Students undertake live projects in Dewsbury Country Park
Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:32:00 GMT
Here at the University of Huddersfield our Architecture and Architectural Technology first year students from the School of Art, Design and Architecture have undertaken a series of live projects and events in Dewsbury Country Park working with members of Kirklees Council, the Woodland Trust and Dewsbury Museum. One such project was to design a shelter in Dewsbury Country Park which involved students researching nature and its cycles in order to produce a shelter which would survive the environment in which it would be located. In response to the design brief our students embarked on a series of activities on site which gave them a better understanding of the forces of nature that the shelter would have to withstand and collaboration began with members of Kirklees Council and the Woodland Trust.
A thorough site investigation and analysis began with the students working alongside Adele Jackson and Simon Pedley of Kirklees Council and landscape architect Andrew Muddiman. The team worked together in the field and in the studio, sharing their knowledge and expertise in landscape design and building with natural materials. 
At Dewsbury Country Park students worked alongside Rupert Clamp who demonstrated the green wood joints he uses for gate making and other natural woodworking techniques and also participated in a workshop where they gained valuable knowledge on working with natural materials. Our students also undertook tree planting in the Park with the help and input of Simon Pedley.
The feedback from the students involved in the tree planting activity has shown that they have felt a sense of achievement in creating something living, lasting and meaningful whilst gaining awareness of the surrounding environment and have built links with the community, Kirkless organisations and the Woodland Trust. Our students feel they have become a part of history in contributing to creating one of the largest woodland areas in Yorkshire and have expressed a real sense of satisfaction in taking part in a live project with their client on a site with such great potential. Students expressed how the project gave them an invaluable learning experience and a sense of priviledge to be given this opportunity at the start of their studies. Our international students stated that by being involved in the tree planting project they felt that they had roots in Yorkshire and the county had made them feel extremely welcome and part of the community.
Future plans include the continued collaboration with Kirklees Council and the Woodland Trust in the design of a Visitor’s Centre in Dewsbury Country Park. A presentation is planned to take place at Dewsbury Museum in May 2015 showcasing the students work and building on the strong links the University of Huddersfield has with the community.
