Since 1998, Rippledown's administration had been based in the old portacabin you see to the right. This building, which had come to the end of it's planning permission, has now been removed to make way for an exciting new sustainably built development.

This will be a combined Eco-skills Training Room and environmentally friendly administration office.

This sustainable development will promote the charity's objectives of environmental awareness; it will provide a valuable teaching and resource area; as well as essential office space. It will also showcase the potential for sustainable office design and could be used as a model for future constructions.

The new centre will be built from renewable materials such as straw bales and coppiced wood, sourced locally where possible.

On completion the building will be used for environmental education and training on many levels: from Primary School children learning about the world around them; to adults learning about sustainable building and rural skills.

In 2005, we began running pilot courses on sustainable building techniques. visit our Training page to see the type of course on offer.

The project will cost £160,000 to complete.

The Centre has already received pledges for £46,000 towards the cost. This has enabled Phase One of the project to be completed. The old office building (and another redundant portacabin) have been removed and the groundworks completed. This includes the installation of a rainwater harvesting tank.

The straw bales for the walls have already been delivered from a local farm and are stored ready for the next phase of development.

If you want to find out more contact the Project Development Officer, Jo Malpass by e-mail or telephone the Centre on Tel. (01304) 364854.

An information sheet is available to download in pdf format (676kb) just click here or on the lealfet icon.