This
could be a genuine treehouse, with a tree growing through the (proposed)
Airbnb, but at the moment, it is simply a support structure, bereft of
floors or conveniences, the roof is mainly to protect those underneath from falling
branches. This is while the tree regenerates, after a
serious bark infection some years ago, forced drastic surgery. Though,
the proposed use could be enjoyed on a temporary basis for up to 28 days
a year, under permitted development rules. Except that any fittings that
may not be a permitted development, after the expiry of 28 days, would
have to be removed, until the following year. That is not impossible,
but rather inconvenient, and an additional financial burden on the
Museum, as the Trust strives for tentative listing, as a World Heritage
Site.
Back
to Nature is Better for your Pocket and the Environment
SELF
SUFFICIENCY
Under the Water Industry Act 1991, you have a right to connect to public sewers, but there is no universal obligation for an existing property to do so if it already has an "adequate" system of drainage.
There are many options, and more people are turning to a sustainable and
independent lifestyle, where water companies are routinely discharging
untreated waste into rivers and the English Channel. One can hardly
blame environmentalists from being concerned. The revenue water
companies derive from mains connected homes, goes as dividends to
shareholders, many or which are overseas concerns. Meaning, that those
in the UK who should benefit from cheaper supplies, are being charged
more than they should, and giving that money to investors in another
country.
In
the UK, going it alone is harder than in Canada or the US, where
homesteading in the woods is how that country was built. In the UK, if
you don't conform, you may face a barrage of officials, all trying to
force people to join their system, taxing you for living at every turn.
And that is the bottom line, they need to tax you to pay their
mortgages. They work from offices, or more likely today, from home. Nice
and comfy, and to keep it that way, they use regulations to make it
harder to break from the mould. "Alternative" is a dirty word,
but should it be? We say not. An alternative lifestyle can be very
rewarding financially and satisfying, in doing it yourself. Reawakening
the skills that is in our DNA. Your carbon footprint will be way lower,
into the bargain. Tarzan's
Lodge is an example of affordable living. Some of the videos on this
page are from like minded people. Big thanks to them for sharing : )
The Composting ("Natural") Toilet Factor
If using waterless/composting toilets (like those at the Eden Project), you are technically not creating "wastewater" from the toilets.
Though your local water company may be curious about "grey water" (water from sinks or basins). Even if the property is unoccupied, if there is a tap, there is a potential for grey water. If this water just drains into the ground
(via a soakaway), it must comply with the Environment Agency's General Binding Rules.
So, make sure you know what the rules are.
Proximity to
any Well or Borehole is your biggest hurdle. The Environment Agency is very strict about any discharge (even "natural" urine soakaways) near a source of drinking water. Typically, no discharge is allowed within 50 metres of a well or borehole used for human consumption.
So get your tape measure out, to be sure of compliance.
As long as your system is "adequate" (safe, non-polluting, and compliant with Building Regulations Part H),
a water company cannot force a connection just because their pipe is nearby.
Compact In-Line Treatment Units
If the intention is strictly to handle sink/hand-wash water (greywater), you have two main paths:
A. Mini "Package" Treatment Plants (e.g., Portapura):
These are the smallest CE-approved units in the UK. They are designed specifically for things like garden offices or glamping pods. They are roughly the size of a large suitcase or a small water butt and can be installed above or below ground. They use a small electric air pump to keep bacteria alive, which "eats" the soap and organic matter in the water before it goes to a soakaway.
B. Non-Electric Biofilters (e.g., Ecoflo):
These use natural filters like coconut husks to treat the water. They are excellent for off-grid sites because they don’t need a constant power supply. They are slightly larger than the "mini" units but are much simpler to maintain.
The "Soakaway" Rules (The Critical Part)
In England, if you discharge water to the ground, you must follow the Environment Agency's "General Binding Rules." This is where
a well or borehole, becomes relevant again:
The 50-Metre Separation: This is the big one. Any soakaway or drainage field must be at least 50 metres away from any well, borehole, or spring used for drinking water. This
protects your own supply from contamination.
Standard Compliance: Even for a theoretical "tiny" amount of hand-wash water, the unit you buy must meet British Standard BS EN 12566. This proves to the authorities that the water coming out is clean enough not to pollute the soil.
OFF
THE SHELF NATURAL TOILETS
You
can buy "off-the-shelf" natural toilets. In fact, the market in the UK has exploded recently, moving away from "bucket-and-sawdust" DIY projects toward sleek, engineered units that look like standard toilets but function entirely without water.
You have a few excellent commercial options depending on whether you want the toilet inside the property or as a freestanding outdoor cabin.
1. The "Indoor" Professional Units (Self-Contained)
These are designed to sit in a bathroom just like a normal toilet. They usually require a small vent pipe to be poked through a wall to ensure zero odor.
Separett Villa: Often considered the "Gold Standard" in the UK. It looks like a modern white porcelain toilet. It uses a "urine-diverting" system (separating liquids from solids), which is the secret to keeping it smell-free.
TROBOLO: A popular German brand (very active in the UK) that makes beautiful wooden or
plastic units. Their TeraBlœm is a favorite for off-grid cabins because it's sturdy and easy to empty.
