Teachers given sneak preview of new green education centre

The Ecclesall Woods Woodland Discovery Centre was opened for a “sneak preview” yesterday afternoon to give teachers the chance to see the building, which will be ready for the start of the new school year.

Made from locally-sourced timber, the centre houses facilities including an education room, an outdoor classroom and exhibition space.

It includes various green features such as a boiler fuelled by waste wood and toilet cubicle doors made from recycled plastic.

The project to create the building was spearheaded by the Friends of Ecclesall Woods, a voluntary group that works with Sheffield Council to manage, preserve and promote the woods.

As well as being a visitor centre, the building will be a venue for events and training courses. Within the education room, children can learn about woods, trees and woodcrafts.

Ted Talbot, Sheffield’s woodland manager, said: “The centre has been built to showcase timber as a sustainable resource and demonstrate many types of green technology that can help reduce our carbon emissions.

“It’s great to see it finished and I can’t wait to see local schools visiting Ecclesall Woods and using it this autumn.”