We live in a small village close to the market town of Pickering www.pickering.uk.net. We have a Post Office next door and the local garage has a Londis mini supermarket. Our local pub (non smoking before its time) doubles as an excellent restaurant www.themiddletonarms.co.uk and is all of three minutes walk away, with no major roads to cross on the way home!

We came to Middleton nearly ten years ago and set about pulling the Hall and out-buildings back to life and discovering where the garden was. Much of the garden was overwhelmed by elderberry, ivy and brambles but its overall form has remained unchanged.

The Applestore had racks for keeping fruit through winter but sadly they were sacrificed to provide more suitable sleeping arrangements. Otherwise the lay-out is unchanged although the ‘coppers’ for boiling washing no longer occupy the corners of the kitchen.

The Coach House was about to ‘follow the laws of gravity’ according to our architect. Major renovation has resulted in a cottage with the feel of the original building but with a refashioned natural stone floor with under-floor heating and the preservation of one of the original stable partitions. Any new material introduced has been carefully considered and we hope the feel is that of the original.

We have encouraged wild birds to visit and nest around the Hall and we hope the owl and bat boxes will provide appropriate homes. You may be lucky enough to meet badgers, hedgehogs, woodpeckers and goldfinches, to name a few of our favorites.

We are currently working on the wild woodland area at the very top of the garden and have let in a lot of light and cleared undergrowth. Hundreds of daffodils have breathed a collective sigh of relief and will flower for the first time in decades. We have replanted with oaks and other native trees and shrubs and created what will become a woodland walk and nature viewing area.