Alan Titchmarsh opens forest project

TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh officially opened the UK’s first ever educational tree house study centre on 25th September 2008.

The ground-breaking sustainable building situated in the picturesque Beaulieu Estate in the New Forest, Hampshire attracts more than 8,000 children and young adults from across the region each year to this unique learning experience.

SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, supported the design and construction of the New Forest Treehouse Study Centre as part of its South East Excellence programme and was one of the main funders. providing a grant of £180,000. The Study Centre cost over £600,000 in total to build and is owned by the Countryside Education Trust (CET).

The Centre stands over 11 metres high and uses innovative sustainable design techniques such as photovoltaic panels for lighting in the office, rain water harvesting and biomass boilers.

The final design and construction of the Centre were carried out by Blue Forest tree house specialists, based in Wadhurst, East Sussex.