KCA, London, who specialise in creating interactive, engaging and educational facilities, were awarded the tender to design the centre in May 2008. Their design supports existing education programmes run by ESCC’s Environmental Action Team and builds on materials developed by our French based partners, Smédar, in the joint Interreg IIIA project Rethinking Rubbish and incorporates new resources being developed in this project by other partners.

The education centre, approx 26m2 in size, is situated within the reception building at the entrance to the composting facility. Movable benches, arranged around the outer edge of the room against the floor to ceiling windows, will provide the majority of the seating. The windows will be covered in vinyl graphic abstracts, of silhouettes of images with a ‘plant’ theme, to not only create shade but to initiate discussion from inside and out. Fittings are made, where possible, from sustainable materials sympathetic to the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ concept or from a FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) accredited source. This will be complemented by an on site compost trail.

The centre provides a space for structured informal educational workshops as well as unstructured learning opportunities for invited school and community groups (8yrs+). The Education centre and compost trail should be open to school parties and visitors in early 2010.