How to make a Beatrix Potter House

Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator and conservationist but was best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three tales featuring our favourite characters. In 1905, Potter bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, a village in the Lake District. She purchased additional farms to preserve the unique hill country landscape. In 1913, at the age of 47, she married William Heelis, a respected local solicitor from Hawkshead. Potter was also a prize-winning breeder of Herdwick Sheep and a prosperous farmer keenly interested in land preservation. She continued to write and illustrate books whilst farming. Potter's books continue to sell throughout the world in many languages with her stories being retold in songs, films, ballet, and animations, and her life depicted in a feature film and television film.

Here are some pictures of Hill Top Farm. It is now owned by the National Trust and you can visit here. It has been preserved as it was when Beatrix wrote her many children’s stories here.

Here is a step-by-step guide to create a house in the style of

Hill Top Farm.

Some are photos and some are videos

You will need:

• A piece of paper (A3 or A4)

• Scissors

• Ruler

• Pencil

• Glue

• Crayons (not felt tips if possible)

• Bits of tissue paper (or you can improvise with kitchen roll and colour it with felt tips like I had to!)

Step 1Get a piece of paper (A3 or A4).

Step 2Fold it in half lengthways

Step 3Fold it into quarters

Step 4Fold one of the halves into quarters

Step 5Draw a dotted line

Step 6Cut along the dotted line

Step 7Fold the piece of paper in half (landscape)

Step 8From the top, measure down 6cm (if using A3 paper) and draw a line. 3cm if using A4.

Step 9Measure across half way, make a mark and draw the shape of a roof.

Step 10Draw a chimney. Keep your paper folded in half and cut out the shape of the roof and Chimney.

Step 11Open up your house.Make a small fold to create a garden wall.

Step 12Cut a slit to make a garden gate.

Step 13Press down on ALL of your folds to make your house stand up.

Step 14Fold over to create an Anderson shelter.(If you don’t know what one is, research this!)Secure with bluetac.

Step 15Decorate your house in the style of Beatrix Potter.Be creative with the resources you have at home.

Finally, here is the one I created at home. Don’t forget to send in your photos of your finished houses!