Tree

Tree
houses are the eco-trend that shows no signs of slowing.
Proving that staying sustainably doesn’t have to mean compost
toilets and trickling showers is Will Hardy, the owner, designer
and treehouse mastermind behind Wild Escapes, which brings together four luxury
forest dwellings. Glamping? Never heard of her. This puts the style
in sustainable staycations.

These are the UK’s only tree houses with a vineyard as their
surrounds – an award-winning vineyard we might add. Veteran
tree-house builder Will Hardy chose the site not just for its
outstanding beauty or the booze, but for the chance to transform
1,500 acres of disused farmland into a new, viable venture.
Diversifying the farmland gives Will a chance to work with not only
the Black Chalk vintner and the farm, but also the wider
Fullerton village. Supporting local and eco-friendly? Swoon.

Although this is Will’s first boutique venture, we’re already
huge fans of his meticulous sense of style. There’s not a single
detail that he hasn’t pondered – so much so that a set of salt
shakers got sent back for not matching a particular tree house’s
aesthetic. The result? Each tree house has its own character.

Bring a torch and make sure you’re paying attention when
approaching the tree houses – teetering on tranquil Hampshire
countryside, they’re a bit challenging to find. Whizzing down from
London as
lockdown 2.0 came to an end (for two weeks at least), we overshot
the sign and ended up doing an 18-point turn in the neighbouring
farm’s stables. After waking up the surrounding livestock, we found
the Wild Escapes slung our suitcases over our shoulders and trudged
to our tree house.

From the moment you shut the car door, you’ll feel as if you’re
leaving your plethora of city stress in the back of the boot. The
only sound – except for the mud squelching beneath your boots – is
from the odd badger (apparently, like us, they have a penchant for
mature grapes).

Psst. Keep an eye out for boathouses cropping up in Norfolk
and seaside cottages in Devon.

Rooms

Individually designed is one of those annoying, industry
buzzwords – usually used to describe identikit hotel rooms that
have two different types of curtains and the odd scatter cushion.
Yet at Wild Escapes every single detail – right down to the choice
of toaster and kettle – differs. Even the light switches aren’t
duplicated. We suggest picking your treehouse based on your
personality (or the current palette of your Instagram feed).

First to greet you as you make your way down the path is The
Perigord – our abode for the weekend. The charred Siberian larch
exterior makes for a striking arrival among the stripped-back trees
– we visited in the midst of winter. Inside, bleached woods are
offset by a matte-black wood-burning stove, a sinkable royal-blue
sofa and huge windows (handmade in the Lake District) overlooking
the forest. There are two bedrooms: one that opens up to
floor-to-ceiling views of the winery and one with bunk beds. We
were pretty smitten with the morning vistas, especially since the
mirror hidden behind the sliding door that separates the
open-living space from the bedrooms reflects all the surrounding
woodland. We counted four squirrels frolicking in the trees while
sipping our morning brew.

Up next it’s The Fallow. This one gave us a mixture between
Cotswold
second-home country house vibes and Provencal pied-à-terre vibes.
Bathrooms are decorated in a Marie Antoinette duck-egg blue, the
rustic kitchen is a burnt-terracotta colour, the flooring is a
parquet we’re sure we’ve seen in Hatfield House, from Netflix’s hit
film Rebecca. This one also has its own private pooch parlour and
the tree outside has a nook in which to rest your champagne flute.
Best suited for dog owners that can’t bear to leave their furry
friends at home.

Around the corner, you’ll find The Poppy. This is a more
traditional take on the tree house; the cladding has been recycled
from an old barn and the handrail from a manor house. There’s a
chicken-wire fence on the balcony and a bench that’s been hacked
from a fallen tree. Inside you’ll find a Victorian-inspired
bathroom – complete with an apothecary cabinet and brassy fixtures
– Farrow & Ball forest-green paint and copper sinks that evoke
Highland cabin vibes. The views aren’t as arresting from the
terraces, so Will has cleared a patch next to the treehouse that’ll
house a firepit. We told you, he’s thought of everything.

