SPECKLED Wood, the National Trust's new "eco-friendly" building in Haslemere, is to have its official opening on July 28.

Jane Cecil, the National Trust's general manager for the South Downs, will perform the official opening by assisted by Ben Law and David Elliott, head warden for Blackdown, at 3pm.

It will be part of a "green woodworking" event from 10am to 4pm with crafts on show including pole lathing, charcoal burning and whistle making. There will also be a chance to tour the new timber-framed building, at Swan Barn Farm, in Collards Lane, climb onto a tractor and enjoy a hog roast.

Mr Elliott said: "The plan is for the event to merge into the opening of the building, and for that to later merge into a bit of a party through the evening for everyone who has helped the building become a reality.

"We will be lighting the barbecue at 5pm and cracking open a couple of barrels of Swan Barn Farm cider."

The new building has been built using sustainable materials, almost all sourced from National Tust land.

The aim is for it to have very high "green credentials" and a low carbon footprint. Grand Designs television star Ben Law helped design and build Speckled Wood, which is named after a butterfly, It will house long-term National Trust volunteers.