Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) has officially unveiled a new environmental education centre at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

HDC has worked in partnership with the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough, the Friends of Paxton Pits and Cambridgeshire Horizons on the scheme. Built by Derbyshire-based Pinelog, the building was constructed off-site and features a similar design to an existing visitor centre at the reserve. Facilities include a classroom, an office and toilets.

The building's design also includes environmental features, such as a wood-burning stove and a green sedum roof. It will be used by the local Wildlife Trust to house its Paxton Pits education programme. A Little Bugs Club for pre-school children, a Greenwatch group for 12-18-year-olds and adult learning workshops are also set to run as part of a partnership between the trust and HDC.

Funding was provided by Natural England through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and the Housing Growth Fund. HDC executive councillor for operational and countryside services Colin Hyams said: "This new environmental education centre is a great example of partnership working, and will provide much improved facilities for schools and wildlife groups.

"It provides the ideal base for children to learn about and enjoy the local wildlife that is abundant at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve."