Alyn Waters Environmental Education Centre

It is an exciting time at Alyn Waters Country Park, as building work on the new extension is underway. The builders moved in during the summer with the rangers redeploying across the carpark and into portacabins. By September the foundations had been dug and the old building stripped bare. October saw over twenty lorry loads of readymix concrete being pumped through a long pipe arcing over the building, to make the concrete footings.

In early November, lorry loads of timber arrived on site. Then with the help of a very large crane, the new building started to dramatically take shape, as the timber frame was erected.

In December, the roof went up and the underground pipes for the environmentally friendly ground source heat pump were installed. In January the building became much cosier, when the double-glazing was fitted and the walls and roof insulted with a thick layer of recycled paper.

When completed in the spring, the new building will house an Environmental Education Centre and Community Resource area, for the local community, schools, colleges and youth groups. This will be a large open space, able to be used as groups feel appropriate and designed to be as flexible as possible, with uses ranging from formal training meetings, to craft and art activities for toddlers. There will also be new toilets for the public and offices for the countryside rangers and staff, together with much improved café facilities. The building is to have a minimal affect on the environment. Sustainable building techniques are being employed, and reclaimed and recycled building materials used were possible.

The project is 100% funded through Urban 2, Forestry Commission, Welsh Aggregates Tax Levy Fund, Adfwyio and the Blue Skies fund.

back to the top