Aim

To create a community learning space for practical training in sustainable building, retrofit skills and ecological restoration.

Restore a Forest of Dean Farmhouse & Train Future Craftspeople

We are taking on the long-term lease of a historic farmhouse and outbuildings in the Forest of Dean, empty for more than 10 years. Our vision is to transform it into a living training ground, where restoration and learning happen side by side.

The restoration is already underway. We’ve begun tackling the urgent work needed to make the buildings safe and usable, while protecting the site’s wildlife and heritage. We’ve also started running monthly volunteer sessions, giving local people the opportunity to get involved in the restoration. So far, volunteers have helped with everything from clearing the site and recovering materials to creating new habitats, including building bat hotels. 

Now, we want to take the next step: bringing students onto the site to learn through real restoration work.

Led by award-winning training provider CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training, the site will give students, volunteers and local people hands-on experience in heritage construction, natural building, retrofit, land management and wildlife conservation.

We are raising funds to help cover the core costs of running this new training site, including tutor time for work experience sessions, electricity, materials, tools and equipment, and the administration needed to organise students, volunteers and partner organisations.

Our first students will take part in a structured work experience programme, gaining practical experience while contributing to the restoration of the farmhouse. Because this site will operate alongside our existing training centre, we need additional tools and equipment rather than taking resources away from our existing courses.

As the project develops, we’ll continue restoring the farmhouse using traditional and natural materials, demonstrating how older buildings can be made warmer, healthier and more energy efficient without losing their character. We’ll also work with local colleges and volunteers to create further opportunities to develop practical skills and explore careers in heritage, construction and land-based industries.

The site will also support biodiversity, including habitat protection for our resident Lesser Horseshoe bats, creating a place where people, skills and nature can thrive together.

Your donation will help us turn a building already being restored into a working training ground where the next generation can learn by doing. Thanks to match funding, every pound donated will be doubled.

Together, we can bring this long-empty farmhouse back to life and create a unique place for learning, restoration, volunteering and community.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 16th November 2026 at 4:38pm