Regenerative building workshops (provisional details)

This project emerged from the Science Together programme in which OCLT are participating this year. 

Please note that these are provisional details only. We hope to be able to confirm these details in April 2025. In the meantime, you can express your interest in participating here.

**Update: additional detail about probable dates for different materials added 03/04

When will the workshops take place?

June 24th-29th

What will they involve?

Three 2-day workshops on building with natural materials in a way that's both ecologically and socially regenerative. Each 2-day workshop will consist of:

• Day 1: visits to cultivation / production / extraction sites in Oxfordshire, through which participants will learn about how a particular building material is produced, the social and environmental impact of this production, and the role the material plays in Oxfordshire's landscapes

• Day 2: hands-on building skills workshop at Makespace on Aristotle Lane run by expert facilitators.

• Further info:

  • Materials: Each workshop will focus on a different material for a different use in housing construction. These materials will probably be timber (cladding – likely June 24-5), clay (plastering – likely June 26-7), and straw (insulation / thatching – likely June 28-9) – all of which are suitable for building regeneratively at scale in Oxfordshire, and can be sourced from the local area.

  • Who's running them: The workshops are likely to be run by a team including Oxfordshire Community Land Trust and researchers from Oxford's two universities as part of the Science Together programme.

  • Extras: Refreshments, lunch and all transport for site visits will be provided.

  • Research: Researchers will be working to collect data on participants' experience of the workshops.

Where will they take place?

Site visits (Day 1) will be within Oxfordshire or just outside it. Transport for these will be provided from central Oxford. Hands-on skills workshops (Day 2) will take place at Makespace on Aristotle Lane, OX2 6TP.

Who are they for?

There will be 14 spaces available for each 2-day workshop. Participants can attend any number of workshops; the workshops do not build directly on each other. No experience necessary: we welcome everyone from seasoned construction professionals to complete novices!

• 7 spaces on each workshop will be paid spaces available to the general public. You can express your interest in these here.

• 7 spaces on each workshop will be free or subsidised spaces available to those unable to pay. (Please get in touch with josh@oclt.org.uk if you represent a group or organisation who'd be interested in filling these spaces.)

How much will they cost?

Each 2-day workshop will cost £240. Every paid space will directly subsidise a free space.