Help with community projects at an environmental education centre in Suffolk, UK

Details

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  Description

  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP MAKING GREENWOOD SHINGLES FOR OUR NEW COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING
  
  COMMUNITY BUILDING - Hi, my name's Sarah and I co-started this community project in 2007, and have been managing it (as a volunteer) ever since. It is an Environmental Education Centre in rural mid Suffolk, UK. The Centre is run by local volunteers for a wider community of volunteers and students.
  
  CLIMATE CHANGE - the site and construction practices are Zero Carbon - and designed to lock carbon into the building.
  
  COUNTRYSIDE - in a VERY RURAL situation. Our site is just 1.5 acres of old orchard in the middle of fields. (Nearest town/shops are 5 miles away). The end of our orchard is a wildlife zone.
  
  HERITAGE TRAINING COURSES We're now on Phase 2 of the heritage restoration project. We run practical vernacular courses in how to build with the clay under our feet and coppice trees from local woods. In the last six years we’ve trained over 250 in traditional timber framing - the ‘practice piece’ is a reinstated medieval building.
  
  CURRENTLY we’re making our wooden roof tiles from trees from local woods. The trees have been coppiced as part of a traditional woodland management to grow building materials. The regrowth locks up 2-3 times the carbon of a standing tree.
  
  USING HAND TOOLS We're making the shingle roof tiles by hand, so no noisy machinery, plenty of time to listen to each other and the sounds of nature all around us.
  
  VOLUNTEER HELP We need lots of volunteer help this spring/summer to make the shingle roof tiles for our new education and complete it before next winter. Our Greenwood working area is in the old orchard. It is under cover and protected from the wind. We will provide you with training in how to make the roof tiles. You will be meeting our local volunteers and learning about their lives in the UK. You will not be working on the roof.
  
  Can you help? There are lots of low carbon, traditional construction/carpentry skills to learn and practice!
  
  Would suit a couple wanting to stay for the summer. Accommodation is 6 miles from the project. Volunteers need to be keen cyclists or have own transport.
  
  PLEASE NOTE due to new UK rules we can only accept UK citizens, Irish citizens, Settled Status Holder, Commonwealth citizens with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holders with valid visa or Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa holders.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Learn about traditional low tech methods of building with earth and trees.
  Meet and mix with local volunteers.
  Explore the rich medieval history of Suffolk - we have a bicycle you can borrow.
  Visit the historic wool towns of Lavenham and Kersey.
  Learn about cooking on a wood stove and using seasonal, local produce.

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  Registered non-profit

  This host is a registered CIC in the UK and is looking for help with their non-profit project. Please check directly with them if they can provide sponsorship. More info can be found here.

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  Help

  Natural building experience - reinstating a heritage building.
  
  Help needed to make the wooden roof tiles - Sweet Chestnut shingles.
  
  It is the reinstatement of a Suffolk Long House. First built in 1580. Last lived in 1930. Fell over 1960. Nature reclaimed the building and it disappeared under ivy, brambles and trees started to grow in it! We obtained planning permission in 2017 to reinstate it and have been converting local trees into a building ever since! Over 250 volunteers and trainees have learnt traditional carpentry to make and raise the frame.
  
  When the building is complete we will use it for more environmental education, and be able to accommodate people like yourselves in it.
  
  We may also need help gardening in polytunnel, raised beds and making compost. We are an organic Permaculture Land Learning Centre.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Bedroom in detached house in village adjacent to project (about 6 miles). Very rural. Some public transport (bus) Mondays to Saturdays, (none on Sundays). Nearest shop is five miles away. Pub and fish and chip shop within walking distance. Shared kitchen and bathroom. Also shared fridge, gas hob and washing machine. Self catering with some seasonal homegrown fruit and vegetables and basic staples provided. Pans, plates, cutlery also provided.
  Small woodland garden with paved areas back and front of house.
  Part time cat. Strictly NO smokers or drinkers.

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  What else ...

  Great woodland walks and cycling. Historic buildings to view in local towns. Some buses but not Sundays. Trains from Needham Market. Suffolk coast approx 40 mins drive.
  The project is an established Permaculture Land Centre which is intentionally off grid. We have learnt a lot about rain water management and small scale energy generation. Also about compost toilets and wood processing. We are working towards preservation of orchard fruit in traditional Kilmer jars and dehydration. Also fermented foods such as sauerkraut and pesto from wild garlic!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  4-5 hours a day (including breaks), 5 days a week

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