Hudson Architects are thrilled to announce our new project partnership with the FibreBroads research project.
Focused on the Broads and Norfolk Fens regions the “FibreBroads” project will focus on how rewetting land for paludiculture (profitable wetland crops) can remediate peat soils from degradation and reduce carbon emissions. Over the last 40 years, the Broads have lost an estimated 1 million tonnes of carbon, highlighting the need and opportunity for investment in our local peatlands to positively impact the environment.
Over the next two years, the FibreBroads project will aim to overcome the barriers to achieving commercially viable paludiculture. We will tackle the challenges across the supply chain from cultivating the crops to transforming them into innovative building materials. Our primary role at Hudson Architects is to contribute to the field of bio-based construction material innovation by reviewing paludiculture products to assess their potential as construction materials. And develop construction details for a small-scale prototype building using paludiculture products.
The FibreBroads Project runs from June 2023 to March 2025 and is funded by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and administered by Natural England. The project partners include the Broads Authority as lead partner, Norfolk County Council, Norwich Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (NFWAG), Wetland Products Foundation (WPF), Norwich University of the Arts and Palladium.
We are eager to share the knowledge gained throughout this journey and will keep you updated on the project’s progress. We believe this topic is not only locally relevant but also immensely intriguing, and we hope you find it as captivating as we do.
As we embark on this new project, we are also keen to connect with knowledgeable and passionate individuals in this field. If you are enthusiastic about paludiculture and sustainable practices and would like to engage in meaningful discussions, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
For more information visit the Broads Authority’s website.
Image 1 – Peatland. Image: www.peatlands.org
