I want to build a house with mostly timber cladding but I don't like the detail that is required where the building hits the ground (the timber cladding should be stopped short of the ground by at least 300mm to prevent water splashing onto its surface and causing damp problems). I want my wall to disssappear into the ground for various, mostly Scottish vernacular reasons.

What is a good, sustainable method to do this?

The structure is timber frame, 300mm insulation, with waterproof membrane then cladding, I was thinking of a traditional lime based render but don't know much about lime. What is a good substrate for lime? that is thinish, no more than 75mm. Timber lathes? okay externally on exposed Scottissh site?

Thanks nigel
I was thinking of something a bit more, well... traditional. The other problem with those boards would appear to be moisture, they don't sound terribly water resistant "store flat and protect from humidity" which is what you would expect of a material with insulative properties
A substrate for render seems a perfect place for a waste product, all one needs is a backing to take the render and provide some strength.

Posted By: KieranI want my wall to disssappear into the ground for various, mostly Scottish vernacular reasons

I like that too.
Cement render (for all its other shortcomings), or same with roughcast/harling as its green-on-green topmost layer (which gets round most of the shortcomings) on blockwork is fine to carry down below ground level - no need for that bare/bellmouthed band that makes the building look like it's hovering rather than rooted. (Does anyone know whether lime render would survive this?)
What background, other than blockwork, would be suitable for this - that's the question.

Posted By: KieranThanks nigel
I was thinking of something a bit more, well... traditional. The other problem with those boards would appear to be moisture, they don't sound terribly water resistant "store flat and protect from humidity" which is what you would expect of a material with insulative properties
A substrate for render seems a perfect place for a waste product, all one needs is a backing to take the render and provide some strength.

Refer to this link
http://www.lime.org.uk/building_materials/Heraklith_Wood_Wool_Board.asp

You can also use also pavatherm board but it will cost you more.

Both need the lime render for protection.

Posted By: Kieran
Is there anyway it can be something other than masonry

That's what I meant to ask, by "that's the question".

You have a timber frame house?

Appling lime renders is background dependent.

Traditionally you match the lime mortar to the type of stone to create an equlibrium of moisture suck and moisture drying (breathing) and then harling- one two or three coat. That will last for hundreds of years and is the context from which to view lime renders.
Applying it to wood etc as the background, the difference in the seasonal expansion rate of the render and the wood is huge and will crack and fall off in a few seasons.

A brickwork scenario using a lime mortar, then a scratch coat, then an even coat and then a wet pebble dash with heavy fines is the best solution.
This will breath correctly, settle naturally and last.
Here NHL 5 Eminently Hydrolic Lime is the the best.

Cement does not breath correctly and is a nightmare to maintain, prone to cracking, unless of course you have perfect foundations. And is generally evil.

These guys are the most experienced in anything to do with lime give them a phone http://www.masonsmortar.co.uk/