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Her Royal Highness Princess Anne officially opened the Tree House Centre.
The centre is a new environmental education centre at Cannock Forest, Staffordshire, yesterday. The new centre is sponsored by Cemex UK, building materials supplier.
The Princess unveiled a plaque at the entrance of The Tree House in the presence of representatives from Cemex and the Forestry Commission. The royal party proceeded to watch local pupils from Colwich School at work in the ‘eco-friendly sustainable’ centre.
The Tree House Centre has been developed by the Forestry Commission in partnership with Cemex and comprises of two classrooms, each accommodating up to 60 students, plus an entrance area with display space and staff offices.
The centre is constructed from renewable FSC-certified timber and includes passive solar heating, living Sedam roof, rainwater-harvesting technology, wood pellet heating system and high levels of insulation. Outside the centre, Cemex’s Chelsea Readypave block paving has been used in the driveways to blend in with the rustic environment.
It is expected that the new Centre will host over 15,000 young people of all ages each year. Pupils will focus on a programme related to a range of outdoor subjects such as local wildlife, forestry and sustainability linked in to the National Curriculum.
