Sustainability Centre

Sustainability Centre with its Solar Panels

The Sustainability Centre in Hampshire has a new website, and it looks pretty good. It was always a bit difficult to find the old one unless you knew the web address.
Sustainability Centre

The centre is a great place to visit for a walk, to camp or stay in one of their Yurts or Tipi's, or in the Lodge; it has a lovely outdoor oven area to cook and sit and eat, and there is a compost toilet too. The centre itself has Solar Panels, runs many courses for adults and children and has other events such as the Green Fair in May and Campcraft events. There is a lovely cafe open if you visit from Thursday to Sunday serving organic, fairtrade vegetarian food.

The Yurt accommodation

The Tipi accommodation with Imogen checking it out

The courses attract people from all over the country and have had and still have some very inspiring "teachers" such as Patrick Whitefield on Permaculture (I can recommend his courses from experience), Graham Burnett on Permaculture, Ben Law on Woodland Management (Yes, Ben Law of Woodland House/Year fame) and many more - take a look at the website for details.

The Green Fair is always good fun - lots of things to see and learn, and crafts to try for kids and adults. We'll definitely be there again this year - 9th May 2010. I posted about our fun there on 2009 here.

The Green Fair where I bought my
Spinning Wheel in 2009 (on the left)

They have recently got the funding to build a Woodland Classroom, which will be built by Ben Law and 4 trainees (not sure if they have filled these spaces yet) - the woodland classroom

"will have a clay floor, a roundwood frame, wooden shingle roof and a surrounding
veranda. Part of the classroom will be dug into the ground and opposite there will
be more of those stunning vistas that reach to the Solent on a clear day."

Sounds great, you can go along to see the frame being raised too, maybe one for our diary.

Well, that was meant to be just a short post to let people know about their new website but became more. I thoroughly recommend the site for courses - both Alex and I have attended and it us such a relaxing place to learn. Not forgetting that Permanent Publications (publishers of Permaculture Magazine and other publications/books) are on site with their lovely and tempting shop filled with inspiring books, and gifts.

There is lots there, so a visit to the website is recommended. The centre is on the South Downs, and also has a Natural Burial Site in the woodland - very peaceful and tranquil.