How we make our yurts
The Frame
We use locally sourced ash timber for our yurt frames. Ash is superbly suited for yurtmaking as it is a lightweight but strong timber, which grows straight, bends well and is capable of flexing with the stresses and strains of a tent in use and in transit.
We select suitable trees from local woodlands which have usually grown unchecked as the result of natural regeneration of the woodland floor. Our trees are felled as part of a thoughtful management process which aims to ensure the longterm survival of the woodland and its flourishing ecosystem.
We then saw the trees into planks, and using a spindle moulder we create the gentle curved profile of the roof and wall battens. Before the timber is fully seasoned, each piece is shaped using a steam-bending process to give the yurt is graceful curved wall and domed roof. The crown wheel is made up using thin planks of timber which are glued together before it is fitted with its elegant cross-braces and the rafter-sockets are burned through using a brand.
The doorframe is constructed of Douglas Fir using traditional joinery techniques to ensure excellent strength and the stability of the whole frame. Doors are available in a variety of options, single or double, hardwood or pine.
Finally we treat the yurt frame using natural oils which penetrate to give added durability and which bring out the lovely grain of the timber.
The Cover
With the frame complete, we then measure up to cover the yurt. The felt coverings found on traditional yurts in the dry Asian grasslands are not very well suited to a damp British climate, so we use modern treated canvas instead.
We love the romance of a proper canvas tent, the evocative smell of childhood camping trips and the fact that canvas is more breathable than sweaty modern tents. But we do strike a balance by using a polyester/ cotton blend which has added benefits of durability and strength. The canvas we use is treated in the UK to British Standards and is described as FWR, which means it has been manufactured for retardancy against Fire (BS7837:1996) Water (BS 3408:1992,3.3.7) and Rot (BS 2087:1992, 4.5.3)Our yurts covers consist of a custom-sewn single roof piece which hugs the rafters and attaches with a drawstring to the doorframe. From the roof hang the wall sections which fix to the doorframe with a neat turnbutton arrangement, and which have a Pvc skirt as standard.
Finally, the crown cap is a single removable star-shaped section, which laces to the ground, and has a clear skylight, making excellent use of the natural daylight from above.
Accessories
Unlike a lot of other yurt companies, we have an intimate and personal understanding of what it is actually like to live in a yurt, we appreciate that the experience does not end simply with the purchase of your yurt.
We are pleased to offer woodburning stoves made by a small UK craft workshop, insulation to keep your yurt toasty warm in the winter, and we can even build the wooden platform onsite which will keep your yurt dry and comfortable in a more permanent setting.
Every yurt we make is unique to its owner, so we advise getting in touch with your requirements
Maintenance
When people ask about yurt maintenance, we like to use the analogy of keeping a boat in the water: if you leave it to the elements it’ll probably be ok, but it certainly won’t thank you! Our yurts are made from organic materials and although they are treated as well as possible to make them durable in the outdoors, they do need care to keep them looking pristine. Our advice is to use your yurt when it Iis up, which means airing it and lighting the fire, and to put your yurt away when you are not using it! It is surprisingly simple to pitch and dismantle a yurt, whenever we sell a yurt we take great care to ensure the customer becomes familiar with all the processes involved.