Air Head / Nature’s Head: Originally designed for boats, these are very compact and "rugged." They use a crank handle to churn the waste, which speeds up the drying process.
2. The "Outdoor" Cabin Units
If you want something ready-made for the garden or grounds (similar to what you'd see at an eco-center), these companies provide the full kit—cabin and all:
WooWoo (Waterless Toilets UK): They are arguably the UK leaders. They sell the WooWoo Loo, which is a complete, pre-built timber cabin. They even have "GT" models that can handle higher visitor numbers without needing constant emptying.
Dunster House: Known for garden buildings, they sell a very affordable Eco Composting Toilet cabin. It’s essentially a flat-pack "loo in a shed" that is quite popular for allotments and off-grid plots.
Free Range Designs: Based in Wales, they hand-build very high-end, aesthetic compost toilets (like the "Gypsy Caravan" style) that look more like a feature of the landscape than a utility.
3. The "Hybrid" Option: Dry Flush
If the occupiers want the experience of a flush without the plumbing:
Laveo DryFlush: This is a battery-powered toilet that uses a "foil" liner. When you "flush," it twists and seals the waste into a hidden bag (like a Diaper Genie/Nappy Bin). It requires zero water and zero venting, but you do have to buy replacement cartridges.
Key Considerations for "Theoretical" Occupiers:
Urine Diversion is Key: For a system used by visitors, always go for a urine-diverting model. Odor only happens when liquids and solids mix. By keeping them separate, the solids stay dry and smell like soil or woodchips.
Ventilation: Most commercial indoor units have a tiny 12V fan (which can run off a small solar panel or battery) to pull air out of the unit. This makes them significantly more "visitor-friendly" than a basic DIY bucket.
The "Social" Factor: iF visitors are involved, the Separett Villa is usually the winner because it has a "concealment shield"—a little flap that only opens when someone sits down, so you don't have to "look" at the contents.
Price Range: You’re looking at anywhere from £300–£900 for a high-quality indoor self-contained unit, or £1,500–£5,000 for a full outdoor timber cabin setup.
GREY
WATER
Handling "grey water"—the waste from sinks and hand basins—is much simpler than dealing with "black water" (sewage), but in England, it still requires a compliant path to ground. If the occupiers want to plumb in a sink, they generally look for a system that filters out fats, oils, and soap residues before the water reaches the soakaway.
Here are the best "in-line" and compact treatment options that are currently popular and affordable for off-grid setups in 2026:
1. Passive Bio-Filters (The Best "Off-Grid" Choice)
If the property has no reliable electricity, passive filters are the standard. They use gravity and natural filtration media to treat the water.
Biolan Greywater Filter Light: This is one of the most popular "in-line" units in the UK. It costs around £465. It’s a compact, frost-resistant box that uses natural fiber filter pads. It can handle about 300 litres per day, which is plenty for hand washing and even a daily shower. It’s entirely "plug and play"—you pipe the sink into it, and the outflow goes to your soakaway.
Ecoflo (Greywater version): A bit more robust, these use a coconut husk medium. They are slightly larger but extremely effective at producing very clean effluent.
2. Micro-Sewage Treatment Plants (The "Mini-Mains" Choice)
If the occupiers have a small solar setup or a 12V/230V power supply, they can use an aerated unit. These are technically small sewage plants, but they are often used for greywater because they are so compact.
Portapura: This is arguably the most compact unit in the UK. It looks like a small storage trunk and is designed specifically for cabins and glamping pods. It uses a tiny air pump (very low energy) to keep bacteria alive that breaks down soap and grease. Prices usually start around £1,000–£1,200. Because it meets BS EN 12566 standards, it makes gaining consent for a soakaway much easier.
3. DIY / Low-Tech Filtration
For a purely "theoretical" hand-washing station, some off-grid owners use a Grease Trap followed by a Reed Bed.
Grease Traps: You can buy a simple in-line plastic grease trap (often used in commercial kitchens) for under £100. This catches the "gunk" from soap and skin oils, preventing your soakaway from clogging up over time.
REED
BEDS
Reed Beds: If there is space, a small 2-3 metre reed bed is a "natural" treatment system. It’s beautiful and effectively "eats" the nutrients in greywater, but it requires a bit more maintenance (weeding) than a boxed filter.
As of 2026, the Environment Agency requires that any discharge to the ground:
- Must not be within 10 metres of a watercourse (ditch/stream).
- Must not be within 5 metres of a property boundary.
- Must not cause a "nuisance" or smell.
Using a Biolan or a Portapura usually "ticks the box" for most building inspectors because they are recognized, tested systems.
BULLETPROOF
YOURSELF
Regarding
any specific "improvements" you may be planning, here are a few final thoughts to ensure that 5-metre boundary and the reed bed setup remain completely "bulletproof" under the 2026 standards:
1. The 5-Metre Boundary Rule
In England, the Building Regulations (Part H) generally advise that a soakaway should be at least 5 metres from any building or road. When it comes to property boundaries:
The Guideline: There isn't always a hard 5-metre statutory limit for boundaries in the same way there is for buildings, but keeping a 5-metre "buffer" is considered best practice. It ensures that your treated water doesn't inadvertently affect the stability of a neighbor’s wall or fence, or cause patches of damp ground on their side.
