Main building

The Information Centre will be an impressive, environmentally sustainable carbon gain building whereby no concrete will be used in its foundations and no cement in its construction.

At first sight it will look like a vast burial mound with a grassed roof. There will be a continuous curved dry stone wall, set with small arrow slits and the entrance will be a copy of a Neolithic dolmen entrance. Huge rustic old oak doors open to reveal a large, light, modern and altogether stunning interior.

This innovative pole barn building will be designed to carry the weight of a turf and wildflower roof. The walls will be made of hemp, lime, straw and clay (hemp blocks) securely positioned between a wooden frame. Although these materials are not generally used in building, they make a very effective substitute for concrete products in construction, they insulate and soundproof well, and are carbon gaining. It is believed that this is a pioneering new building system that could support agricultural revenues and environmental issues, which no one is currently promoting in the industry. Thistledown will aim to raise awareness of this as a way of practice and look at new ways of building that could generate new revenue streams for farmers.

The flooring will vary from experimental organic leather hides to rammed earth, stone, oak and coppiced timber bound with modern glues to make laminates as an alternative to softwoods like pine. Underfloor heating will use latent heat from the Lodge Ground clay found on the farm. Two kilometres of pipes will supply 70% of the building's heat through a heat exchanger and the remainder of the heat will be provided by a wood burning stove. All of this will be explained within the exhibition area and large banners hanging on each side of the building will also serve to illustrate the aims of the Centre.

The Centre will house a classroom area for the use of school parties and a Research Library for universities and colleges who will be continuing to catalogue and record the grasses, flowers and fungi on the site. There will also be an exhibition area demonstrating the latest modern sustainable fibres, crops and methods for protecting the earth's resources like water and soil. A wholesome local/organic and ethically motivated cafeteria and environmentally conscious shop will complement the Information Centre, as will a smaller outdoor cafeteria.

As the visitor leaves the building there will be a number of water features which will give practical demonstrations of solar and wind power as water trickles down sculptures into rock pools.