The builders have been busy this month, knocking down a wall in the sitting room to make one large open plan living area divided by oak pillars. This is the most traditional part of the property being about three hundred years old: the Welsh ‘long house’ with large stone fireplaces at each end of the room and oak beams running the whole length of it. All the walls in the lounge are of natural exposed stone, like the kitchen next door, apart from one, which is clad with wooden tongue and groove boards. Over the next few weeks, the kitchen is fitted out with hand-made cabinets and the floor covered in natural grey slate. Upstairs, the floors are stripped to reveal their original timbers and all the bedrooms and bathroom are painted with the same eco paint in a creamy buttermilk. The remote location seems to demand the use of natural materials and traditional finishes so although they are more expensive, I have a very real sense of satisfaction in respecting the integrity and character of the place. I believe that adopting an environmentally friendly approach to the renovation of the buildings is just as important as applying ecological principles to the garden and outdoor spaces on conservation grounds. Outside meanwhile, the garden has become more and more rampant as the summer has progressed … I have to give up on any idea of taming it this year.