Sustainable Buildings Fair for Traditional Building Techniques

THE SUSTAINABLE and Traditional Buildings Fair is set to take place on Saturday 11 May 2024 at the Tywi Centre, Dinefwr Farm in Llandeilo.

From 10am, experts, suppliers, and contractors will provide essential insights and solutions for making homes more sustainable. In Wales, where 1.4 million homes consume 27% of all energy, the demand for eco-friendly home solutions has never been greater.

The Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Fair is a free ticketed event, which aims to cut through the confusion surrounding home improvements. It will guide attendees through the journey of adapting their homes for a greener future.

Made possible by funding from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and Carmarthenshire County Council, the event promises a celebration of Wales’ rich heritage and a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle. From energy-saving innovations to family-friendly entertainment provided by Circus Eruption, organisers say the fair will have something for the whole family.

Sustainable Buildings Fair

The Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Fair will provide advice and live demonstrations, including:

• Stonemasonry demonstrations from Coe Stone Ltd
• Lime plastering expertise from Pembrokeshire Limework
• Traditional hand-forged metalwork showcase delivered by Phoenix Forge
• The Tywi Centre’s own windows specialist, Tom Duxbury, will also address queries on traditional timber sash windows

More live demonstrations will be on display from:

• Lead work repairs by Jones and Fraser Ltd
• Traditional thatching services by Pembrokeshire Thatch & Carpentry Services
• Traditional joinery & furniture expertise by Gwaith Pren Dominic Wright Woodwork
• Simon Howard Glass will provide demonstrations of period and contemporary stained glass
• Ty Mawr Lime, for environmentally friendly building materials and innovative solutions

A list of the specialists attending can be found on the Tywi Centre’s website.

Sustainable Buildings Tywi Centre’s Monitoring & Enforcement Officer and Skills Tutor, Joe Moriarty, with Nell Hellier, Senior Built Heritage Officer

Fair attendees can also expect insights into Sustainable Construction and Energy Generation, where leading specialist companies – including Birds’ Hill Rural Renewables, Celtic Sustainables, Sustainable Traditional Building Alliance (STBA), Green Skills Academy – Coleg Sir Gar, Wool Insulation Wales, EBUKI, Strawbale UK, Construction Wales Innovation Centre, Weinerburger, Vivus Solutions Ltd and Dinefwr Orchardeers – will make sustainable practices more accessible to homeowners.

Guests also can attend various talks, hosted by archaeologist and historian, Alex Langlands, sustainable building expert, Phil Roberts, and EBUKI CEO, Rowland Keable.

During the day, guests will have the chance to explore various trade stands to meet leaders improving energy efficiency in Welsh homes and connect with various suppliers, contractors, and specialists.

Helena Burke, Tywi Centre Heritage Skills and Projects Officer, said: “Here at the Tywi Centre, we are incredibly excited for our Sustainable and Traditional Buildings fair! We can’t wait to welcome both specialists and guests – it will be an amazing opportunity for guests to gain insight on sustainable practices and implement them on their own homes. The list of contributors is regularly being added to and updated. Tickets are free – come and join us!”

Tickets can be booked here.

The Tywi Centre is based in South Wales at Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo SA19 6RT.

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