OVER ONE THIRD OF THE WORLDS POPULATION….
APPROXIMATELY 3 BILLION PEOPLE ON SIX CONTINENTS….
LIVES OR WORKS IN BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED OF EARTH.
Established in 1994, EARTHA was formed with the aim of fostering the cause of earth building in East Anglia. Within the region, there are thousands of examples of earth built structures, whether that of domestic dwellings or civic buildings. These heritage buildings are mostly examples of the Wattle and Daub technique, and Clay Lump.
Due to the unique qualities of earth, along with many other natural building materials, these historic buildings still stand strong. We therefore think it is necessary to promote and conserve these structures the best we can for future reference.
An example of wattle and daub. Replacing the split hazel (wattle), and using clay render (daub) to patch in. The old daub can be recycled and re-used.
We would like to preserve examples of these building techniques for years to come, to highlight the many beneficial properties of living in and building with earth materials.
By looking at the historical uses of earthen building, for which examples go back thousands of years, we want to embrace the future of more natural based construction, so to provide a more sustainable, low impact and healthier means of development today.
Meet our EARTHA Network
EARTHA is a platform for individuals and companies to express their interest in all things earth building, and to help to share knowledge and information within the earth-building community.
We are here to help connect people and businesses with earth-based construction and conservation services within East Anglia.
As a Community, EARTHA hopes to continue to keep alive earth building practices akin to East Anglia, and to so many properties that exist within the region.
Workshops
Demonstrations, hands on workshops, and on-site training sessions are held during the warmer months at various locations throughout the East Anglian region. These cover the two principal forms of clay construction of Wattle and Daub, and Clay Lump.
Above is a wattle and daub workshop that took place at Shotesham, just outside Norwich, Norfolk. This was part of a full day event, ‘Unfired Clay Day’, which you can find more about in our News / Events page.
Conferences
We also hold Conferences through the year, our most recent, ‘The Future is Earth’, was a full day event, held at The Gamekeeper, Old Buckenham, Norfolk. Guest speakers, Anthony Hudson (Hudson Architects), gave a brilliant and insightful presentation on the domestic CobBauge House in Fakenham, and Will Stanwix (The Hemp Block Company), discussed with us his personal and professional progression, development and testing of natural, sustainable building materials.
Let us know what you are interested in.....
Building a New Earth Construction
At EARTHA, we have knowledgeable and experienced Committee Members, who may be able to give guidance on issues concerning new earth build properties, and in particular with clay. We hold events concerning new build constructions, and many of our members hold an interest or profession in creating sustainable and energy efficient properties themselves.
Building for the Future
With so many concerns regarding the impact we have on our environment and our health, incorporating a material such as clay into our construction methods would only have positive outcomes in helping to create a sustainable built environment. Learn more from our EARTHA community about the ways in which natural building materials can support a more beneficial future for the construction industry as a whole.
Repairing an Existing Clay Property
Do you own a property that consists of Wattle and Daub or Clay Lump construction, and in need of technical advice. Would you like to attend workshops and conferences that allow you to see firsthand, the means and methods of these long established building practices, to repair your own property. Becoming an EARTHA Member opens up a whole community of people and businesses who share similar interests in the repair and reuse of clay architecture within East Anglia.
Heritage Architecture in East Anglia
Would you like to know more about the heritage building within the region, and why they have been an important and influential attribute to East Anglia’s built environment. Find out how and why these historic buildings have survived through the years, and discover the many benefits of using clay as a building material.
Become an EARTHA Member
As EARTHA celebrates it’s 30th Anniversary, we would welcome you to consider becoming part of our organisation, and be able to take advantage of the many benefits of EARTHA’s Membership such as:
- Member’s concessions for our Workshops and Training Sessions.
- Member’s concessions for our Conferences and Webinars.
- CPD accreditted events.
- Access to a Member’s Area on the EARTHA website.
- Subscribe your business to our Professional Service Directory.
- Advice on property repairs.
- Knowledge from specialist committees in Conservation and New Earth Builds.
- Connecting with like-minded people & professions.
A yearly Membership subscription is just £25 per person, and allows for you to make the most out of the EARTHA network and all of our events.
