Work is now under way to complete the barn floor – which a decade ago was just plain earth – with underfloor heating pipes. The idea is to extend the season and make the barn cosier for memorials and awaydays in spring and autumn.

Heating will come as far as possible from the Abora hybrid photo-voltaic thermal panels, with backup from an efficient LPG boiler. Barn will be out of use for six weeks or so.

James and Luke setting base layer of insulation before adding the pipes.