Concrete pouring

This week, the outline footings have been filled with reinforced concrete for what I'm told is called the oversite.  So we now have complete footings - dug, compacted, wall bases of brickwork on concrete, shale and now concrete raft floors.  The outside of the footings has also been infilled with earth back to level ground.  And not forgetting the necessary drainage pipework built into the concrete raft.

As you stand and look at it, it feels like the base of a building, for the first time really.

What next?  Well the plan for next week is:
Monday - plinth is fitted ready for the frame
Tuesday - scaffolding is erected
Wednesday - frame starts to go up

So next week is going to be a very exciting time for us.

Then it really will feel like a building in progress!  I went for a walk around the lake this evening, and looking across from the North shore as the Scouts set up for their evening's boating I was trying to picture the scene once the building is up.  With the Wildlife Centre up on the hill and the Aquativity Centre down on the shore, with a consistent design and materials across the 2 buildings, I think it will look very impressive.  And with regular boating activity in front of it, Testwood Lakes is going to enter a new and exciting phase - wildlife and boating co-existing in a fantastic location, with purpose built facilities for both.