A new centre, named the Sustainable Future Centre, opened at Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum on 13th March 2020. 30 people attended the evening opening event including Ellie Chowns, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Economy and Skills, other Herefordshire Councillors, senior Herefordshire Council staff, representatives from local Green Businesses and staff from Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and New Leaf Sustainable Development who manage the site.
The Centre is located in the Jubilee Building and, though now closed due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, we plan to open to the public every Saturday, once normal business resumes. Information boards provide advice on how to live and work sustainably and we are recruiting volunteers to be on-hand to discuss ideas and share information.
The centre will also provide a space for events and a programme of workshops is being planned to take place throughout the coming year.
Queenswood’s Sustainable Development Liaison Officer, Wendy Ogden, said: “It is great to be launching a space where people can find out about global issues and local sustainable initiatives in the county: from climate change and water saving to plastic reduction and sustainable food, and how they can get involved. We would also love to hear more about how people would like to use the space and what type of events they would like to see taking place here.”
The Jubilee Building which hosts the Centre has been retrofitted to be more eco-friendly with double glazing and an air source heat pump replacing gas central heating. Elsewhere on the site, solar panels have been installed and the hot water in the loos is now heated by a solar thermal system.
For more details, contact Pete Norton: pete@herefordshirenewleaf.org.uk.