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Hockerton Housing Project: The roof
There are not many places in the world where the moles and sheep live on the roof of people's homes.

Five hundred tons of earth has been spread on the main part of the houses making them invisible from roads or points of public access.

As well as blending the homes into the landscape, the soil-covered roofs have allowed much of the landscape taken up by building the homes to be returned.

Today kestrels hunt for voles, nettles harbour thousands of caterpillars, butterflies seek nectar bearing plants and frogs lurk in any damp shade. It has also proved productive with fruit bushes and additional grazing for sheep.

Where the grass roof runs up to join the conservatory is a parapet on which sit solar panels. These are set facing southwards at an angle to maximise the generation of electricity via the sun. In combination with the wind turbine they are responsible for supplying much of the energy needs of the homes.

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