Orchard Barn Environmental Education is about to celebrate its 9th birthday.
Not only is this a cause of celebration (we’ve got that covered, see http://www.orchardbarn.org.uk/birthdaycelebration.html ) but also a chance to look back at achievements.
In the early days the Barn was a neglected wreck, a decaying frame with a shallow tin roof. The timber frame was repaired, the roof timbers restored to their original pitch and covered with 20,000 hand crafted oak shingles.
The tool shed and volunteer rest room have been added, both using traditional materials and building techniques.
Thanks to Lottery funding there is now a disabled parking area and boardwalk to the loos.
The large pond has been dredged and many ‘goodies’ raised from its depths.
The garden, once a mass of nettles, is now producing vegetables from several Hugelkultur beds. It is watered using rainwater harvested from the roof of the barn. Fruit trees in the orchard have been pruned and more planted.
But it’s not only the site that has developed, many volunteers and students on courses have developed new skills and links have been made to other organisations, not least of which is the 200 acre wood near Hadleigh where most of the building timber is grown.
Want to get involved? Tuesday is gardening, Wednesday site maintenance, Thursday green woodworking and we’re planning monthly Saturday sessions for gardening and site maintenance. For more details access our website www.orchardbarn.org.uk