Please click the link below to become an EARTHA Member. Instructions on how to make payment of your membership by bank transfer will be available after you register, and will also be sent via email (you may need to check your spam/junk folder for this correspondence). Your User profile on our website will then be activated. While we aim to be speedy on this process, membership is manually reviewed, so please allow for a few days in response.
If you have any enquiries regarding EARTHA Membership, please feel free to email: contact@eartha.org.uk
Earth Building Services
The Service Directory can be used for reference, if you are in need of help regarding a particular earth build service or trade. If you are unable to find the right information, we may be able to connect you with an appropriate service through our network of members.
If you are a business that would like to join our network, please consider a yearly subscription starting from £25, and your company will then be added to our directory of earth-build services.
For more information, please click the link to our Service Directory page, or email: contact@eartha.org.uk
The Future is Earth Conference: 28th November 2024
Marking our 30th Anniversary, we held our first EARTHA Conference after a period of time, held at The Gamekeeper at Old Buckenham, Norfolk. This all day event welcomed talks from a whole host of guest speakers, drawing conversation from both new and old earth build enthusiasts. To all that attended, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did hosting!
Keep an eye on EARTHA News, for more events and workshops to come.
MSC Naturally awarded 'Most Innovative Sustainable Manufacturer 2025' - UK for BETTABLOK
Our very own EARTHA chair, an original member of the organisation, and Owner and Director of MSC Naturally, Malcolm Carrington, will be heading to FUTURE BUILD 4-6th March 2025, exhibiting his earth build material, BETTABLOK.
BETTABLOK is a sustainable building material of an unfired clay, chalk, lime, sand and straw mix, designed to be quickly installed, with zero production waste, 100% fully recyclable and miniumum energy input.
Our Charter & Constitution
East Anglian Regional Telluric Houses Association
By resolution on Monday 21st November 1994 there came into existence an association, to be registered in due course as a charity, henceforth to be known as EARTHA. (The East Anglia Earth Buildings Group).
The aims and objectives are to encourage the development of expertise and understanding in all aspects of earth building in the east of England by:
a) Establishing a network of people from various professions and trades all of whom have an interest in the study, maintenance and promotion of earth buildings in the east of England: through links with ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) it will join with other networks in the United Kingdom and worldwide.
b) Providing a forum for discussion of issues relating to earth building in the east of England.
c) Providing advice on the repair and maintenance of earth buildings through an information service, the publication of technical guidance and the organisation of practical demonstrations, exhibitions and seminars.
d) Establishing mutually beneficial links with groups and individuals working with earth buildings in other parts of the Britain and abroad.
e) Collaborating with other networks to prepare and publish information manual covering all aspects of the construction, repair and maintenance of earth buildings including composite structures, daubs, renders and plasters.
f) Encouraging and supporting training in the field of earth building and associated skills.
g) Encouraging the revival of appropriate earth building techniques for new building construction and investigating the potential of the material for low energy buildings.
h) to promote earth building and other natural, sustainable materials and building techniques to help address and mitigate the current environmental crisis.
In pursuance of the aims and objectives the association shall hold annual workshops and AGM, normally in the early autumn.
Eartha shall be managed by a Management Committee, whose members will be drawn from the wider Association membership. The Management Committee shall consist of at least 5 and not more than 8 members of Eartha. The quorum of the committee shall be 50% of the membership but not less than four committee members.
When a vacancy occurs, new committee members, who must be unanimously approved by the existing committee, can be invited to join. The committee must be confirmed by the membership at the AGM. The committee may also co-opt Eartha members, should that become necessary, between consecutive AGMs
The Management committee must elect from amongst its number a chair, a membership secretary and a Treasurer.
The management committee shall normally meet at least three times a year to transact formal business on behalf of the Association and in particular to work towards the furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Association.
The Association shall establish an annual subscription, to be reviewed by the Management Committee and agreed by the AGM from time to time.
The Management Committee shall establish and maintain a bank or building society account for the good ordering of the financial affairs of the Association.
Accounts shall be kept of all monies received and expended by the Association and those accounts shall be examined and reported on by the Management Committee and approved by the membership at the AGM.
There shall be a regular publication of the transactions and an informal newsletter.