Project Title: Coed Môr Bird Hide
Location: Anglesey
Wood Species: PREDOMINANTLY LEYLAND CYPRESS WITH SOME HAZEL USED, ALL OF WHICH WAS GROWN ON SITE.
Product Description
The Project
We identified the need for a bird hide on National Trust property at a very rich bird habitat on the bank of the Menai Strait on a newly opened footpath which forms part of the round Anglesey Coastal Footpath. We wanted to provide a bird watching facility, a dry resting place for long distance walkers and also to give something back to the local community.
One of the core aims of the project was to use sustainably sourced timber and the adjacent National Trust woodland has a stand of Leyland Cypress, which for woodland management purposes we wished to remove to allow the natural regeneration of native species. The properties of Leyland Cypress include extreme durability which means there would be no need to treat or preserve the timber. We also wanted to test the suitability of the timber for constructional purposes, as we have a large stand of it and further construction projects in mind. All the timber was felled and milled on site by the estate team and travelled no more than 500 metres from source to the site of the new hide.
The design is unusual for a bird hide and was designed in response to its intended use and the unique characteristics of the site. The front of the building needed to provide a view in excess of 180 degrees in order to take in the bend in the Strait and to be able to see habitat used by birds on either side of the structure. We wanted it to expand in size to the front and be smaller and inconspicuous from the rear so as not to be seen easily from the road behind. It has a pentagonal floor plan and an hexagonal pitched roof. As the building is predominantly sawn timber without inherent character or interest we felt the design should provide the interest rather than the materials. With the lack of timber treatment the building is assuming a natural colour and will blend in with the landscape and subtly embellish it. Hazel wattle was woven into the upper walls to soften the appearance and to give it a more natural feel and to allow dappled light to enter the building so it does not feel claustrophobic inside.
When viewed from the shore or sea the building appears to have a boat-like quality with a distinct prow which we though to be appropriate to its coastal setting.
The design and construction team consisted of a small team of estate wardens and volunteers for the National Trust woodland Menai properties, with some design and technical advice provided by internal National Trust advisors.
BUILDING OWNER: NATIONAL TRUST
MAIN CONTRACTOR: NATIONAL TRUST – GLAN FAENOL WARDEN & ESTATE TEAM
WOOD SUPPLIER: NATIONAL TRUST
