The restoration of Orchard Barn - a 17th century barn, traditional orchard, ponds and watercourses

Learn traditional skills and make a lasting difference to a remnant of living history

Would you like to become a part of this unique and exciting project? Become an OBee Member, enrol on one of our courses, or join us as a Volunteer.

Come to Orchard Barn and learn how to build with Cob. Have fun developing practical skills by helping to build a circular apple store with local clay and straw on our 5 day Cob course

Or gain some practical experience of traditional carpentry on our one day Introduction 7th March or 3rd October 2009, 5 day Green Oak Timber Frame Repair Courses

Learn how we built a wood-fired Pizza oven from Cob

From Tree to Timber - how does that happen?

Email for more information about the project or any of the events

Read about our Tree to Timber - The Traditional Way day at Ringshall Village Hall on Saturday 28th February 2009 for talks and demonstrations by local wood crafts-people.

What is the project about? Orchard Barn, outbuildings and land provide a unique opportunity to restore a historic Suffolk farmstead, long-standing smallholding and small, traditional orchard, and to enhance this organic oasis.

By restoring the traditional barn and buildings to how they would have been historically, we will provide a fantastic example of what can be done using local materials. We are offering Deep-Green courses that provide you with training in traditional construction skills. We plan for the site to be self-sufficient in terms of energy, water and waste.

Longer term, the barn and land will provide ecologically sound indoor facilities and green outdoor space for meetings - both educational and recreational.

Visitors will be invited to the centre to to learn about nature conservation and low impact ways of living. They will also be able to experience the diversity of the flora and fauna as they take time out from the busyness of the 21th century to relax and reconnect with nature.

About our name - there have been orchards in this area for at least 200 years. The Apples, Pear, Gages and Walnuts at Orchard Barn would appear to be one of the last remnants. Recent identification indicates that we have some very uncommon old varieties.

By restoring the orchard and opening it to visitors, we will demonstrate the value of traditional varieties and create greater connection with the environment. Longer term - we will help to reduce food miles by selling organic fruit and vegetables from our farm gate.

Some of the project that OBee CIC are hoping to undertake

• Pond restoration
• Conservation to enhance wildlife habitat
• Outdoor events to mark and celebrate the annual cycle of the orchard
• Training in how to prune and propagate of old fruit trees
• Deep-Green courses in Traditional Building skills using local materials such as clay, flint, green oak, elm, ash and hazel
• Training in organic horticulture and permaculture
• Composting classes
• Tree nursery – collecting and growing local seed
• Community supported orchard
• Barn restoration to provide an 'off-the-grid' Environmental Education Centre

The story so far - In February 2007, Sarah (who was to go on to become the Managing Director of OBee CIC) took a small but in retrospect, mammoth step. In order to secure the future of a small traditional orchard and preserve the biodiversity of the site, she re-mortgaged her house and bought a run down 17C barn standing in 1.5 acres of even more derelict orchard.

The initial plan? To convert the barn into a Yoga centre that will model sustainability.

Since then … the project has grown. We are recruiting Volunteers to participate in our 'Green Gym' approach to Nature conservation - clearing round the ponds and in the orchard. Quarterly green events - celebrations to mark the annual cycle of the orchard, are in the planning stage. We now have planning permission to repair the barn 'like for like' with local timber, and are beginning to make some essential repairs to the frame.

Our indoor educational space is going to take longer to restore than the outdoor space, but we are well on our way! OBee Community Interest Company are running the courses in 2009.

The Orchard Barn project has evolved into a much needed and requested Centre for Environmental Education. (Yes, we hope this will include Yoga!)

NEWS page

Please contact Justine if you would like to get involved in the project.

This project encourages and supports community in re-learning how to work, rest and play together - co-operatively with nature - for the greater good

www.orchardbarn.org.uk © 2007 Wildfire Designs

Photographs © Tony Mounter and Sarah Partridge