Hands-on Hempcrete workshop

(Left) – Participants with Tom Woolley (right).  (Right) – Participant with hempcrete mix.

Crossgar-based Professor Tom Woolley, Architect and Natural Builder and Chair of EDANI, the Ecological Design Association in NI, was joined by Mark Patterson of Heritage Ltd, Ballymena to deliver an interesting hands-on hempcrete workshop, at Holywood Men’s’ Shed on Saturday 25 September.

The free workshop was similar to numerous ones which have taken place all over Europe, South Africa, Chile, Canada and several with the Carbon Co-op in Manchester and the Irish Hemp Co-operative in Kerry and Dublin. Outlining the environmental health and energy benefits of building with hemp and lime and the methods used to mix and place the materials, attendees had the opportunity to get hands-on with this great natural building material, being part of the process from shuttering to mixing and placing.

Just in time for the cooler weather, the infill on the internal wall of one of the Men’s shed buildings will make it warmer and cosier this winter.

This workshop has been made possible thanks to the Get Ready to Grow programme supported by the Co-operative Foundation and delivered by Co-operative Alternatives in Northern Ireland.

EDANI will continue their activities across Northern Ireland and provide unique opportunities to learn from experts about eco-materials and natural insulation. For more information contact Prof Tom Woolley via Co-operative Alternatives.