BACKGROUND

The Woodland Enterprise Centre has been created in the heavily-wooded Weald of Southern England, to demonstrate contemporary uses for locally-grown timber, in both innovative sustainable construction projects, and for renewable energy.

The project was developed by a non-profit partnership - Woodland Enterprises Ltd, set up in 1995, to implement the "Rural Challenge" project, based on land acquired in 1995, at Flimwell, on the East Sussex / Kent border.

Representatives from Woodland Owners, local timber industry, rural training establishments and local authorities set up the Woodland Enterprise Centre to provide rural workspace, and a venue for training, education and research into sustainable management of woodland to meet contemporary needs

The Woodland Enterprise Centre has completed the first phase of the construction programme, and has created a venue for meetings, conferences and commercial offices, in an award-winning gridshell design, surrounded by typical Wealden woodland setting.