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Irish strawbale centre is a first

Posted: 03/01/2008

An innovative eco-friendly strawbale building which will serve as an environmental Cape Canaveral is being built at Derry's Racecourse Road. The first venture of its kind in Northern Ireland built from straw, the new centre will operate as a visitor and community centre, offering a range of educational activities and visitor attractions, building knowledge on environmental protection and sustainability.

The project is a joint venture between the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership and Business in the Community with funding from the Big Lottery.

Francine Moran from the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership, one of the driving forces behind the Eco Base said “Environmental protection is one of the key challenges for us all in the modern age and we’re very excited about the Eco Base development.

“Building is now underway and all the planning of recent years involving our Partnership and our partner, the Liberty consortium, is beginning to come to fruition. We received help from the ARENA Network NI, the Environmental arm of Business in the Community, who helped us access £93,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and we’d like to thank them for their help. Eco Base fits brilliantly with other projects in the area, including the Playtrail, which the Big Lottery Fund regard as one of their flagship projects for vision and excellence.”

Specially designed for flexibility and sustainability, much of the materials used in the construction of the Eco Base are recycled and reclaimed. Biomass heating, solar panels and rain water harvesting are also major features of the building.

Briedge Gadd, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland, is delighted that construction is now underway.

She said: “Important projects such as the Eco Base make environmental action easier for individuals and families in the North West. The Big Lottery Fund is delighted to support such a positive initiative and we wish everyone involved the very best for the future.”

Sue Ward, Director of Business in the Community’s ARENA Network, is equally excited, saying; “Projects like the Eco Base serve as an inspiration for similar initiatives across the island of Ireland.

“Well done to everyone involved in getting the project off the ground and for helping to make the North West a more environmentally friendly region.”

For further information on the Eco Base, contact the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership on 028 71 27 19 77 or Liberty Consortium on 028 71 368 173.

Foyle News  
 

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