Carymoor Environmental Centre

What a load of rubbish!

The Carymoor Centre is an environmental haven located at the edge of a restored landfill site.

Next door, there is a working landfill.

Its unique location provides the ideal setting to contrast environmental sustainability with the less sustainable activity of landfill.

Education through demonstration

This is a great opportunity for school groups to see for themselves the volume of household rubbish that currently goes to landfill and how quickly we are running out of space.

The key messages of the Centre are:

• sustainability and environmental conservation
• encouraging children to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill
• promoting the reuse of items (by visiting the shanty town made from reclaimed rubbish)
• recycling where possible

A Tour of the centre

To really appreciate Carymoor, you will receive a full tour (2 hours) of the restored and working landfill. You will discover:

• how the green waste is composted and resold
• how food waste is processed and used as farm compost
• how methane produced during the decomposition of the land fill is collected to generate electricity
• what happens to all the waste liquid that collects at the bottom of a working landfill
• the wildlife conservation and habitat creation in the restored landfill, there's even mini beast hunting and pond dipping for the little ones.

Full day programmes are available with supporting workshops (for example create electricity with solar panels and wind turbines). Even lunch is an education with the opportunity for children to consider their own food and packaging waste and discuss how they could become more sustainable.

Sustainability in action

As you would expect the main centre building embodies sustainability through its constructional use of locally sourced timber - Douglas fir, green oak and red cedar.

It is built on stilts mitigating the excessive use of concrete and helping to reduce its environmental impact. The building is insulated with recycled paper and sheep's wool. The roof tiles and some of the doors are re-used.

Two wind turbines and photovoltaic roof shingles contribute electricity for the daily running of the centre. There is solar water heating and a wood burner provides some of the space heating. The centre also utilises rainwater harvesting and treats the sewage on site.

What is great about the Carymoor Environmental Centre is the chance for children to see for themselves the negative and positive impacts that mankind can have on their environment. Wellies are a must and don't forget a rain mac!

To find out more about Carymoor Environmental Centre, visit: www.carymoor.org.uk.

To discuss a visit to the centre, contact Graham Jennings on 01963 350143 Carymoor Environmental Centre, Dimmer Lane, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7NR.