We intend to develop 10 sites; each will demonstrate a variety of different interpretations of ecological (carbon balanced) buildings.
Constructing a dam will create a lake for trout rearing and also provide a reserve for a micro hydropower scheme; this will include construction of a penstock pipe, generating plant and small turbine house that will supply electricity to the majority of households within the Foundation.
To accommodate visitors/students we intend to build a visitors centre, also a campsite area is about to be terraced and landscaped.
The “Earthship” style greenhouse will contain an adobe- style pizza oven, solar water heating displays, composting toilet, heat recovery and grey water recycling as well as some features such as walls and seats from colored glass bottles and mosaics from kitchen breakages!
Public access walkways and access track leading around the reed bed, pond and bio digester will have visual displays explaining all the natural processes involved. A "Tree Trail" will take people around our forestry areas with visual educational displays explaining the different trees and their uses.
Children will be involved in designing and building their own play area.
Our centre-piece of educational infrastructure will be the Perpetual Garden Project, contained within a bio-sphere-like dome under two acres of glass. This will be open to schools, colleges and the public, in 2012.