Leafy retreat
John and Nicki Beavan spent almost a decade creating this stunning timber abode atop the branches of an ash tree on their farm
Inspired to create a sanctuary in nature, John and Nicki Beavan erected a monumental treehouse around a living ash tree on the edge of their farm in Worcestershire
It took John and Nicki Beavan the best part of 10 years to build this octagonal treehouse – partly because they didn’t want to cause shock to the living ash tree that grows inside it. “It was also partially down to the expense of the process, in addition to the endless hoops we had to jump through in order to obtain planning permission for the project,” says Nicki.
Labour of love
e couple live in a medieval Grade II listed farmstead in rural Worcestershire. Spread over 25 acres of mixed leys and woodlands, the pair have restored the property from the derelict state it was in when they first purchased it in 2001. Despite having six children at the time, including a set of twins, the Beavans worked hard for the next several years to refurbish the dwelling. At the same time, John continued his work as a master cabinet maker and Nicki helped run the farm, which had cattle, sheep and poultry.
Another set of twins, including one with cerebral palsy, arrived soon after the couple moved in. Now, there are just twins Willow
and Woody, both aged 15, at home. Big sister Felicity, 20, lives in the treehouse. However, 12 years ago, is was a different story. So why, in 2007, did the Beavans decide to put themselves through the stress of another project like building the treehouse? “We had an area of land that just wasn’t suitable for our traditional Hereford cattle,” says Nicki. “It’s a wooded area with ponds and brooks running across it, which is extremely beautiful and peaceful. When we were going through difficult periods, we’d walk down there together. e water and the tranquillity helped us to release all the tension.”
e couple made the decision to build a retreat on this part of the property, with their initial ideas turning towards a log cabinstyle structure. “en we both looked at each other and instantly thought better of it,” says Nicki. “We are both good with design and have skills in making things. We knew that we’d be able to create something better with our own visualisations.”
John and Nicki put their ideas down onto paper and translated these musings into drawings of a large-scale treehouse. ese were
taken to a structural engineer, who went over them for approval.
“e next task was to find the right tree,” says Nicki. “It had to be on a bank so it’d be fed by water. It also needed a water course at the foot.”
e pair eventually hit upon an ash tree that ticked all the boxes. Sitting in a scenic position overlooking the Kyre Brook, it benefits from vistas across another body of water that feeds into a medieval fish pond. is, however, had to be de-silted before work could begin. In addition, the Beavans decided to build a water feature involving the stream, which used to run beneath a track before emerging into the pond. Nicki and John re-routed it across the path to create a waterfall. Stones were added to create more of a splash, too.
Planning hurdles
John began work on the scheme in 2009, but progress was slow.
“e main reason for our caution moving forwards was because we didn’t want to cause a shock to the tree,” says Nicki. “It also gave us time to think about how we wanted the retreat to look. We had a really good chance to step back and think.”
Once the couple had finalised the design for the structure, it took them three years to get planning consent. Ecology studies, including newt and bat surveys, are just two of the hurdles the pair had to overcome. “We asked an environmentalist friend of ours, Will Watson, for his help,” says Nicki. “We have lots of bats living throughout our land – in the trees, the barn and the farmhouse.” However, the couple haven’t disturbed any of the creatures by developing the treehouse. “ey still perch on the branches above the property. In any case, Will told us they are sensible animals. If disturbed, they’d just move on to the next tree or another building.”
e couple have done their bit to protect the newts’ habitat, too. “Because we de-silted the pond, which now has a constant flow of water, we’ve established another home for them,” says Nicki. e ecological surveys cost the Beavans about £1,600 in total. “But nothing was a problem, as ‘eco’ is our middle name,” says Nicki.
“We recycle everything and haven’t had a refuse collection in 20 years.”
Construction details
e expense of building the treehouse turned out to represent another hurdle for the Beavans. e structure’s bespoke steel frame ended up costing £20,000 alone. Finally, however, in 2018, the property was completed. e exterior is faced with handmade oak shingles, topped with a recycled artificial thatched roof. All the doors and sash windows are crafted from oak, handmade by John to complement the engineered oak floorboards inside.
“We brought in a local handyman to do the mill work, such as battening out, plaster boarding and so on,” says Nicki. “A professional plumber and electricians came in to do that side of things, to make sure all the work complied with Building Regulations.” All the services, including water, electricity, gas and wifi cables, were moled through and brought into a main entry point beneath the treehouse. e
LPG tank is also hidden underneath the structure. “is particular aspect was very expensive and took quite a few months to organise,” says Nicki. “We have also installed
a Worcester Bosch boiler and an underfloor heating system.”
e Beavans were conscious about building the treehouse with sustainable materials. “We mainly used wood, wood and more wood, with plaster on the walls. Everything was natural or ecofriendly,” says Nicki. Plenty of insulation has been packed into the structure, too, using Kingspan panels to form the protective thermal barrier.
“e roof, however, is made from recycled plastic and manufactured to look like an authentic thatch,” says Nicki. “is covering was chosen because it is 100% proof against vermin, wind and fire.” Another reason the couple went with this solution is because they weren’t able to create as much of a pitch as would be required for real straw, due to the branches above. Nor could they make the structure shallow enough to have used a sedum covering.
“Everything in the treehouse that’s fabricated from wood was handmade by John,” says Nicki. “From the yew panelling to the bespoke curved kitchen, plus many items of furniture.” ese pieces include the oak dining table, which is made from a tree trunk. e bedside tables have been carefully crafted from ash.
e kitchen, in particular, is a masterpiece of fine joinery. Made from burr yew and oak, all the cabinetry is curved. e drawers work on undermounted soft-close push-touch runners. “is was quite expensive to achieve – even the underside is panelled,” says Nicki. “e kitchen itself cost around £45,000. We chose the rounded design as it is space saving and also reflects the shape of the treehouse itself.” As accommodation is all spread across one level, the Beavans were careful when it came to the interior fitout, as they were keen to avoid a boxed-in feel.
Final reflections
Now their labour of love is over, Nicki and John are delighted with the outcome of the project. “My favourite aspect is the position of the treehouse. It’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s so quiet and peaceful,” Nicki says. “I also love the fact that the ash tree is growing up right in the middle of everything. We get a tree surgeon to come and inspect it every year, and so far all is well.”
As the project progressed, the couple found that they were drawn towards high-quality solutions and products that would stand the text of time. “We didn’t start with a particular budget in mind, and there was no strict timescale either,” says Nicki. “However, I know we went overboard with some elements, as we like things to be done properly and both have a critical eye. After all, they say that you have to wait for the best things in life.”
Looking back, making the various payments throughout the build was one of the less enjoyable obstacles. “Jumping over all the hurdles was tough at times, too,” says Nicki. “But we preferred to see everything as a challenge to be overcome. Reflecting back on the whole scheme now, there isn’t anything we’d do differently.”
My favourite aspect is the position of the treehouse. It’s in the middle of nowhere; peaceful’’ it is so quiet and