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After nine years presenting Grand Designs with more than 50 episodes under his belt, picking just one favourite programme wasn't an easy choice for Kevin McCloud. In the end though, it had to be Ben Law's handcrafted home in the woods. Partly because this is an epic story following Ben as he built his home on a tiny budget using methods dating back to the early medieval period with raw materials collected from the surrounding countryside.

Ben Law in Grand Designs is to be broadcast on Channel 4 again this Thursday 1st November 2007, 8.00pm. The programme is part of Channel 4's 25 Year Anniversary celebrations.

Ben's initial programme has been the most watched episode in Grand Designs history, a fantastically positive statement about the interests of the people of the UK. Kevin has chosen Ben to reflect that the British as a people are a nation of designers, of original, caring thinkers.

Copies of Ben law's books THE WOODLAND HOUSE and THE WOODLAND WAY can be bought from the Permaculture Association (Britain) and will help us to support permaculture related work throughout Britain and the world. link to shop

THE WOODLAND HOUSE
96pp. 98 colour photos. HBK
£14.95
This book is the story of how one man turned his dream into a reality

This house is pure permaculture design:
a beautiful low impact structure, hand-built with locally resourced materials
Author Ben Law appeared on Channel 4¹s Grand Designs in Winter 2005 & The World¹s Most Extreme Homes USA, Summer 2006

³Ben Law has proved that it¹s possible to design and construct a truly environmentally friendly home. You couldn¹t find a house that has a more intimate relationship with people and place.² From the Foreword by Kevin McCloud, presenter of Channel 4¹s Grand Designs
³A great read for those interested in the idea of self build projects.² Design4Design.com
In 2003, Ben Law captivated the nation when the building of his woodland house was featured on Channel 4¹s Grand Designs programme which was viewed by 4.5 million people. This was followed up in 2005 by a Grand Designs Revisited programme.

Illustrated with nearly 100 colour photos, this is a step-by-step guide to how Ben Law built his home, hewn from his own woodland. It covers all the basics, including why we love to self-build and gives details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costings, project management and the actual building stages, from foundations and frames, through to interior features.

THE WOODLAND WAY
A Permaculture Approach To Sustainable Woodland Management
256pp. 13 colour + 116 b&w photos. PBK
£16.95
Acknowledged as a standard text for woodland managers, students and everyone who loves trees and woodlands
This practical book by Ben Law features his innovative methods of sustainable woodland management which create a healthy, biodiverse environment, add value and give high yields.