A HIGH Wycombe office block has been transformed beyond recognition.

In March 2012, the Wycombe Environment Centre moved into the former office premises and, a year and a half on, the team have made incredible progress.

The purpose of the Wycombe Environment Centre is to encourage the High Wycombe community to live in a more sustainable way.

It is a charity run by volunteers, ranging in age between 16 and 86.

The centre also welcomes those on university placements, both gratefully accepting their help and providing students with the opportunity to put their considerable talents to good use.

Volunteers have contributed over 8,000 hours of their time so far to this cause.

Frances Alexander, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: "The trustees have the overview, but the volunteers have done it all. This wouldn’t have been possible without them."

The Environment Centre boasts numerous attractions: there are six large rooms, including a biodiversity room and a training room, in which eco-enterprise courses are run.

Outside, there is a vegetable bed and a picnic area, forming the perfect summer lunch spot.

Visitors can enjoy painting and drawing with Robert Stewart, the centre’s artist in residence, or attend a Gardening Work Group with Henri Court. However, there is still more work to be done.

Plans in progress include cooking classes, a chicken run, and a bee observation hive.

The bees, who were a favourite with children at the Environment Centre’s former premises, are expected to be in situ in their new hive by October half term.

Frances Alexander encouraged visitors, promising: "Bees are on their way." She added:

"People are always coming in to see us. We really have been taken to the hearts of the people of High Wycombe."

To find out more, please visit www.ecobuzz.org, or explore the Wycombe Environment Centre’s Facebook page.