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        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
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        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
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        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Sashiko Mending Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
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      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
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        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
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        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
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        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
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        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
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        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
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THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
  • About Us
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partner Organisations
    • ​Leave a Review
  • Whats On
    • Folk in the Forest
    • Planting Words
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Event Refund Policy
  • Courses
    • Courses Diary >
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Forager's Backpack
        • Willow Festive Decoration Workshops
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Peony Plant Support Course
        • Willow Garden Obelisk Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Living Willow Tree Course
      • Wellbeing Courses >
        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
        • Creative Forest Bathing & Therapeutic Sound day
        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Sashiko Mending Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
        • Off-loom Weaving Workshop
        • Natural Ink Making Workshop
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Rough Play in Natural World Settings with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management Course
    • Gift Cards for Courses
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Shepherds Hut
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Group Accommodation
    • Gift Cards for Accommodation
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips >
      • Saxon Experience
    • Residentials >
      • Residential Accommodation
      • Farm Tours
    • Group Bookings >
      • Colleges and Universities
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Forest School >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Forest School 6 - 16 Years
      • Forest School Training
    • For Teachers >
      • Fair Share Fund
      • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
  • Support Us
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Donations
    • Friends >
      • Business Friends >
        • Business Friends
    • Fair Share Fund
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Cast Off
    • Give As You Shop
  • Knowledge Hub
    • Sustainability Wheel
    • Ask an Expert
    • Greener Homes >
      • Advice Sheets
    • Projects >
      • Land Management >
        • Beekeepers
        • Chalk Grassland
        • Coppice
        • Forest Gardening
        • Herb Gardens
        • Mini Meadow
        • Nettles & Brambles
        • Permaculture
        • Ponds
      • Building & Structures >
        • Accommodation Eco Retrofit
        • Compost Toilet
        • Low Impact Building
        • Solar Projects
        • Tree Bog
        • Wetherdown Lodge
        • Woodland Hall
        • Yurts
    • Articles >
      • Art & Craft
      • Growing
      • Health
      • Meditation
      • Weaving Willow
      • Young People
  • Donate & Buy
    • Eco Shop
    • Eco T-Shirts
    • Gift Cards
    • Donations
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Talk & Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
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Chalk Grassland

​A significant proportion of the world’s chalk grassland is found in Southern England as this habitat exists only in north-west Europe. It is the most biodiverse grassland in the UK.
Not only do we nurture and enhance our pre-existing chalk grassland, but we have also created chalk grassland areas and meadows using native wildflowers around our site. We enjoy watching these areas grow and develop over time!

Chalk grassland alone has seen an 80% decline since the Second World War, so what was once widespread habitat has turned into an elusive gem. However, we, along with many other organisations, groups and individuals are working hard to change this!

Our chalk grassland and wildflower meadows are managed in a way to optimise biodiversity. Numerous beautiful flowers are nestled within them, including cowslip, greater knapweed, field scabious and small scabious, bird’s foot trefoil, marjoram and several orchid species. Indeed, chalk grassland is so diverse, it has been dubbed Europe’s equivalent to tropical rainforest, with up to 45 plant species per square metre! These plants, in turn, attract butterflies, moths, bees, beetles and other invertebrates, which, of course attract reptiles, birds and small mammals - an example of the complex connections that occur within a healthy habitat.

Over half of the UK’s butterfly species can be found in chalk grassland. Indeed, here at the Sustainability Centre, our meadows are graced with numerous butterflies, including marbled white, gate keeper, comma and several species of blue butterflies. Huge ant mounds have built up over many generations, which create microclimates and areas of light aerated soil. Green woodpeckers enjoy feeding at our ant mounds too. When the flowers are over, goldfinches and other birds can be seen feasting on their seed heads.
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Did you know?
Many species of blue butterfly have interesting relationships with ants: Some species, such as the chalkhill blue and silver studded blue, enter a mutually beneficial relationship whereby ants harvest sweet secretions from caterpillars and offer them protection from predators, whilst the large blue butterfly larvae mimics ant larvae by emitting chemical signals to prompt ants to take it to their nest where it feeds on ant larvae!
WILDFLOWER MEADOW COURSE
Here at The Sustainability Centre we are creating new chalk grassland habitat and enhancing that which is already here.
Picture
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Did you know?
When early settlers cleared land for livestock, the centuries of grazing that followed prevented scrub and trees from returning. The combination of dry conditions, low nutrient levels, high alkalinity and grazing/cutting favours stress-tolerant species. Here’s where chalk grassland flora steps in. Other nutrient-hungry species just don’t have the resources they need, so the beautiful flowers and grasses of the chalk can thrive!
HEALTH AND SAFETY DISCLAIMER
When visiting our site please take appropriate care, some areas have uneven surfaces with trip hazards associated with the great outdoors - conditions can be slippery in wet weather. Please ensure that you dress for the outdoors and bring footwear suitable for all types of weather. The Sustainability Centre will not accept responsibility for any injuries sustained by visitors.  
​EARTHWORKS TRUST  ​
The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No. 1079866).
EARTHWORKS FOUNDATION
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation.
​All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.




​Charity Number ​

​​1079866
​


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Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR

Reception

01730 823166
​[email protected]

Cafe

01730 823755
[email protected]  

South Downs Eco Lodge ​& Camp Site

01730 823549
[email protected]

Burials

​01730 823425
​[email protected]

Education

​[email protected]

Courses

​[email protected]

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  • About Us
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partner Organisations
    • ​Leave a Review
  • Whats On
    • Folk in the Forest
    • Planting Words
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Event Refund Policy
  • Courses
    • Courses Diary >
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Forager's Backpack
        • Willow Festive Decoration Workshops
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Peony Plant Support Course
        • Willow Garden Obelisk Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Living Willow Tree Course
      • Wellbeing Courses >
        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
        • Creative Forest Bathing & Therapeutic Sound day
        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Sashiko Mending Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
        • Off-loom Weaving Workshop
        • Natural Ink Making Workshop
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Rough Play in Natural World Settings with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management Course
    • Gift Cards for Courses
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Shepherds Hut
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Group Accommodation
    • Gift Cards for Accommodation
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips >
      • Saxon Experience
    • Residentials >
      • Residential Accommodation
      • Farm Tours
    • Group Bookings >
      • Colleges and Universities
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Forest School >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Forest School 6 - 16 Years
      • Forest School Training
    • For Teachers >
      • Fair Share Fund
      • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
  • Support Us
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Donations
    • Friends >
      • Business Friends >
        • Business Friends
    • Fair Share Fund
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Cast Off
    • Give As You Shop
  • Knowledge Hub
    • Sustainability Wheel
    • Ask an Expert
    • Greener Homes >
      • Advice Sheets
    • Projects >
      • Land Management >
        • Beekeepers
        • Chalk Grassland
        • Coppice
        • Forest Gardening
        • Herb Gardens
        • Mini Meadow
        • Nettles & Brambles
        • Permaculture
        • Ponds
      • Building & Structures >
        • Accommodation Eco Retrofit
        • Compost Toilet
        • Low Impact Building
        • Solar Projects
        • Tree Bog
        • Wetherdown Lodge
        • Woodland Hall
        • Yurts
    • Articles >
      • Art & Craft
      • Growing
      • Health
      • Meditation
      • Weaving Willow
      • Young People
  • Donate & Buy
    • Eco Shop
    • Eco T-Shirts
    • Gift Cards
    • Donations
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Talk & Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List