A new education centre called The Treehouse has opened at Cannock Forest in Staffordshire.

The 347sq m (3,735sq ft) environmentally friendly venue – developed by the Forestry Commission – includes two classrooms for up to 120 students and is complemented by a new Chase Heritage Trail.

Forestry Commission chair Lord Clark of Windermere said: “These fantastic new facilities clearly demonstrate how the commission leads the field in both sustainable construction and environmental education.

“Each year the centre will host more than 15,000 children, providing them with an inspiring educational experience in a sustainable building set within the country’s smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.



total project costs £33,200
fund grant £22,000 (73 % of total)

The project will install a biofuel heating system, the wood for which will be obtained by the sustainable management of on-site woodlands, and rainwater-harvesting system as part of the re-build of this environmental education facility.  The systems will be incorporated into the learning experiences of visiting children.