"Coldhome, near Huntly in rural Aberdeenshire, started some nine years ago as a four-and-a-half-acre section of a larger field with some rather tumbledown sheds on it, one of them an old crofthouse. The buildings are largely of timber-and-tin construction, but the crofthouse and byre are stone, some of the walls being of “clay-and-boule” type and in remarkably good condition.

The work at Coldhome involves gradual repair and reformation of the existing buildings, using natural and local materials wherever possible. Coldhome is “off-grid”. Water is from collected rain, electricity via a couple of very small wind-turbines and three or four solar panels, heating and much of cooking by wood, toilets of dry earth-type and grey water goes to a reedy pond and willow-grove (almost as pretty as it is poetic).

My family, or some of them, live and work there, writing, painting, home-educating and building when there is time amongst all the other commitments. There are normally four adults - Charlie A, Annie, Charlie R and Rachel there, along with and four children, Maddy and Ellie (Charlie A and Annie’s) and Goody and Gwyn (Charlie R and Rachel’s).

The main reasoning behind the home education is a belief that cooping children up in school for the best part of the day is no match for the freedom and learning opportunities of living in the country with lots of space and – well, a Coldhome project going on around them."
R. Ashton

In June 2016 I went to Coldhome as a Wwoofer and came away with friends. I was utterly struck by these kind, caring and generous people.
On Dec 5th 2016 after years of tireless work and a glimmer of completion, Coldhome was ravaged by fire. Everything has gone including the life's work of Charlie Ashton, Charlie Roy and Rachel Ashton. Whilst everyone escaped unharmed they have been left with only the clothes they stand up in.
Please give what you can and help these wonderful people get back on their feet.

Thank you