Pioneering builders Heidi and Sav Pavlou are advertising for volunteers to help create Sheppey’s first “ground house.”

Their Hobbit-like five-bedroom home is being put together at Brambledown.

The couple won planning permission in December after a battle with Swale council.

The build begins this month. Volunteers will be expected to devote at least seven days at a time and in return will get three meals a day and tuition in eco-friendly construction. There is space to pitch a tent.

Heidi, a mum of five, has posted an advert on her Facebook page Groundhouse Sheppey.

It reads: “Do you want to be part of the first ever UK Earthship dwelling? Volunteers wanted. Gain hands-on experience in Earthship building. Meals provided.”

She said: “It is going very well. We have marked out where the house will be and now we have power to the site.

"Steve Spoor of S&B Plumbers helped track down a buried and unused water main so we now have running water and Taylor Brothers provided us with a digger.

“We would like to hear from any builders or demolishers who have big roof timbers to get rid of. It would be great to know where every bit of our house comes from – the more local the better.

"Everyone who helps will be offered a tour of the building once it is finished, complete with a cup of tea and a slice of cake!”

The couple saw a Groundhouse built in Brittany on the TV show Grand Designs and after staying there decided to take on the challenge of creating Britain’s first Groundhouse based on an Earthship design from 1950s America.

They are currently living with Heidi’s mum and dad Chris and Alma Driver in Minster after selling their home in Newington. The couple are also in talks with Channel 4 which wants to film the venture for Grand Designs.

The “green” house will be built of recycled tyres filled with earth and will be totally self-sufficient. It will be covered with a layer of earth to keep it insulated.

Toilet waste will be recycled – a wooden Thunderbox loo has been installed for workers along with bucket showers and a communal field shelter.

Heidi said: “I have learned that urine is a great fertilizer. We are hoping to feed a mini willow coppice with the waste produced during the build and by our guests once Groundhouse Sheppey is built.”

Heidi and Sav held a pre-build barbecue at the weekend for those who have already signed up for the experience. Some are coming from Brighton.

But Heidi said: “We would like to ensure that anyone from Sheppey gets a chance to help, too.”