THE STOKE 2000 | Education & Recycling Project

Art | Culture | Education | Heritage | Recycling

From Pallet to Project

A Circular Economy Story

‘A Up Orate Duck?’ I’m Chris Parr, BBC Environmental Award winner, the Prime Minister’s Points of Light recipient, multi award winning social entrepreneur and wood-craftsman. Born and fired in Burslem, also known as the Mother Town in the City of Stoke-on-Trent (the Potteries). The global capital of the ceramics industry, and birthplace to the world famous master potter, Josiah Wedgwood.

I started my learning journey as a cabinet maker designing and creating wooden fireplaces, showing my versatility by gaining skills in machine woodworking and bench joinery. From working with raw timber, through to the finished furniture assembly and wood treatment. I now project-manage innovative and interesting ventures, connecting with local people and places while showing the skills and imagination that gave my city its creative title. My new social enterprise, championing Stoke’s industrial heritage is:

THE STOKE 2000

Recycling in the Current Climate

Reducing Carbon Emissions Locally

About the Project

The STOKE 2000 is an art, culture, education and recycling project. It sees the creation of over two thousand bottle kiln shaped garden wall planters and relatable products, handmade from unwanted pallet wood in a variety of versions. Helping to celebrate Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial and pottery heritage while reducing CO2 emissions across the City. We work with youth and community groups tackling social issues such as loneliness, isolation while increasing people’s wellbeing.

We Work With:

schools & youth organisations
colleges & universities
community groups & charities
local authorities

Collaboration

We are open to work with a range of groups from the public, private and voluntary sectors to help us to reach our target of reinstating over 2000 bottle-ovens across the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

Our workshops can be differentiated to any group’s needs and all products will be handmade from recycled wooden pallets. Basic woodworking skills will also be developed by young people, students, volunteers, local crafters and the learning supported by insured, qualified and experienced staff. Get in touch!

To summarise, The STOKE 2000 is an art, culture, education and community recycling project helping to reduce the City’s carbon footprint. The enterprise also saves the local business community and Stoke-on-Trent City Council more than 37.6 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Our purpose is to make a positive environmental impact by recycling pallet wood, leaving a cultural legacy while tackling climate change.

(view our other statistics and data here).

Chris Parr Bottleoven Dudson Centre — *Chris Parr and the Enterprise’s 200th planter*

An art, culture and education project celebrating Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial heritage through recycling.