Radio Merseyside set up a temporary studio down on the farm recently, when Andy Ball and Linda McDermott broadcast their morning show live from the new volunteers’ mess room.

The environmental building won a Merseyside 21 award.

Trustee Janet is shown here with the certificate and trophy on the verandah.

Standing infront of the new building from left to right:

Peter - Cameraman
Rachel - Farm Education Officer
Paul - Reporter

As Peter went round the farm filming Jacko the Donkey, the goats, the piglets, some of the Guinea Fowel and not forgetting the new resource building, Rachel and Paul had a chat about the farm in general.

Then the filming began. With the old thatched cottage in the background and the new 'green' building in the foreground Rachel handled the interview like a pro! The interview was broadcast twice that day on Granada Reports.

left to right:

Margaret Cobbold (Onyx Env. Trust)
Rob Favager (Carl Thompson Assoc)
Ken Smith (NW Development Agency)
John Jakeman, Farm Manager, Roger Hennel (Blease & Assoc.)
Lord Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Bill Nock,
Work experience students

Margaret Cobbold
John Jakeman
Ken Smith
Lord Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Bill Nock

Building work will last approximately 6 months. The building work itself will be fascinating to watch, but it will inevitably disrupt use and running of the farm, especially on such a restricted site.

Keep an eye on the progress by visiting this page and looking at the pictures.

If you have any comments or want to know more about the build then please feel free to contact us or better still pop in and visit us.

The site is fenced off prior to the work beginning.

The plinth has been laid, and drainage pipes protrude from it.

The shape of the building becomes clearer as a framework is raised.

This looks rather like a Triffid having a look at the development, but I assure you all plant life on the farm is well-behaved.

Plastic has been put up to protect the newly installed straw bales from the rain. The triffid has brought some friends along this time. Must be all that organic compost on the farm...!

Rainwater harvesting. A 5000 litre tank will collect rainwater from the building's roof, and pump it into a high level tank to be used for toilet flushing.

A heavy duty timber frame construction means no need for load bearing walls internally, or externally. The building layout can adapt to meet new requirments, or can be dismantled and rebuilt in a new location.

It begins to be possible to see how the building will relate to the farmyard and play area.

The new building will dominate the west side of the farmyard when it is completed; it is easier to gain an impression of the size, from this angle.

Passive ventilation. Most of the internal spaces will use a system of moisture sensitive inlets and outlets to control the internal environment.

Strawbale external walls. A cheap and very quick method of constructing external walls. Once rendered, a wall 450mm thick is rainproof. The straw was collected from a local farm, where the farmer was instructed to compact the bales to a standard suitable for construction.

Energy saving devices. Heating in the workshop is via infra -red heaters that warm only the body, while a motion sensitive system controls the energy saving lights around the building to minimise use.

Photovoltaic Cells. 14 units will be arranged on the upper-roof they will generate 2,380W (peak). Power will be fed via an inverter into the building as required, while any surplus power is fed into the grid. So, you could be getting some of your electricity at home from the farm!

Winter weather sometimes slowed down the building work.

The verandah is now in place.

Embodied energy, where possible local manufacturers were sourced to reduce transport, and general materials were chosen that were produced efficiently, or from sustainable resources.

Sedum roof. This will provide a more natural alternative to conventional roof coverings, which will increase roof life, insulation, it'll create a small wildlife habitat and absorb air pollution and dust.