Hadlow College has opened what is believed to be the first education centre in the UK with a focus on sustainability.
The Hadlow College Rural Regeneration Centre is thought to be the first centre of its kind to focus exclusively on researching, developing, influencing and supporting sustainable rural regeneration in the UK.
The building, constructed to PassivHaus sustainable standards, will help strengthen ties between the college and the horticulture industry.
The centre will act as a hub for conferences and seminars, a visitor centre for schools and a skills training and business advice hub.
In a statement, the college said it was the “right time to launch the centre” with the challenges presented to the industry by food security.
It said: “The UK is going to be increasingly dependent on a strong, progressive and forward-looking rural sector to produce more food.
“The various programmes set up to protect the environment will be more important than ever before, especially in relation to the most vulnerable areas.”
