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Bramall Learning Centre and Library

Purpose-built learning space and library central to the garden and open to all visitors to Harlow Carr

The home of learning

The learning programme at Harlow Carr is delivered in the Bramall Learning Centre. With its three classrooms, the centre supports learning for all ages and abilities, including the delivery of free workshops for schools, colleges and higher education, as well as our adult learning programme.

The Teaching Garden sits alongside the Learning Centre and is an interactive outdoor area with a diverse range of learning spaces, including a glasshouse, vegetable beds and wildlife pond.

A ‘greener’ building

Completed in 2010, the Learning Centre was designed to be highly energy efficient. As well as employing low-energy methods in its design and construction, and the use of locally-sourced materials, the building aims to be carbon neutral. It achieves this by way of super-insulating materials and maximum use of passive solar energy and natural ventilation.

Harmonising with the surroundings

The Learning Centre generates the equivalent of its own energy, heat and water requirements via a ground source heat pump, rainwater recycling, a sedum roof and solar water heating – making the best use of rainwater, sunlight and ground heat.

The shape of the building is intended to harmonise with the surrounding landscape and accentuate its most beautiful characteristics. Well-considered planting reflects the building’s waveform appearance.

The Library

Situated within the Bramall Learning Centre, the library is home to a large collection of books, as well as DVDs, popular magazines and specialist journals. It also has a children’s area and provides access to online resources.

Open daily, the library is staffed by a team of professional librarians and experienced volunteers. It offers an enquiry service on horticultural topics to all visitors, a lending service to RHS members and a regular programme of exhibitions and displays.

The Lodge

Opened in 2016, the Lodge is situated next to the Teaching Garden, with views over the Queen Mother’s Lake. The framework of the building is made from white oak and the sedum covered roof has been designed to nestle into the landscape.

The space was built as an extension to the Bramall Learning Centre and hosts adult learning opportunities within a supported learning environment.

The Bath House

The Bath House was built by Henry Wright in the 19th century to allow guests to experience the spa waters. The stone building originally contained 12 cubicles in which people would bathe in heated sulphur water. The wellheads which provided the water have since been capped, but on a calm day you may still catch a whiff of sulphur.

Since then, the Bath House has had multiple uses including as a study centre and library, and is now used as an exhibition space.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.