Fordhall Organic Farm - The Straw Lodge
Completed in 2019 the Straw Lodge at Fordhall Farm is one of England's biggest volunteer built straw bale buildings. This building now hosts the farms care farm, volunteers, youth project and offers a base for organised retreats, workshops, courses and even weddings.
The Straw Lodge in numbers
● 758 - the number of straw bales used in the construction of the bunkhouse
● 138 - the number of recycled tyres used in the foundations, and therefore saved from landfill.
● 58 - the number of cubic metres of concrete that we did not have to use in our foundations due to the nature of our construction.
● 25 the number of people the Straw Lodge sleeps.
● 13 the number of 300w solar panels on the roof which provide much of the power for the building.
● 20,000 - the number of natural Cedar shingles which cover the roof space.
● 26 the number of Larch trees which would otherwise have been wasted from the timber industry were used to construct our timber frame.
What is the Straw Lodge bunkhouse made of?
● Straw - carbon-absorbing straw bales are stacked to create both load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls. Naturally insulating, the bales keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter.
● Wood - larch and Douglas fir harvested from Wales were used in the construction of a solid wood timber frame, supporting the roof. The frame was put together by Ty Pren, a workers’ cooperative based on the estate where the wood was felled. They used ropes, pulleys and small machines to manoeuvre the huge wooden posts into place – not a crane in sight. Wood was also used in the construction of the roof - 20,000 cedar roof shingles in fact. Cedar was chosen for its natural resistance to moisture, moss and insect damage. It was also painted with Pine Tar (a natural water repellent tree resin) to provide added protection and durability.
● Sheep’s wool - Sourced from the UK, thick slabs of sheep’s wool were used in the roof and floor to provide additional natural insulation.
● Car tyres – old car tyres from the nearby town of Market Drayton were put to an exciting new use in the project. Sunk into the ground, they were filled with hard core and used to provide a strong supporting base for the timber frame.
● Clay and lime – applied by hand by scores of volunteers, clay plaster was pressed into the straw bales to create a breathable, protective layer on the inner walls and 300mm of lime plaster was carefully applied to the external walls. Both provide a completely breathable and natural protection of our straw bales, ensuring moisture is not retained within the walls and providing a healthy atmosphere inside for our visitors.
We must say huge thanks to our funders:
Power to Change, Our Bright Future, the Jean Jackson Trust, Hilton Jones Charitable Trust, Millichope Foundation, plus of course Fordhall's shareholders and supporters.
With thanks to our design and construction team:
SlaterWilde Architects
The Traditional Building Skills Company - main contractor
Huff and Puff Construction - supported the straw construction of the build
Ty Pren - provided the beautiful Roundwood timber frame
Fordhall Farm and Edgbaston partnership | Organic Farm | Edgbaston Stadium
Fordhall Farm, a community-owned organic farm, are Edgbaston's exclusive matchday food catering partner. They supply all units that are open around the stadium at Edgbaston and you will find a wide variety of catering options.
Fordhall
Fordhall Farm
Tern Hill Road, Market Drayton, Shropshire
Fordhall Farm is England’s first community owned farm (charitable community-benefit society) and has been organic for over 65 years. The initiative features free farm trails, organic café, group tours, camping in yurts, educational visits, events, courses, weddings, meeting room space, care farming and volunteering opportunities.
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Market Drayton is a market town in north Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh and Staffordshire border. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as Drayton in Hales and earlier simply as Drayton.
Market Drayton is on the Shropshire Union Canal and on Regional Cycle Route 75. The A53 road by-passes the town. The counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire are both close by. In 1245 King Henry III granted a charter for a weekly Wednesday market, giving the town its current name. The market is still held every Wednesday.
Ancient local sites include Audley's Cross, Blore Heath and several Neolithic standing stones. The Devil's Ring and Finger is a notable site 3 miles (5 km) from the town at Mucklestone. These are across the county boundary in neighbouring Staffordshire. The Old Grammar School, in St. Mary's Hall, directly to the east of the church, was founded in 1555 by Rowland Hill, the first Protestant Mayor of London. Former pupils include Robert Clive, and a school desk with the initials RC may still be seen in the town.
The great fire of Drayton destroyed almost 70% of the town in 1651. It was started at a bakery, and quickly spread through the timber buildings. The buttercross in the centre of the town still has a bell at the top for people to ring if there was ever another fire.
Other notable landmarks in the area include: Pell Wall Hall, Adderley Hall, Buntingsdale Hall, Salisbury Hill, Tyrley Locks on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Thomas Telford designed aqueduct. Fordhall Farm has 140 acres (0.57 km2) of community-owned organic farmland located off the A53 between the Müller and Tern Hill roundabouts. The farm trail is open to the public during farm shop opening hours, and on the path is the site of Fordhall Castle, an ancient motte and bailey structure which overlooks the River Tern valley.
To the south-east near the A529 an 18th-century farmhouse stands on the site of Tyrley Castle, which was probably built soon after 1066 and later rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. Nantwich & Market Drayton Railway Society - Meeting regularly in Market Drayton.
