The Little Things That Make a
Difference at The Village Larder
When we refurbished the old public toilets into The Village Larder, we wanted to do more than give the building a new lease of life. We wanted to make a few thoughtful changes that would help us look after the space, support local wildlife and make visiting us a little easier.
Some of these changes are easy to spot. Others are tucked away, quietly doing their bit in the background and we want to add more.
Catching the rain
One of our simplest ideas was to make better use of the rainwater. We diverted water from one of the roof downspouts into large, hidden water tanks, reducing the amount of rainwater flowing straight into the drainage system. We then reuse that collected water to keep our plants happy and clean the outside of The Larder. It's a small change, but one that makes good use of something that would otherwise simply run away down the drain.
Making a little of our own electricity
We've installed solar panels on the roof to generate a small amount of our own electricity. It's not going to power the whole village, but every little bit helps, and it feels right that a project rooted in growing and caring for our local environment should make use of the sunshine when it can, and it keeps us off-grid!
A home for the little things
Hidden beneath the Edenfield Stick Exchange is a small space for bugs and other mini's. It's an easy feature to overlook, but dead wood, sticks and sheltered spaces can provide valuable places for insects to hide and live. We've also included a small, weighted-down lid that can hold water, giving our insect friends somewhere to drink. It's a tiny addition, but as a whole we aim for tidy, clean spaces which can remove perfect habitats for everything else.
Arrive on two legs, or two wheels
We want The Village Larder to be part of your everyday village wander, not somewhere you always need to drive to. That's why we've added anchor points for bikes and dogs, making it easier to stop by on a walk or cycle ride. Bring the dog, lock up your bike and pick up something local along the way.
A little more thought in an old building
None of these features is particularly grand or groundbreaking. The refurbishment was an opportunity to take an old, familiar building and give it a new purpose, with a few small improvements that make it work with and for people, plants and wildlife.
The Village Larder is about supporting local producers and bringing good things into our community. We think it's worth extending that same thinking to the building itself. So next time you visit, take a moment to look around. There might be more going on than you first realise.