Last updated 08:40, Friday, 11 July 2008

HUNDREDS of people turned out at Cockermouth School on Wednesday for the opening of the town’s pioneering Eco Centre, the first of its kind in the country.

The Mike Wilde Eco Centre was opened by Jim Knight MP, Minister for Schools.

The distinctive landmark building, next to the main school, was named in honour of former Cockermouth School headteacher Mike Wilde, whose vision it was to build the centre and who died last August.

Mr Wilde’s widow Janet and eldest daughter Katie were in the audience.

Janet said: “The eco-centre was a big project in Mike’s life, a special part of his life.

“He was always interested in conservation and he worked for a conservation organisation for four years when he was younger.

“We felt it was appropriate, when we were asked what we thought, that it be named in memory of him.

“As a family we are very proud.”

Mr Knight pledged to use Cockermouth School as a national example of how every school can go green.

He promised to highlight the Eco Centre around the country as the Government drives to make every school carbon neutral by 2020.

He added: “It is a pleasure to come here to Cockermouth and open this building.

“It is a wonderful learning environment and the children will be able to relate their learning to the world around them.

“This is the first type of centre at a school in the country and we want to try and extend this to other schools.”

The centre can hold up to 250 people and will be used by the school and the wider community.

It can act as a teaching space and events such as plays and meetings for community groups will take place there.

The centre has 10 teaching spaces each with three workstations where pupils can either work in groups or independently.

It was developed under a £10 million government award scheme, Teaching Environments for the Future, which was designed to create dynamic teaching spaces.

A grant of £1.3 million was awarded to Cockermouth school through Cumbria County Council for the development of the project.

Headteacher Stuart Reeves said: “This is a magnificent building and a great resource for the school, pupils, staff and the community.

“The environment and atmosphere has been designed to suit all the pupils and to improve their learning experience.

“It will play a key role in their development and will show the importance of high quality education.

“There are a number of collaborative projects with other schools and we hope to see more in the future.” 

Conferences have already been held in the Eco Centre which will not only be used for science teaching but also for other subjects.

Pupils will also be able to have regular links with NASA using latest technology.

The centre uses many environmentally friendly ways of conserving energy.

Concrete has been recycled from a source in Carlisle and paving slabs for the foundations of the building have been recycled from a derelict cinema in the North East.

More than 46,000 recycled Accrington bricks have also been used.

They have also recycled local materials such as shredded newspapers, while wool from sheep has been used for insulation.

A wind turbine provides energy for lighting and supplementary heating if required, which reduces running costs.

There is a 4,000 litre rain harvest tank which collects and filters rainwater from the roof which provides water for standard toilets.

A planting scheme has been implemented to encourage indigenous species and a pond has been installed to encourage wildlife.

The building has won a number of awards and the architect is Cumbria based Rod Hughes of Ad hoc design.

The main construction work was carried out by contractors Roland Hill Ltd from Aspatria.