This very exciting project is now underway and will hugely broaden the services that St Ives Orchard CIC can offer.
We are building an environmentally sustainable building showcasing renewable technology which will become a centre to connect people to nature through learning, education and exploration as well as a space for community use.
Providing environmental education, workshops, skills training, nature-based training and community events with workshops and training all year round on subjects such as permaculture, beekeeping, willow weaving, herbal remedies, natural dyes, brewing, grafting, etc. All using materials grown and produced on-site and in the wonderful learning environment of the 30 acres of the Community Orchard and Nature Reserve. A repair cafe will also be run from the CORE.
The project will also create new jobs and provide opportunities for local self-employed trainers to share their knowledge and skills as well as a community space for meetings and a repair cafe. Those interested in providing nature-based workshops at the community learning centre, please complete our Expression of interest form.
Connecting people with nature and their community to restore mental health and well-being and reduce isolation and loneliness.
The learning centre will enable St Ives Orchard & Nature Reserve to become financially resilient, thereby securing continued work to serve the local community and protect wildlife on Penbeagle Hill.
St Ives Town Deal & the Government’s Town Fund Scheme
This project has all been made possible by the St Ives Town Deal, Cornwall Council and the Government’s Town Fund Scheme
St Ives is one of 101 towns, and four in Cornwall, selected to bid for the Government’s Towns Fund which aims to drive economic regeneration. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the Town Deal Fund in Cornwall. Cornwall Council supports the governance role of the St Ives Town Deal Board and administering the Fund.
£19.9 million was offered to St Ives for projects that were based on their Town Investment Plan focussing on three key themes:
– An integrated, low carbon, transport system
– New skills, businesses, jobs and supply chains
– New and transformed housing and community assets.
In 2020, the St Ives Town Deal worked closely with the community to develop an initial long list of 40 potential projects which were then narrowed down to just 9 projects, St Ives Community Orchard being one of them.
See more about all the 9 projects on www.stivestowndeal.org.uk/town-deal-projects.
All of the projects received an initial lump sum of funding to further their projects in various ways and to ensure that the plans were viable. The St Ives Community Orchard Growth project received aprox £18000 in 2022 to get started with the project, which enabled us to get the ball rolling; architectural designs for the building, planning permission, land surveys, loads of legal paperwork and some initial groundworks. In this period we renewed our initial 6 year lease with Cornwall Council for the land for a further 30 years. They also added on the additional parcel of land alongside Penbeagle road which gave us the space needed for the building.
At the end of May 2023 we received £315K, build has now begun and all going well, the aim is to complete the exterior of the build by the end of October 2023. Further work on the interior and outdoor area of the building will then start and we hope the building will be useable by spring of 2024. So exciting!!
More info about the build
The plan is to build a beautiful, environmentally sustainable Community Learning Centre with a porch and space for a veggie/herb garden outside on an area directly alongside Penbeagle lane. The area is at the very bottom of the Community Orchard and is surrounded by a cornish wall. There are thick thickets of blackthorn and willow that we plan to leave completely untouched for the wildlife.
Local architect / sculptor & rammed earth builder, Paul Connell created this inspiring, circular design. It includes a central space for open use, bringing in natural light from the rooflight, velux and side windows that line up with the Equinox sunrises. It includes a raised porch overlooking the orchard and integrated kitchen, toilets, office & storage space. The overall maximum dimension, including wall thicknesses, is 14m. The maximum internal dimension is 12.4m (North-south dimension, not including deck).
This will be one of a kind!
Artist representation, view from road – Paul Connell
Artist representation, view from orchard – Sid Hill
Our building brief:
- To create a sustainable, innovative building that people will come and learn from.
- To use all local builders and volunteers where possible.
- Sustainable materials and methods. Rammed earth, hempcrete, straw bale, cob, locally sourced Douglas fir are some of the building materials we are interested in. See our research of potential natural materials to use in the build of the Community Learning Centre.
- Multifunctional large open space to accommodate minimum of 12 working stations for practical nature-based workshops (or 25 people)
- A Kitchenette & office, foyer area for muddy coats/boots etc
- Storage room / cupboards (as the multifunctional space; tools / furniture will be rotated)
- Veranda area for sheltered outdoor learning and views over the orchard
- Green roof
- Renewable technology (solar panels, wind generator, ground-source heating)
- On stilts so we use less concrete and can use the space underneath for storage (water tanks / chairs, tables etc)
- Disabled access into the building.
- Compost toilets outside & a toilet inside
Consultation & get involved
As this is a community building, we want as much input from local people as possible. There were various consultations throughout 2022, on site, at events and via our online consultation form which helped to give us feedback and ideas.
Although the main build is now decided on, please still feel free to submit any ideas or comments on our online consultation form
Any questions please contact Project Manager Phoebe Sampson on phoebe@stivesorchard.co.uk
Those interested in providing nature-based workshops at the community learning centre, please complete our Expression of interest form.
Thank yous
Would like to give big thanks to all involved in this project to reach this initial stage.
- The Town Deal team who have been so supportive and have brought us to the final stage. Special thanks to Sarah Stevens who backed and supported our project from the start.
- Phoebe Sampson, Build Project Manger who has done a huge amount of paperwork and finance stuff, funding applications, emails, sourcing builders and materials, meetings, financial planning, build planning and everything in between.
- El Worral for her financial help as well as for the many meetings in order to complete all the paperwork needed.
- Elise Langley who started the application process in 2020 and has been involved throughout in the planning and application process.
- Paul Connell who came up with the wonderful circular design and has been so helpful throughout, giving us many more hours than we’ve paid for.
- The orchard build team; Sue Smith, Paul Connell, Ben Baker, Jo Howard, Ann Nicol, Nick Bentley, Elise Langley and Phoebe Sampson for their guidance.
Read our latest update on the build!
In the news! //www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-65641671