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Print articleA free Sustainable Building Construction Event will be held at Acton Scott Farm Museum near Church Stretton on Friday 20 July 2007. The day will consist of hands-on workshops including straw bale construction, light clay block making and roofing using chestnut shingles. There will also be presentation and discussion workshops on construction methods, together with displays by manufacturers and suppliers of eco friendly products.
As part of Ludlow Green Festival in May the planning service of South Shropshire District Council worked with the community to build a straw bale house on the garden area in front of Ludlow Castle. The temporary structure was created from locally available materials and using labour and expertise provided by many different community groups including probationers and school pupils. The purpose of the building was to demonstrate that modern thermally efficient buildings could be built using unskilled labour and with a minimal carbon footprint.
Council planners and Building Inspectors have since travelled to Poland to learn about building with light clay blocks and want to share their experience of the Natural House more widely.
Through the Sustainable Building Construction Event South Shropshire District Council and Acton Scott Farm Museum wish to take this learning one step further and inform the public, builders and professions, of a range of sustainable building techniques. The emphasis will be on hands-on practical experience. Some workshops could be messy so old clothes and sensible shoes are essential.
The event will run various workshops covering:
* Making clay mix and blocks
* Building in clay/straw blocks
* Straw bale construction
* Wattle and daub
* Cleaving Shingles
* Roofing with shingles
There is no charge for this event, which is sponsored by Shropshire County Council, South Shropshire District Council and The Arts Council for England. However, demand is likely to be high, it is necessary to register your interest in advance.
To register call Annie Hutton on 01584 813331 or email at PlanningPolicyTeam@southshropshire.gov.uk
