IF you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise – and a bit more comfort.
Bright Woods Forest School has installed a new, environmentally friendly composting toilet at their site in Deepdale Woods, Startforth, thanks to a grant from the Teesdale Action Partnership (Tap) capital fund.
Gemma McColl, director of the CIC company, which offers outdoor learning experiences to both children and adults, said: “We previously had a Portaloo but it wasn’t very inviting, it was difficult to get in and out and for some people who get anxious in small spaces it posed more of a problem.
“The grant from Tap has allowed us to install a composting toilet, which is more in keeping with our ethos and will have disabled access.
“Waste will go into bins and will then go to the composting area for around a year.”
The new facilities, which ensures all waste is recycled, are housed in a spacious and airy wooden building and is complete with urinal, toilet and hand washing facilities.
Due to its proximity to the stream all waste will be collected in bins, then taken to the composting area, where it will break down.
Within a year the waste can then go to help fertilise plants naturally.
Volunteers from Durham Wildlife Trust helped to prepare the ground ahead of the construction by Free Range Designs, an environmentally company which specialises in building composting toilets.
Mrs McColl added: “It will really open up our opportunities to more people, but more importantly this will help make the site more accessible and inclusive, especially to those with special needs.
“We have also twinned the toilet with a small village in Pakistan, which supports females getting into business and this was important to us at Bright Woods as it was also set up by females.”
By twinning the toilet, money is provided to help fund a project in a poor community to enable families to build a basic toilet, have access to clean water and learn about hygiene. For more information about toilet twinning, visit www.toilettwinning.org.
