Our Purposes

The Building Limes Forum’s  purposes are to encourage expertise and understanding in the appropriate use of building limes and education in the standards of production, preparation, application and after-care and thereby:

• advance education in the appropriate use of lime in building, whether in traditional structures or new-build;
• advance the art, heritage, culture and science of building limes through exchange of information and expertise, promotion of traditional building skills, development of appropriate industrial and craft skills and techniques, and participation in research;
• advance environmental protection or improvement through the promotion of the appropriate use of building limes.

The Forum aims to achieve these purposes by:

• exchanging, collating and disseminating information, through publications, meetings and conferences;
• encouraging practical research and development through academic research, field studies, trials, monitoring and analysis;
• encouraging development of appropriate industrial and craft skills and techniques;
• educating building professionals, builders, conservators, craftsmen and -women and property owners in the appropriate use of lime in building through demonstrations, publications and courses;
• developing contacts with institutions and individuals outside the forum and in other countries who have relevant experience or knowledge;

The principal activities employed to achieve the Forum’s purposes are:

• the on-line membership list which creates a network for all members to share their knowledge, experience and expertise;
• the website, which provides basic information for the public at large, a list of publications on the use of lime in building and links to other sources of information;
• the annual Journal with articles about the latest research, historical reviews and case studies of new build and conservation projects;
• regular newsletters with shorter articles and information covering all aspects of the use of lime in building;
• the annual conference, seminars and training days, all of which cover aspects of the use of lime in building;
• support of research into building limes;
• liaison with other lime forums throughout the world; and
• consultations with and lobbying of governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals about Standards and Codes of Practice, training in building skills, and any other aspect of the use of lime in building which further the objectives of the Forum.

Membership of the Building Limes Forum is open to all, no prior knowledge or experience in the use of lime in building is required. Members of the Building Limes Forum form a community of lime enthusiasts and practitioners, most of whom are producers, suppliers, specifiers or users of lime. Membership indicates primarily an eagerness to learn and a willingness to share; it does not of itself confer automatic expert status.

The Building Limes Forum is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). The Forum was founded in 1992 to promote the development of expertise and understanding in the use of lime in building. The Forum was given charitable status in 2002 and was incorporated in 2012.  The Building Limes Forum is managed by a committee of up to fifteen members, who are elected from the membership.

Conveners of the Building Limes Forum have been:
Peter Burman (1992-2000)
James Simpson (2000-04)
Ian Brocklebank (2004-08)
Stafford Holmes (2008-11)
Jeremy Blake (2011-15)
Simon Swann (2016-17)
James Simpson (2018- )

The Annual General Meeting is held during the annual Conference. The BLF is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as Scottish Charitable Incorporate Organisation No SC033659.

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