TV GARDENER OPENS OUR NEW CENTRE!

Posted on Thursday 09 October 2008

INSPIRATIONAL NEW STUDY CENTRE TAKES TO THE TREES!

Continuing its efforts to bring children closer to nature, the Countryside Education Trust (CET) has completed construction of a range of treehouse buildings to replace its ageing New Forest Study Centre in Hartford Wood, Beaulieu, Hampshire.

The new, eco-friendly buildings incorporate two classrooms built high into the trees, with an office and toilet facilities at ground level, and will enable the Trust to continue its work educating people about issues concerning the countryside.

“The purpose-built study spaces within the Tree House Study Centre and its ancillary buildings will be suitable for use throughout the community, providing a stimulating environment in which local children, as well as those from inner-city areas, can get close to nature and experience the range of fieldwork activities which the CET offers,” says David Bridges, Director of the CET.

Samantha Sherwood, an architecture student from Oxford Brookes University, won a design competition with her innovative, sustainable concept for the study centre, which incorporates sustainable materials such as Forest Stewardship Council wood, biomass heating, solar panels, natural insulation and rainwater collection for use in flushing the loos.

Nigel Matthews, the Head of Visitor Services at The New Forest National Park Authority said, “We are delighted that so many people will be able to experience the wonders of the National Park in and around this amazing building. Its superb natural design speaks volumes about the forest and how we can live in ways that help preserve it for generations to come.”

Hampshire County Council Leader, Ken Thornber said: “Hampshire County Council has always supported the Countryside Education Trust because of the work it does with children from areas of deprivation. The Centre offers them probably their first experience of rural life, of farming and of animal husbandry. The new class centres will provide a beautiful setting for their studies.”

Ralph Montagu of Beaulieu Estate (and Chairman of Trustees) said: “My father and I have been encouraging environmental education on the estate for many years, and we are very pleased that the courses run in the woods at Beaulieu will now have the benefit of a first class centre, not forgetting of course that the real learning experience is the great outdoors.”

The U.K.’s (possibly the World’s) first ever treehouse study centre was officially opened on 25th September 2008 by Alan Titchmarsh, countryside aficionado and Hampshire resident.

Visit the CET’s website, www.cet.org.uk/treehouse to view photographs of the stunning new centre and our partners’ site (the Solent Centre for Architecture & Design) at www.solentcentre.org.uk/treehouse for the TV clip from BBC South Today.

Other recent news

• Watch the video of Alan Titchmarsh opening the new centre!
  25 Nov 2008
• OUR INSPIRATIONAL NEW STUDY CENTRE TAKES TO THE TREES!
  29 Apr 2008
• A Partner's View of Our Exciting Treehouse Build
  26 Mar 2008