Volunteer with us
Come and make a difference.
Learn greenwood working. Make new friends. Get fitter.
Come and get involved
in the completion of the shingle roof of the new Educational Facility
(reinstated 1580 Long House). Read
more here.
Click here to read Past
Masters article in March 2024 edition of Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine
Subscribe
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the latest news about courses, volunteer tips and highlights, stories
about the project.
We held our last AGM on the 25th November
2023 - the annual report for the year 22-23 is below. A video of our
full Impact Statement can be viewed on YouTube.
COURSES
CALENDER for
2024
As
a leading social enterprise we specialise in the delivery of Timber
Framing Restoration
Skills, Timber Framing, Wattle and Daub and Lime
courses for professionals,
home-owners, self-builders, and
anyone with an interest in getting hands-on with natural materials (or
learning how to instruct a builder more knowledgably).
We are a recognised provider of IHBC CPD
attendance certificates.
Vouchers for courses
are available. They also make excellent birthday, retirement or
retraining
presents.
Get hands-on experience of Wattle and Daub, using Hot Lime and Timber
Frame Repairs on our 4-day Timber
Frame Restoration Skills course
Y-post in Craft Barn
Elm roundwood rafters with wattle
and daub infil from above in Tool Shed roof at Orchard Barn
Watch our Earth Mortar video on YouTube.
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6.5.2025 OBee CIC are
delighted that AVIVA COMMUNITY FUND are providing SUPPORT FOR
THE PROJECT - BY MATCHING YOUR DONATIONS
CHOOSE YOUR REWARDS
(listed below)
AVAILABLE VIA CROWD-FUNDING
CAMPAIGN (click link below rewards - but
only until 25.5.2025)
Hand-Carved Sweet Chestnut Spoon –
Personalised - Crafted by our talented volunteer Ed using
locally coppiced wood. Finished with your initials – only two available!
Bag of
Shavings with a Story - Take home a recycled paper bag full of
aromatic plane shavings, made by volunteers during our shingle-making
sessions. Perfect for kindling or crafts — a simple reward that carries
the spirit of the orchard.
Intro to
Traditional Timber Framing – CPD Day - Tuesday 24 June Learn to
use hand tools and help build a real gallery platform using green oak.
Includes IHBC certification.
Build
Biodiversity Habitat for Hedgehogs and Birds - Wednesday 2 July
Craft stakes, use a digging spike, and build a deadwood screen habitat
in our orchard. Includes a heritage orchard tour.
Craft a Mallet
from Local Greenwood – for Two People - Tuesday 1 July Bring a
friend and shape your own wooden mallet using traditional tools in our
peaceful greenwood area.
Learn the Drawknife & Shave Horse
- Tuesday 8 July - Try heritage tools, tour the Long House, and
reconnect with traditional greenwood skills.
Set and Use a
Carpenter’s Plane - Friday 27 June - Join JP for a hands-on
workshop using this classic heritage tool. Perfect for beginners and
curious woodworkers.
Wattle &
Daub Course (includes IHBC CPD) - Wednesday 25 June - Use local
clay and hazel to build a traditional wattle panel — a breathable,
low-impact wall-building method.
Behind the
Scenes – Sustainable Heating Tour - Thursday 11 July - Explore
our hybrid masonry stove and solar-assisted earth floor system — ideal
for eco-designers and architects.
Intro to Hot Lime – CPD Course -
Thursday 26 June - Learn how to mix, apply, and maintain lime mortars
for heritage buildings. Includes live demos and sourcing tips.
Regenerative
Building Materials in Action – CPD Day - Friday 11 July -
Includes demos, talks, a behind-the-scenes tour, and hands-on clay
plastering using site-sourced materials. Designed for architects,
educators, and natural builders.
All reward sessions are led by experienced craftspeople and volunteers
at Orchard Barn – a living hub of heritage, sustainability, and
community.
6.5.2025 We’re thrilled to share that our Crowdfunder is now 63% funded
– that’s £4,424 raised towards our £7,000 target, with support from 24
generous backers so far.
These experiences are meaningful, memorable — and support a greener
future.
Below - our new
education building - almost complete
Photo
below shows the timber frame (2022) and home made insulation (2023) in
the walls of our new Education Building
Montage by Daisy of
July Summer School for University College London Architecture students
CALL
OUT for new Volunteers.
Do you live in, or near to Babergh/Mid
Suffolk? Would you like to join our friendly, fun working parties? We
can offer you the opportunity to learn about making Sweet Chestnut
shingles using traditional hand tools. You'll make new
friends, get fitter, have fun - all in a beautiful, natural, rural
setting?
Volunteer
Working Parties are held 9-1 most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and
10-3 some Saturdays.
To book
yourself onto one of our Taster Days
Email Sarah
or phone
07766-054042 for more information.
Above
- Volunteers at work and play
Anita volunteering in the hard hat area of
the site
Our 'new
normal' is the reinstatement of a holistic approach of working
with Nature that provides participants with greater awareness,
experience and insights into the interconnected of the health of humans
with the health of our environment.
Orchard
Barn has its own YouTube channel with 400+ subscribers. Have a look
at our video
about why we set up this community building project in 2007, and what
we've collectively achieved since then.
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