The "Nuisance" Shield: Since we (as an example) have a 40-year track record of no complaints, staying at that 5-metre mark is likely to keep things perfectly harmonious.
2. The Grease Trap & Reed Bed Combo
This is a classic "Permaculture" approach and is highly effective for greywater:
The Grease Trap: This is the most important mechanical part. It prevents "bio-film" (grease and soap scum) from coating the roots of your reeds or clogging the soil in your soakaway.
The Reed Bed: For hand-wash water, a "Vertical Flow" reed bed is often preferred because it’s smaller and oxygenates the water better than a horizontal one. It’s essentially a gravel-filled bed planted with Phragmites australis (common reed).
Winter Note: Reeds go dormant in winter, but the gravel bed continues to act as a physical filter, so the system works year-round.
The Tarzan experience is located just 400 yards south of the village of Herstmonceux in the East Sussex region, and adjacent to the earliest surviving wooden Generating Station C. 1890 in the world. Live like Tarzan, on a getaway weekend and find your way back to nature, while you explore the Sussex countryside. Within easy walking distance of the village, Windmill Hill and for hikers, Herstmonceux Castle. Great for children, young and old.
The Tarzan experience is available in other countries, but not yet in deepest, darkest, Sussex. Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Chicago, then lived in California. He published "Tarzan The Ape Man" in 1912. We think he would have liked our Tarzan experience, where he based his story on the (fictional) English, Lord Clayton, Earl of Greystoke.
Disney's Tarzan's Lodge (Orlando, Florida) is now replaced with another attraction in the
same location.
EMINENTLY
RECOVERABLE - An
aerial view of Herstmonceux Museum in 2022, showing the public footpaths
north of the generating buildings. Many of which are unregistered, but
well trodden for over forty years, from our records.
Historic
buildings need viable uses, for their owners/occupiers to be able to transcend,
from rotting away, to trading to heritage grading.
It
is a good idea to check current prices (up or down), these are many months old.
Herstmonceux
and surrounding areas, provides a relaxing country setting for hikers,
students and tennis professionals. There are many attractions, such as
the Castle,
Observatory, Public Footpaths and trails for hikers. Beware of falling
branches.
Battle
Abbey 1066 country is within easy driving range, Eastbourne and
Hastings seaside resorts, Hastings boast the world's
largest beach launched fishing fleet, and Beachy Head and Seaford
Head (nature reserve) cliff-tops, joined by the Seven Sisters, provide
stunning views and walks. The Pevensey
Levels SSSI is a must for bird watching. There is also a Medieval
Festival at Herstmonceux Castle every year. And then there is Alfriston,
where King Alfred did not burn the cakes.
Other
reasonably close attractions include Knockhatch
and Drusillas
Zoo. Fun outings for all the family.
THERE IS LOTS TO SEE AND DO
An ideal base for exploring 1066 country, the Museum is set in a unique area of the Sussex Weald, offering something for everyone to enjoy - and explore.
A 12 minute drive from (the proposed) Tarzan's lodge you’ll find the glorious south downs national park. Green rolling pastures, wide open spaces, ancient woodlands, river valleys and dramatic coastline truly encompass the National Park’s ethos of being one of ‘Britain’s Breathing Spaces’. With over 3,300km of rights of way, the South Downs National Park offers a landscape as diverse as it is breath-taking, including the Seven Sisters, Beachy Head, Birling Gap, and Seaford Head, four of our favorites. Where you can soak up the sea air, and look across the
English
Channel.
Inspire the historian in you with a trip to All Saints Church. Or perhaps your inner artist would prefer a visit to close-by Charleston Farm House - home of the Bloomsbury Group, which included local author; Virginia Woolf. If a little rambling takes your fancy, there's a host of scenic country walks in the area, such as the Cuckoo Trail.
That's not to mention the surrounding picturesque villages, local vineyards, golf courses, horse-riding stables and fashionable shopping districts reasonably close by, including Lewes, Brighton and Tunbridge.
Herstmonceux Castle - is renowned for its magnificent moated castle, set in beautiful parkland and stunning gardens. Built originally as a country home in the mid 15th century, the brick built Castle embodies the history of Medieval England and the romance of Renaissance Europe. There is a Festival here every year.
Entrance
from Lime Cross Field, along the public footpath, a right of way from
the A217 east, or the A271, via the car park at the Cricket Pitch, just
a little west of the village.
OTHER
MUSEUM ATTRACTIONS
In
addition to the archaeology in the structure of the extant
generating building, together with original switches and other
electrical apparatus (much of which was excavated on site) there are
several innovative vehicles and vessels on permanent display at
Herstmonceux Museum, including:
1. The fountain of youth, supplied from natural well water
drawn on site
2. Adventure climbing frames for children (back to nature)
Swiss Family Robinson
3. An
Edwardian ice well, throwback to the days before refrigeration
4.
A large underground condensation and water storage chamber
5. The world's smallest water
basin, test tank for model boats
