Green Light Trust fundraises for Martlesham learning centre

The new learning centre at Caston Wood was initially funded by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Growth Investment Fund

A charity has launched a £107,000 fundraising appeal to bring a woodland education project to fruition.

Green Light Trust hopes to raise the money to complete its education building at Castan Wood in Martlesham, Suffolk.

It will provide an indoor learning space, with a particular focus on children with additional needs.

Claire Abbs, of the charity, said: "We want everybody to be able to have equal access to nature."

Participants complete different woodland activities and nature walks, to help improve their well-being

The charity has been hosting activities at Castan Wood for the past six years.

It supports a range of people - including children who struggle in mainstream education and adults with mental health challenges - through outdoor, woodland activities.

Lauren Shand, interim chief executive officer of the charity, said: "The new learning centre at Castan Wood will enable us to expand our services in Suffolk for children, young people and adults with complex health and learning disabilities, who currently struggle to access our woodland activities."

Claire Abbs has hoped additional funding will allow the team to complete their new learning centre

Suffolk County Council's deputy leader Richard Rout called the new learning centre "an exceptional asset" to the county.

"We are delighted to have been able to support Green Light Trust over several years, including providing them with access to Castan Wood to host their innovative nature-based mental health programmes," he said.

He said the "first-of-its-kind" building has been "constructed to be carbon negative using a new hemp-based modular construction system and no cement, which locks up more carbon than is used in its production".

The main structure of the building is complete but additional funding is needed to complete the inside, and install solar panels.

The charity hopes to complete the work in 2024.

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