A STRAW BALE classroom on the edge of the New Forest has reaped a prestigious green award.

National charity UK Youth, based at Avon Tyrrell in Bransgore has built a straw bale eco-classroom as a base for environmental activities programmes run with young people.

The charity, which specialises in educating young people through non-formal education programmes, received a £20,000 grant from the New Forest National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund, with the charity raising £50,000.

Claire Gingell, Sustainable Development Officer at the New Forest National Park Authority, said: “Not only is the building made of straw bales but it has a living roof, composting toilet and is in a beautiful setting next to a lake. The building stays cool in summer and warm in winter and has a wood burning stove for added heat when needed.

“It’s a fantastic example of eco-construction and is a showcase not only for the visitors staying at Avon Tyrrell but for other organisations hoping to introduce environmentally-friendly initiatives.”

Ben Hood, of award sponsor SMART, presented the award to Clair Moir the Avon Tyrrell UK Youth Environment Coordinator and one of the architects of the original idea, at the awards ceremony in Southampton last week.

He said: “The new classroom embraces the principle of education on sustainability through demonstration. It employs a number of building techniques, processes and materials including re-use of old tyres filled with rammed earth, straw bales between the frames and a living roof.

“The approach not only vastly reduced the impact of the build itself, but also demonstrates remarkable efficiency in its occupancy.

“Crucially, the judges felt that it also very successfully demonstrates that a quite modest project size should be no barrier to fully embracing the principles of sustainable design and construction.”

The building won the Sustainable Built Environment category in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership Awards.