Building for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability for Schools,
Weald & Downland Open Air Museum,
Monday 21 May 2007
England’s
leading museum of historic buildings will look firmly to the future on
Sunday 20 and Monday 21 May, when it hosts its annual celebration of
sustainability and ‘green’ technology. The event at the
Weald & Downland
Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester, includes a day for the
general public on Sunday 20 May, and a ‘Sustainability for Schools’ day on
Monday 21 May. Both days will focus on exciting developments in modern
building methods, materials and techniques, as well as examining other
areas of sustainability such as alternative energy sources, energy
efficiency, recycling and sustainable water use.
On
the Sunday, the Sustainability Event will interest both domestic users and
building professionals who wish to discover more about using
environmentally-friendly products and techniques at home or in commercial
construction and restoration projects. The event attracts both
high-profile industry speakers and a wide range of specialist exhibitors,
who will demonstrate low impact building products and other solutions
designed to promote sustainable living. These include such diverse
technologies as household composting, timber from renewable sources, solar
and biomass heating, waste water treatments, paints and insulation. In
addition, for the first time this year, there will be a Fair Trade market,
with many participants from the Chichester District itself, giving
visitors a chance to browse and buy a range of interesting and unusual
products.
The timed programme of seminars takes place in the spectacular modern
Jerwood Gridshell Space, the first timber gridshell in the UK and home to
the Museum’s conservation workshop and rural artefact collection. There
will be a presentation by Amazon Nails, a long-term supporter of the
Sustainability Event, entitled ‘Building with Straw.’ An accompanying
demonstration of the building of a small straw bale house outside on the
Museum site will allow visitors the opportunity to try building with straw
for themselves!
The
‘Sustainability for Schools’ day on Monday 21 will be a day of displays,
demonstrations and discovery to help the next generation learn about
practical aspects of ‘green’ living in the 21st century. Held for the first
time last year, the Schools Event proved extremely popular and successful,
with exhibitors located in and around the Museum’s historic buildings on its
beautiful downland site. From helping to build a straw bale house, to
discovering what happens to our rubbish, or learning about home composting –
children are invited to discover environmentally-friendly solutions for
home, garden and the wider environment, presented by organisations involved
in many aspects of sustainable living.
“Our
interest in sustainable materials is a natural progression for the Museum –
already recognised as a centre of excellence in traditional building crafts”
says Museum Director, Richard Harris. “Conservation of the modern
environment complements perfectly our interest in conservation of historic
buildings, artefacts and crafts.”
The
Sustainability Event will be held on Sunday 20 May from 10.30am – 5.00pm.
Admission charges are: adults £8.25, over 60s £7.25; children £4.40, family
ticket £22.65, and include a full day’s entry to all the Museum buildings
and outdoor exhibits. Group rates are also available. Places for the
‘Sustainability for Schools’ day on Monday 21 must be booked in advance
through the Museum’s School Services Dept on 01243 811028.
Background Information
The
award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building
exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance
of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working
watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on
traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm
livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The schools service welcomes over
25,000 schoolchildren a year for workshops and teacher led visits covering
all aspects of the curriculum.
Note to Editors
For
more information about this project contact Jennie
Peel, Schools Services Manager on 01243 811028 or
email
Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum.
For
further information call Rachel Neville on 01243 811459 or
schoolbookings@wealddown.co.uk.
Full
details about the services to schools offered by the Museum can be found
on the website
www.openairclassroom.org.ok.
Full details of the Museum and all
of its activities can be found at
www.wealddown.co.uk
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