News / 10-Feb-25

Shaping the Future of Honeygar Farm with Somerset Wildlife Trust

Written by Laura Highton
Photograph of Honeygar Farm from above.

We are thrilled to announce our appointment as lead architect for Somerset Wildlife Trust’s transformative project at Honeygar Farm. 


This is a pioneering initiative to create a National Centre for Lowland Peat Research and a site that provides a connection within Somerset’s wider nature recovery network, supporting greater biodiversity in the area. Located in the heart of the Somerset Levels, the site is a former dairy farm now at the forefront of wilding principles and practices and peatland restoration.

The Trust’s ambitious vision will see the site evolve into a multi-purpose site, integrating facilities for visitors such as students and academics, teaching spaces, research labs, accommodation, and exhibition areas. By restoring and restoring the peatlands, this project will enhance biodiversity, improve water management, and strengthen the farm’s role in locking carbon in the ground.

Aerial photograph of Honeygar Farm.
There is a broad range of building types across the former farming site

We’re really delighted to have found a partner that understands our vision for Honeygar and is strongly aligned with our values as an organisation. This is an incredibly exciting project for us a Trust, so the diligence, creativity and energy that Poynton Bradbury brings is exactly what we need to help us bring this vision to life.

Adam Preece, Project Manager for Honeygar

This project perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and zero-carbon design. The brief is centred committed to adaptive reuse, circular economy principles, and low-carbon design, ensuring that existing structures are repurposed and that new interventions blend seamlessly with the landscape. Our material choices will prioritise locally sourced, natural resources, supporting both conservation efforts and the rural economy.

This project launches an exciting design partnership with Clementine Blakemore Architects, collaborating to shape an innovative and sustainable design solution. Together, we will develop a holistic design that not only meets the needs of researchers and visitors but also reflects the ethos of Somerset Wildlife Trust.

We are delighted to be working with Somerset Wildlife Trust - a like-minded and ambitious client – and in collaboration with an exceptional team of designers and consultants.

We can’t wait to get started!

Image of an existing buildings masonry.
Re-use of existing site materials is a key aspect of the design brief
Image of the existing aged timber cladding.
Detail photo of existing contrasting textures on building.
Photograph of an existing buildings timber cladding.
Image of the existing buildings metal cladding.

Meet the Author

Director
Laura Highton

BSc(Hons)  MArch  ARB  RIBA-SCA

Laura joined Poynton Bradbury Architects in 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the practice. Her passion for architecture is focussed on creating sustainable, adaptable, and vibrant spaces thar respond to their surroundings and context. She has skills in contemporary design and has developed an architectural sensitivity in her approach to working in historic settings.

Registered as a RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, Laura’s expertise lies in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, and she is particularly skilled at bringing new life and contemporary design into historic buildings and settings. She has a comprehensive knowledge of conservation practice and extensive experience of applying this within historic buildings.

Laura’s portfolio is varied and includes large scale community and public buildings such as museums, visitor centres and libraries up to the value of £25m. Alongside this she has worked on intricate and smaller scale developments including bespoke new-build residential projects and one-off house renovations.

 Email Laura

Latest journal posts

More