Shropshire Council also run a number of bus services under the 'ShropshireLink' brand in addition to the 301 and 302 Market Drayton Town Services. Market Drayton had a railway station which opened in 1863 and closed during the Beeching cuts in 1963. The railway station was located on the Nantwich to Wellington line of the Great Western Railway network and was also the terminus of the Newcastle-under-Lyme line of the North Staffordshire Railway network.
( Market Drayton - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Market Drayton . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Market Drayton - UK
Join us for more :
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Market Drayton is a market town in north Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh and Staffordshire border. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as Drayton in Hales and earlier simply as Drayton.
Market Drayton is on the Shropshire Union Canal and on Regional Cycle Route 75. The A53 road by-passes the town. The counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire are both close by. In 1245 King Henry III granted a charter for a weekly Wednesday market, giving the town its current name. The market is still held every Wednesday.
Ancient local sites include Audley's Cross, Blore Heath and several Neolithic standing stones. The Devil's Ring and Finger is a notable site 3 miles (5 km) from the town at Mucklestone. These are across the county boundary in neighbouring Staffordshire. The Old Grammar School, in St. Mary's Hall, directly to the east of the church, was founded in 1555 by Rowland Hill, the first Protestant Mayor of London. Former pupils include Robert Clive, and a school desk with the initials RC may still be seen in the town.
The great fire of Drayton destroyed almost 70% of the town in 1651. It was started at a bakery, and quickly spread through the timber buildings. The buttercross in the centre of the town still has a bell at the top for people to ring if there was ever another fire.
Other notable landmarks in the area include: Pell Wall Hall, Adderley Hall, Buntingsdale Hall, Salisbury Hill, Tyrley Locks on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Thomas Telford designed aqueduct. Fordhall Farm has 140 acres (0.57 km2) of community-owned organic farmland located off the A53 between the Müller and Tern Hill roundabouts. The farm trail is open to the public during farm shop opening hours, and on the path is the site of Fordhall Castle, an ancient motte and bailey structure which overlooks the River Tern valley.
To the south-east near the A529 an 18th-century farmhouse stands on the site of Tyrley Castle, which was probably built soon after 1066 and later rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. Nantwich & Market Drayton Railway Society - Meeting regularly in Market Drayton.
Shropshire Council also run a number of bus services under the 'ShropshireLink' brand in addition to the 301 and 302 Market Drayton Town Services. Market Drayton had a railway station which opened in 1863 and closed during the Beeching cuts in 1963. The railway station was located on the Nantwich to Wellington line of the Great Western Railway network and was also the terminus of the Newcastle-under-Lyme line of the North Staffordshire Railway network.
( Market Drayton - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Market Drayton . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Market Drayton - UK
Join us for more :
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Places to see in ( Market Drayton - UK )
Market Drayton is a market town in north Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh and Staffordshire border. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as Drayton in Hales and earlier simply as Drayton.
Market Drayton is on the Shropshire Union Canal and on Regional Cycle Route 75. The A53 road by-passes the town. The counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire are both close by. In 1245 King Henry III granted a charter for a weekly Wednesday market, giving the town its current name. The market is still held every Wednesday.
Ancient local sites include Audley's Cross, Blore Heath and several Neolithic standing stones. The Devil's Ring and Finger is a notable site 3 miles (5 km) from the town at Mucklestone. These are across the county boundary in neighbouring Staffordshire. The Old Grammar School, in St. Mary's Hall, directly to the east of the church, was founded in 1555 by Rowland Hill, the first Protestant Mayor of London. Former pupils include Robert Clive, and a school desk with the initials RC may still be seen in the town.
The great fire of Drayton destroyed almost 70% of the town in 1651. It was started at a bakery, and quickly spread through the timber buildings. The buttercross in the centre of the town still has a bell at the top for people to ring if there was ever another fire.
Other notable landmarks in the area include: Pell Wall Hall, Adderley Hall, Buntingsdale Hall, Salisbury Hill, Tyrley Locks on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Thomas Telford designed aqueduct. Fordhall Farm has 140 acres (0.57 km2) of community-owned organic farmland located off the A53 between the Müller and Tern Hill roundabouts. The farm trail is open to the public during farm shop opening hours, and on the path is the site of Fordhall Castle, an ancient motte and bailey structure which overlooks the River Tern valley.
To the south-east near the A529 an 18th-century farmhouse stands on the site of Tyrley Castle, which was probably built soon after 1066 and later rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. Nantwich & Market Drayton Railway Society - Meeting regularly in Market Drayton.
Shropshire Council also run a number of bus services under the 'ShropshireLink' brand in addition to the 301 and 302 Market Drayton Town Services. Market Drayton had a railway station which opened in 1863 and closed during the Beeching cuts in 1963. The railway station was located on the Nantwich to Wellington line of the Great Western Railway network and was also the terminus of the Newcastle-under-Lyme line of the North Staffordshire Railway network.
( Market Drayton - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Market Drayton . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Market Drayton - UK
Join us for more :
Duke of Gloucester in Shropshire
Fordhall Farm,Tern Hill Road in Market Drayton.
Duke of Gloucester who is touring Shropshire
Grass cutting and baling Cheswardine Shropshire
Claas tractor with hay baler