At the back of the pack and raised the highest off the ground is
The Damselfly. There’s not a drop of concrete in the ground to get
its elevation – Will used a screw method that means no tree was
harmed in the making. In fact, this tree house can simply be lifted
off with no long-lasting damage on the roots. The Damselfly mixes
modern materials such as polished-concrete work surfaces with
bohemian detailing – think olive-green rattan, rotary dials and a
mid-century marble console table that, had I had room in the boot,
I would have tried to carry home. Very Mad Men vibes.

If we were forced to pick a favourite, we’d probably have to say
The Perigord. We’re still obsessed with all things Scandi, and the
minimalist vibes remind us of our favourite Copenhagen crash
pad.

Amenities

The al fresco William Holland bathtubs found on each of the four
tree houses’ terraces are the best in the country. Of course, each
one is different in size, shape and colour. Every detail has been
meticulously thought out, from the shelf that sits across the
bathtub – Will had the carpenters knock up one with a groove to
hold champagne flutes – to the curtains that give you some privacy
while bathing (read: swimming – these tubs are big). All have
outdoor showers, some hewn from old copper pipes, others in
on-trend brassy golds, as well as wood-burning stoves and barbecues
on the terraces.

Where should we go for a food shop?

Breakfast is taken care of. A hamper brimming with Colombian
coffee for the cafetière, tutti-frutti jam, Fluffetts Farm eggs,
milk – you can see the cows milling around from the tree house
balcony – crisps and sourdough will greet you on entry. We nipped
to the village shop for essential supplies and into Stockbridge for
more sustainable options.

Here you’ll find the much-loved Thyme and
Tides deli which serves the village with everything from
handmade chilli jam, truffle oil hunted round the corner in
Hampshire and slabs of rocky road. We wouldn’t suggest doing a
full-blown shop here (it’s pricey) but popping in for coffee and
cake is advised. Stock up on veg at Becky’s greengrocers. For meat,
John Robinson Butchers – we recommend the British pork, apple and
onion sausages that we stuck on the barbecue for breakfast.

What about if we want to eat out?

The
Mayfly pub has the funkiest beer garden we’ve ever seen. In the
summer months, pull up a pew outside and watch the trout leaping
from the River Test while you tuck into gastro grub classics.

Who should we bring?

Your other half… or someone that has seen you naked at least
three times. The plunge-pool-sized bathtub is big enough for two.
Waking up to misty morning views over the vines is way more
romantic (in our opinion) than any number of beds strewn with
cringy (sorry ex-flames) rose petals.

Furry friends are also treated like the kings and queens here.
Some tree houses have their own private doggie parlours equipped
with beds and bowls so you needn’t worry about doggy daycare.

Any essentials we need to pack?

The kitchen is pretty well stocked with pots, pans, salt, pepper
and a mini-oven, should you need it. We opted for a winter barbecue
out on the terrace (skewers are provided) and roasted s’mores to
munch in front of the fire. We’re glad we brought oil, foil and a
few other bits and bobs to tide us over for the weekend, but
anything you forget can be purchased from the village shop – the
same lady puts together the breakfast hampers for guests.

In the bathrooms, you’ll find a handmade patchouli-and-goat-milk
soap wrapped in a resin pouch and, yes, you can take it home. Plus,
there’s a bottle of bubble bath to make use of in the tub. Wisely,
they haven’t tried to cater shampoo and conditioner to each and
every guest’s hair whim so do bring your own.

Things you should know

There’s a bottle of chilled Chalk Farm bubbles in the fridge and
two extra bottles on the wine rack – those you’ll have to pay for
but, after sinking the first in the bathtub, you’ll want to enjoy
the second watching the sunset beneath the vines from the terrace
and the third cosied up by the fire.

If you need something to shake off the bubbles from the night
before, ask Will to arrange a truffle-hunting tour. It leaves from
the farm at the end of the road and anything you find, you can
purchase to take back home.

Within a short walk, you can find…

Right in front of you are the vineyards that make up Black Chalk
wines. All the bedrooms, baths and barbecue terraces look over the
landscape. Whether you’re visiting in summer, spring, winter or
autumn, the sights are pretty serene to wake up to. Plus, there’s a
walking trail that starts right outside The Damselfly – it goes
around the back of the vineyard and past Waitrose’s dairy farm. The
area’s also known for its calf-burning cycling routes. Will’s
hoping to have some e-bikes available to rent by summer 2021.