Wildlife Trust Customer Energy & Learning Centre Centre

Wildlife Trust Learning Hub

Shire Group BSC Carried out M&E and sustainable studies on a newly proposed ECO-Learning hub for the Wildlife trust charity in Staffordshire. The purpose-built building features cutting-edge environmental design that delivers the perfect space for learning about nature in harmony with the natural landscape in which it will be located.

We have designed our M&E systems with sustainably in mind. We have proposed rain water harvesting, solar PV array (roof mounted), air source heat pumps providing heating and hot water and of course low energy lighting and appliances. We are hoping the building can almost run ‘off-grid’. With minimal mains electricity being used.

Gillian French, Head of Grants, Biffa Award said: “the technology being used in this new build is incredibly exciting. Every tiny detail has been thought of; natural daylight will be funnelled through the building to minimise artificial lighting and rainwater will be collected for toilet flushing. We can’t wait to see the finished product.”

The challenge with this project was ensuring we worked collaboratively with the architect to ensure the buildings was constructed in a way that allowed us to route our M&E services without impacting on the thermal fabric properties of the building.

Extract from – Trust’s eco-friendly Biffa Award Learning Hub is open for bookings | Staffordshire Wildlife Trust (staffs-wildlife.org.uk)

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s brand-new eco-friendly Biffa Award Learning Hub at its Wolseley Centre headquarters is set to give thousands of children the chance to become inspired by the natural environment.

The Biffa Award Learning Hub is a purpose-built building which features cutting-edge environmental design that delivers the perfect space for learning about nature in harmony with the natural landscape in which it is located.The hub is based at the home of the Trust’s Wolseley Centre HQ, near Rugeley, which is surrounded by 26 beautiful acres of people and wildlife-friendly grounds.It has been made possible thanks to a significant £318,000 grant from Biffa Award, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund, to allow it to be built. The Trust has also received funding from The National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ to allow an environment for all types of learners to be created.The hub has been built using sustainable natural materials as much as possible, including natural timber cladding to minimise the visual impact on the landscape.Other eco-benefits include rainwater harvesting and using greywater for toilet flushing, efficient insulation, sensor taps for reducing water use, air source heat pump and underfloor heating as well as large windows for passive lighting in the classrooms.

Link below to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust website where you can find information on the hub and a short video explaining its use and function for the charity.https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/LearningHubandRainGarden