TV personality David Bellamy opened a new £500,000 education centre at Sutton Courtenay -- then rolled up his sleeves to help children go pond dipping.

David Bellamy at the new education centre

The new building in the shadow of Didcot Power Station's cooling towers replaces the 90-year-old bungalow and portable classroom that have hosted school and youth group visits for the last 25 years.

The centre run by BBOWT -- the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust -- is one of the first of its kind to use environmentally sustainable products, including cedar shingles and a turf roof. The energy-saving design makes maximum use of natural light, efficient wood burning stoves, earth walls and rainwater for flushing toilets. Many of the interior materials are recycled.

The centre has two classrooms, office space, a storage area, a kitchen and toilets. It will cater for more than 10,000 schoolchildren from the three counties each year, as well as community groups and adult visitors.

Wildlife and industry exist side-by-side on the 13-acre nature reserve, which is home to protected species such as great crested newts, grizzled skipper butterflies and water voles. The centre has been built as a partnership scheme between BBOWT, Oxfordshire County Council, power station owners Innogy, several other companies, individual members and charitable trusts. Innogy contributed £300,000.

Mr Bellamy praised the new centre and said he hoped it would encourage children to have greater understanding and appreciation of wildlife and the environment.

He then went pond dipping and bug hunting with children from Orchard Meadow School, Blackbird Leys, Oxford.