THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
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The Woodland Hall

What is the project?
A round wood timber framed outdoor building using traditional skills.

When was it completed?
The Woodland Hall was designed and built in the summer of 2010 by Ben Law of Woodland House fame and his team (The Roundwood Timber Framing Company). Along with 5 volunteer trainees and local volunteers.
The build was funded by the kind generosity of the Mamie Mollan Trust.

Why is the project important?
When we build new buildings on site we choose to use local and natural materials as much as possible to reduce the embodied energy of the building. Embodied energy of buildings includes the energy the goes into making the materials , transporting them, and in the construction itself. Choosing materials that have not been transported far reduces fuel consumption and pollution as does choosing materials that do not require a high amount of energy and fuel to process. We also want to build structures that are in keeping aesthetically with the surroundings and which people enjoy to be in.

The Building Process
The requirement was to build a low impact building for multiple purpose.  All of the wood, and most of the materials, were sourced from within a mile of The Sustainability Centre. This reduces the impact on the environment by limiting the amount of transportation required to the build site.
Natural materials are used rather than materials that require high amounts of energy and fuel to create. 

The main structure uses Lawson Cypress softwood from our woodland that have little or no commercial value and the roof is made from sawn western red cedar shingles. We manage our woodland by thinning out the older conifer plantation timber and replanting with a diverse range of native broad-leaf species. This is creating an improved, more bio-diverse 'natural' woodland.

The design uses the technique of round wood timber framing. The bark is removed from the tree trunk, and the bare wood poles are used for the construction of the frame. This reduces the amount of energy, machinery and transportation required to make straight edged poles.

The Woodland Hall is partially earth-sheltered with cordwood walls to the north within which is a rumsford clay fireplace. The remainder is be open-sided, with canvas roll-down panels, which can be lowered to make the space cosy or raised to enjoy the beautiful woodland setting. The hall is furnished with folding tables and chairs, and circular benches made by final year coppice apprentice Peter Murray.

​In accordance with our ethos, the building of the Woodland Hall has provided a number of educational opportunities for adults, children, and school groups including 4 five-week building apprenticeships and clay inspired activities.

Many of the apprentices have gone on to work within the field of timber framing or related projects.

What would we do differently?
There have been maintenance requirements to the building over the years and some features of the design may be different if the building was replicated. The exterior wood need to be treated earlier on as some replacements have been necessary.
In 2020 the roof shingles on the north side of the building started to rot during a very wet winter. 

How we maintain it: 
With the help of staff and volunteers the willow is regularly re-weaved into the side railings from our own coppiced willow. External posts have been replaced and the leaves are swept from building up around the posts to prevent from rotting. The roof shingles will need replacing.
The clay fireplace has cracked and is re surfaced with clay once a year.

How is it working today?
​The Woodland Hall is used for various purposes including an outdoor classroom for school groups and adult learning, a service room for funerals and weddings, and a space for celebrations and music events.
Picture

Books and DVDs

​Books and a DVD published by Permanent Publications​​ tell the story of  roundwood timber framing and feature our building too.

​Copies are available online from Permanent Publications or in our shop.
Read more here in an article in the
​Ecologist Magazine written by Maddy Harland.
Buy A Copy
​
Picture

Donations

Charity Number ​​ 1079866

Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.
Picture

Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823166

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge & Camp Site

South Downs Eco Lodge
​The Sustainability Centre 
​
Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823549
​​accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​01730 823166
​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

01730 823166
​courses@sustainability-centre.org

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  • Home
    • Coronavirus Announcement >
      • Booking Options Form
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Awards
    • Bursary
    • Beech Cafe
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
    • Site Map >
      • Map
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List
  • Eco Active Blog
    • Health
    • Meditation
    • On The Wild Side
    • Grow Now
    • Young People
    • Art & Craft
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • The Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Wetland Ecosystem Treatment
    • Yurts
  • Support Us
    • Friends >
      • Become a Friend
      • Friends Field
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Book Making Course
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Heritage Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Bowls Course
        • Willow Coffin Course
        • Willow Dragonflies Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Obelisks Course
      • Food and Gardening Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Cordial Making Course
        • Deer Butchery Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Assistant Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Lost Words Training Course
      • Health & Wellbeing Courses >
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Mental Health First Aid Course
        • Natural Wellbeing Course
      • Natural Building Courses >
        • Eco-Refurbishment
        • Roundwood Timber Framing Course
      • Nature Connection and Folklore Courses >
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Nature Connection
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Woodland Folklore Course
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Children's Workshops >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Children's Holiday Workshops
    • Bespoke Courses
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
    • Courses Covid Information
  • Schools
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • We Can Come to Your School
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Useful Information & Booking Forms
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Accommodation
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • What's On
    • Art Exhibitions >
      • Past Exhibitions
      • Pete Levy
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Online Experiences
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Talk & Tour
    • Your Events
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies and Gifts
    • Donations
  • Shop and Bookings
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Shop At The Centre