicks in to maintain a cosy temperature.
A private water supply provides far more water than the house could ever use.
It is used to replenish the pond outside, keeping it fresh and clean, before discharging through two pipes into a storm drain. The cedar-clad house was designed to draw in maximum light through huge windows, allowing the resulting heat to flow through the openplan layout.
The reception hall has a double-height ceiling, a feature which is replicated in part in the near 40ftlong living/dining/kitchen area.
There is a TV lounge above, perching much like a mezzanine. Downstairs, there are two bedrooms, while upstairs is where you find the generous master bedroom suite, complete with dressing room and private bathroom.
Also on this level is another bedroom, plus a luxury family bathroom.
There are almost two acres of grounds, mainly laid to lawn.
The gardens include a large shed, used for storage, and a newly built summer house which could work as a gym or office.
Offers over £395,000 to Pam Morrison of Strutt & Parker. Tel 01330 826 800 or email pamela.morrison@struttandparker.com