LandSkills week is launched today, Saturday 19th September 2009, for the East of England at the official opening of the Neatishead Village Hall.
The hall will be officially opened at 2.15pm by William Dorsey, who kindly donated the land for the project, and will unveil the opening plaque. The building has taken 10 years of fund-raising and planning and cost £500,000
LandSkills East supported the New Victory Hall project for Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf through training over a period of two weeks in late June early July 2009. The main structure of the building is timber framing and straw bales on a pre formed base. During the course the walls, doors and window openings were constructed of straw bales followed by the lime rendering externally and clay rendering internally.
The course attracted 10 architects and planners who were working on the project and from across the East of England. The skills that they learnt will be useful in the planning of future straw bale and lime rendered buildings.
Henry Cator Chairman of Council & Trustees at the Royal Agricultural Society of England said of the project “This has been an innovative opportunity showing how the training sponsored by LandSkills East is allowing the agricultural sector to diversify and lead the way using sustainable materials and giving access to other sectors.
Nick Deane Bure Farm Services said of the project
“Farmers are in a great position to provide renewable natural materials to the construction industry. Hopefully, this training opportunity part funded by LandSkills East will lead to a growth in this area”
For more information about LandSkills East, visit www.landskillseast.co.uk or contact the LandSkills team on 01603 748844.
Press Release
