‘Topping out’ ceremony for timber-built woodland centre

The ceremony was held at the timber-built Woodland Discovery Centre in Ecclesall Woods, which is being created on the same site as the Ecclesall Sawmill.

When completed, the new centre will include visitor, education and training facilities to cater for school groups, local businesses and community organisations as well as families visiting the popular woodland.

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: “It is believed that the topping out custom began in Germany and the Scandinavian countries to bring good luck and to ward off evil spirits.

“A tree was often attached to the top of a house or barn under construction until the work was completed.”

The spokesman added that the Woodland Discovery Centre was being constructed to improve the “very limited” provision currently on offer for the visitors to Ecclesall Woods.

He said: “Over 300,000 visits are made to the woodland every year, with visitors travelling from across the region, but the visitor facilities are very limited at present.

“The additional toilet and refreshment facilities provided will showcase the sustainable use of wood in construction and provide an even better experience for visitors to the woods.”

The Sheffield Council spokesman added: “It is intended that the building will be open for school groups and visitors in the autumn term of 2011.”

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