Skelton Grange Environment Centre
Visiting us
As you travel through the suburbs of Leeds, and drive past the
electricity sub station, it is hard to believe that you are
visiting an Environment Centre - and that is what makes the BTCV
environment centre at Skelton Grange so special.
The building and surrounding land is a testament to
environmental conservation and sustainability. And visitors are
able to experience the ethos of the centre hands on.
A garden full of discovery
The gardens provide a safe and fun environment for children to
explore the nature and wildlife. The garden is split into smaller
breakout areas, designed to create a sense of exploration and
discovery for the visitors.
Some areas are deliberately wild so that the children feel they
are having an adventure.
There are endless opportunities for pond dipping, mini beast
hunting and plant spotting. There is also a well planted vegetable
plot.
All the materials in the garden are sourced from natural
sustainable materials or are reusing waste materials - the shed is
made of salvage and has old tyres for plant pots!
Sustainability in action
As you would expect, the main building is a testament to
sustainable living; reducing the dependency on electricity and
water.
The large windows let in lots of natural sunlight, and extensive
insulation and argon filled double glazing retain the heat that
comes from the ground source heat pump.
Even the elements are a valuable resource - electricity is
generated from the wind and sun and the rainwater is harvested from
the roof to flush the toilets.
The centre is perfect for encouraging a love of nature and
engaging children in environmental issues that they can take back
to their own schools. It also inspires adults to get involved in
their local environment through its volunteering and training
programme.
Aimed at 3-11 year olds, visits to the centre are free for
schools in the Wakefield and Leeds areas and it is currently
running at full capacity.
To find out more about Skelton Grange, visit: www.skeltongrange.org.uk.