Oak-Framed Activity Centre and Office for Walton Firs
A lasting, characterful hub supporting the centre’s operations and visitors for over a decade
Walton Firs is a charitable outdoor activity centre providing educational and recreational experiences for young people. To improve its facilities, the Foundation commissioned a 172m² oak-framed building to house offices, a shop, and a training room.
This was the first collaboration between Walton Firs and Round Wood of Mayfield, with our team assisting in the design and manufacture to deliver a functional space that complemented its green belt surroundings.
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The Client: Walton Firs
The Walton Firs Foundation operates a 50-acre activity centre in Surrey, providing outdoor learning, team-building, and residential experiences for over 20,000 young people each year. The charity plays a vital role in promoting personal development, confidence and teamwork through hands-on learning.
Durable facilities like this oak-framed centre are essential to maintaining its year-round programme and supporting the growing number of schools, youth groups, and community organisations that use the site.
Their Challenge
Walton Firs required a multi-purpose building that could serve as an administrative base, visitor hub, and training space while fitting naturally within its green belt location. The Foundation wanted a structure with character and lasting presence, rather than a conventional modern build, to reflect the site’s natural setting and community purpose.
As a charity, budget efficiency was critical, so value and thoughtful design were priorities from the outset. Planning permission was secured in around three months, allowing the project to progress quickly once the design was finalised.
Our Solution
As this was our first project with Walton Firs, we worked closely with the Foundation to refine the design.
‘Round Wood proved to be best on price, offering assistance with the design in order to meet the Foundation’s objectives.’
Crafted using traditional mortise and tenon joints and fully planed oak, the frame was completed within approximately six months, setting the foundation for a trusted ongoing partnership with Walton Firs.
Project Journey
The process ran smoothly from start to finish, remaining within its planned budget and completion schedule, with no issues encountered on site. Close collaboration between our design team and the Walton Firs Foundation ensured every stage stayed on schedule and aligned with the project’s objectives.
Compared with the challenges often faced in similar developments, this project stood out for its cost control and the shared commitment to achieving a lasting result. The project remained within its planned budget and was completed on schedule, a testament to the team’s attention to detail and communication throughout.
Walton Firs’ Perspective
The team at Walton Firs were delighted with the finished building, which met every objective in terms of cost, design, and usability.
‘Staff are very happy working in the building and visitors often comment on what a fine building it is.’
The new centre quickly became a focal point for both operations and community engagement, handling the functional and aesthetic load only an oak-framed structure can.
The Bespoke Oak-Framed Centre
More than a decade since its completion, the oak-framed activity centre remains at the heart of daily life at Walton Firs. Serving as the main administrative hub, on-site shop, and training facility, it continues to perform flawlessly after over a decade of constant use. The building’s design has drawn consistent praise from staff and visitors alike, standing as a testament to our craftsmanship and attention to detail.
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Choosing Us for Your Next Project
We stand with more than 30 years’ experience in crafting oak-framed buildings, using traditional joinery techniques and sourcing all our timber sustainably. From small-scale garden structures to large commercial builds, our team delivers every project with care.
Thinking about an oak-framed building for your own site?
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