MY STORY
The Forest of Dean is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that I first discovered back in 1993 when I came here for a “girls” weekend. I’d no idea the area existed and, as well as falling in love with a Forester, I fell deeply in love with the Forest of Dean and was blown away by its natural beauty.
Within four months of my first visit, I left my life in Cambridge behind and made the move to The Forest and have never looked back.
I first saw the meadows that are now The Roost back in the summer of 2002, and although it was covered in perennial weeds with a ramshackle building, I could see the great potential.
In the fourteen years after buying the land, I was busy starting up and establishing an award- winning camping & caravan park but, after leaving that business, I turned my attention back to the meadows.
Backing onto ancient woodland and being within a Special Area for Conversation, I could see that hand built, eco cedar cabins would sit perfectly in the surroundings and started on my planning journey in the summer of 2016. Doing lots of homework, research, travelling and site visits and, along the way, meeting some great & inspirational people.
All the planning and homework proved essential as, due the ecologically sensitive nature of the site, it took nearly two years before planning permission was finally granted.
Work commenced in early 2019. Every element had to be meticulously planned. To protect the rare horseshoe bats, we had to ensure there was no light spill on site at night as well as creating many extra biodiversity enhancement measures including extensive planting of native hedgerows and trees, the creation of a wildflower meadow and a nature pond.
It may have taken some considerable time from conception to completion but I feel the results have been well, well worth it. The Roost is now a multi award-winning business that serves as an oasis for both nature and for our guests.
I hope you fall in love with The Roost as much as I did back in 2002 and really look forward to welcoming you to the cabins and sharing the beautiful Forest of Dean with you.
Lorraine xxx
