Felbrigg hosts county's green build event

Jack Wheeler, designer and maker of original handcrafted timber framed structures, at the Green Build Event at Felbrigg Hall.

15 September 2009

ABOUT 6,000 eco-savvy Norfolk residents showed off their green credentials by visiting Felbrigg Hall over the weekend.

The National Trust site was hosting the annual Green Build event organised by North Norfolk District Council.

A wide range of stalls and exhibitions showing how families can live more environmentally friendly, such as solar panels, window renovations and water butts, drew record crowds.

And event organiser Jeanette Wilson said that exhibitors at the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm sponsored event were impressed with the knowledge that all the visitors showed over the weekend.

She said: "North Norfolk people are on the ball when it comes to green facts. They all come here knowing exactly what they want to see and find out about.

"It has gone really well. It is the best Green Build yet. We had 3,500 people on Saturday here, which was just superb."

A school's kitchen garden, a village composting scheme, an eco-friendly village hall and a farm's biodigester were the toast of the Green Build event after they clinched top environmental gongs.

East Ruston Infant School, the Trunch Composting scheme, Neatishead village hall and Copy's Green Farm were named by 2009 Environment Award winners by North Norfolk District Council.

Pupils at East Ruston Infant School topped the school's category after they started learning cooking skills and growing their own food when a bare concrete space was transformed into a kitchen garden.

The Trunch composting project won the best green community award in recognition of its volunteers' efforts in regularly collecting lawn mowings, hedge clippings and garden waste for compost to sell.

With its timber frames, straw bales and recycled paper insulation, the recently opened Neatishead village hall won the green building section of the awards.

The best green business award was won by Copy's Green Farm at Wighton which impressed the judges with its biogas plant which converts slurry, manure and fodder beet into energy for nearby homes.

Virginia Gay, district council leader, said: "These are very worthy winners whose dedication and innovation make a difference to us all.

"Congratulations to them and thanks to all the entrants for their inspiring efforts."

Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, handed out the awards on Saturday afternoon.

The other entrants were: Sidestrand Hall, North Walsham Infant, Sheringham High, Sutton Infant, Swanton Abbott Primary, Colby Primary, Langham Village and Alderman Peel High schools; North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust, Friends of Green Open Spaces, Langham Allotments, Canopy Stalham Woodland, Bluebell Pond Society, Alby with Thwaite Pond Restoration; Pinehurst at

Roughton, Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Bayfield Brecks Barns, Rowan Wood, Neatishead Primary School; Bakers and Larners of Holt, the Pavilion at Gresham and the White House.