Derbyshire Eco Centre
Find out about the eco-friendly building, our courses, how to book the centre for your own activities, how to get involved and where to find us.
The centre is the county hub for courses and activities focusing on education for sustainable development. It supports our work to address climate change issues.
It promotes creativity through the arts, and teaches skills to help conserve the natural world and to live healthy lifestyles. Our workshop and site are ideally suited for teaching sustainable building skills, including dry stone walling, to support the rural economy and conserve its heritage.
New holiday time activities
We have just published our first summer workshop booklet. Whether you live locally or are visiting the Peak District on holiday, or wanting to entertain the kids, we invite you to join us for memorable experiences that will make your summer special. There are workshops for all tastes, pack lunches on request and discount deals with accommodation providers.
Our next community event
Derbyshire Literature Festival, Saturday 19 May 2012 from 7 to 9pm.
Mills and Chimneys: Songs of Derbyshire
supported by poet Matt Black performing new poems inspired by the recent Derbyshire Eco Centre Spring Fair and Derbyshire Wool Weekend
Recent news
Our Spring Fair and Derbyshire Wool Weekend held on 14 April and 15 April 2012 was a great success, attracting nearly 2,000 people. As well as a craft market, skill demonstrations and information about our courses, there was local food, a bar, children's activities, lambing live web cam, inspiration about sustainable living and live entertainment. There were performances by DaleDiva, the BMW brass band, Babbling Vagabonds, Shades of Radiance, Blue Wallpaper Incorporated and Derbyshire poet Matt Black. See the information on other websites section for a montage of images from the event.
For more information, see our community events.
Our courses
We're here to help you learn skills for 21st century life in a way that is both inspiring and fun.
Our courses develop technical ability, creativity and decision making skills in a variety of subjects that link the community, environment and economy.
Dip into the course listings and see the wide choice of taster and longer courses. If you're not sure what to go for, get in touch and we'll help you find what is right for you!
A 'one of a kind' centre
Derbyshire Eco Centre is the first of its kind - the only centre built by an adult community education service to promote sustainability skills anywhere in the country.
This brand new building demonstrates sustainable building ideas and techniques. Find out more about the design, materials and technologies as well as see images of the centre's construction in the building section.
What else is happening
You can also hire space at the centre in which to run your own course or hold a meeting or to display an exhibition.
The centre works with partners, communities and businesses to encourage learning for sustainablity. You can find out more about bespoke courses and our project work across the county at working together.
We have several roles for which we welcome the help of volunteers. If you would like to become a volunteer please contact us or or go to working together.
To support our work and exchange expertise with other like minded people, you can join our affiliation scheme and the Eco Centre Exchange.
Contact the Derbyshire Eco Centre Manager for more information:
Cathy Cooke
Tel: 01629 533038
email: ecocentre@derbyshire.gov.uk
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)
- Eco Centre course brochure summer 2012 (481KB)
- Derbyshire Eco Centre welcome leaflet (409KB)
- Holiday workshops (836KB)