Back in January 2012 The Conservation Volunteers started on a new project site in Wigan. This site would form the hub of a new project called the Wigan Allotment Network. The project will work with local people to help them establish new groups or support those already formed with the aim of establishing community allotments across the borough. The project will also train people of all ages from Wigan and other areas in sustainable living practices from Permaculture gardening to soap making!
In order to really utilize the allotment site in Worsley Hall to its full potential we needed a building…. A Strawbale building! This will be the first of its kind in Wigan and will not only provide the local people with a great community facility but also the opportunity to learn from the build process and see alternative building and energy systems in operation.
We are constructing the building with the help of Straw Works (the UK leading experts in Strawbale building) and will be running a programme of courses for people across the UK to participate in.
We started the build on the weekend of the 26th January with a course in ‘Laying the foundations’. People from across the country braved the snow and floods to help us start on the first phase of the build which was constructing the car tyre foundations. The course was a brilliant success and we are well on our way to completing the first stage!
Once constructed the building will have a solar and sedum roof, a composting loo and a wood burner for the heating. The building will offer classroom facilities and a small office for The Conservation Volunteers staff. The building will allow us and others to run training and group sessions and to use the new allotment site to its full potential. We hope the build will be finished this Summer, weather permitting!
For more information please take a look at the projects website – www.wiganallotmentnetwork.org.uk
