Our Story
The first time we visited The Green, we were completely bowled over. It was beautiful, peaceful, and - if we’re honest - we thought it might be out of our league. Then, as if the place wanted to properly introduce itself, a red squirrel bounded across the field and over the beck to where we stood. It was such an unexpected, gentle moment that it felt like the place was choosing us as much as we were choosing it. That was when everything clicked.
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We both work in the NHS as Occupational Therapists, where we focus on how environment and function shape wellbeing. Moving back to the countryside we’d loved years ago gave us the chance to bring that understanding of wellbeing into a place, not just a profession.
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The Green offered exactly that possibility. With its natural calm, its sustainable foundations, and its sense of belonging, it felt like somewhere we could create a small retreat that helps people slow down, breathe, and feel held by their surroundings.
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So we took the leap.
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New village. New rhythm. New purpose.
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The Green isn’t just a house; it is our chance to build something meaningful. A place where we can live more sustainably, and share this beautiful corner of Cumbria in Upper Eden with people looking for the same sense of escape that drew us here. With solar panels and battery storage, ground‑source heating, and fresh spring water from our own borehole, the property already leaned toward the kind of future‑focused, environmentally conscious life we wanted to live.
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We’re committed to continuing The Green’s environmental journey, not just through renewable technologies but through the way we care for the land itself. We’re reducing how much of the garden we mow so that natural habitats and quiet havens for wildlife can return. Being part of one of the UK’s few Dark Sky Reserves matters deeply to us too, so we’re thoughtful about how and when we use outdoor lighting, protecting the natural darkness that’s essential for the wellbeing of nocturnal wildlife.
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Living on‑site means we’re involved in every detail - the cottages, the land, the welcome you receive when you arrive. It lets us shape a place that feels easy, comfortable, and restorative. And every morning we wake up here, we’re reminded how lucky we were that The Green turned out not to be out of our league after all.
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The Green isn’t just where we live. It’s where our love of this landscape and our belief in the power of environment came together - and we’re genuinely glad you’re here to share it with us.
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Jem & Bek
