September 11, 2025
Dr Judith Thornton joins the SBUK Symposium 2025 stage
When we talk about straw bale buildings in the UK, we usually assume they are built of wheat straw. In Japan, mention straw and people will assume rice. Dr Judith Thornton will explore when and where it might matter what straw we use in buildings — and what this tells us about agriculture, materials, and the future of construction.
Dr Judith Thornton is a Low Carbon Research Fellow at the Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University. Her work sits at the interface of environmental building materials and plant science, with a wider interest in how agricultural systems might need to adapt in a post-fossil fuel economy.
Early bird and member discounts are now available.
Architect and urban designer Clara Koehler of Woodknowledge Wales to speak at SBUK Symposium 2025
SBUK Symposium welcomes Jonathan Davies to 2025 speaker line-up
Paul Crosby joins SBUK Symposium 2025 speaker line-up
Denmark's Embodied Carbon Story and Learnings for Part Z
Post-occupancy insights from a real straw panel home – energy, comfort, and lessons learned
Pioneering circular insulation with wheat straw – made in the UK
A lived-in look at seasonal comfort, heat loss and real-world performance in a straw panel home.
Watch now: Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction
Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction with Chris Hawker and Ben Nother
📅 **25 March 2025**
📍 **Online Event**
Timber framing plays a crucial role in straw bale construction, influencing durability, efficiency, and design. In this session, Hawkland’s Chris Hawker and Ben Nother will share their expertise, using their latest build near Ross-on-Wye as a case study.
They will explore:
✔️ The specific approach they have taken to constructing the timber frame
✔️ How their designs have evolved over the years
✔️ The reasoning behind their current method
✔️ A broader discussion on timber-frame vs load-bearing straw bale construction
The session will conclude with a Q&A, offering the opportunity to gain insights from two of the UK’s leading practitioners in timber and straw construction.