WHEN Prince Charles unveiled plans for a model village on the outskirts of Dorchester in 1989, a mud hut was perhaps the last design he had in mind. But the latest addition planned for his Poundbury estate certainly fits the Duchy of Cornwall’s design brief for the ‘unashamedly traditional’.

Two Sudanese Toucal huts are to be built at Weymouth College’s new construction facility at Poundbury in support of a project by Dorchester couple, Richard and Claire Budd, to build a school in Sudan’s Kadugli region.

Mr Budd said: “We’re trying to raise money and awareness for the Grace Secondary School in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.

“I didn’t ever think we would be building huts up the road in Poundbury.

“The bigger picture for us is to raise cultural awareness. Sudan is a tough place to live, and people literally have to build houses by hand.”

A chance conversation with Paul Lonsdale, the deputy principal of Weymouth College, started a project to build the huts under a Dutch barn at the college’s construction and training centre. Mr Lonsdale said: “It’s a fabulous opportunity to learn a whole range of skills.

“The ultimate aim is to hold lessons within the Toucals, which will give the students a real sense of what life is like for people in Sudan.

“Hopefully, the Prince will come and see the Toucals.”

Poundbury estates manager Simon Conibear said the skills used to create the huts would be in line with the Prince’s design philosophy.

“Traditional building skills are at the heart of the Prince’s Vision of Britain principles.”

Local sponsors have helped out by providing materials for the Toucals, which stand about 8ft high and have thatched, conical roofs.

Bob Cottell, managing director of Dorchester printers, IPP Joules, said the firm had donated hazel wood from its project to restore ancient woodlands at Winterborne Clenston.

Four tonnes of sand from Bridport firm JC Phillips and Son will be mixed with straw from IPP’s woodland to create cob bricks to fill the walls of the huts.

Volunteers are needed to build the first hut on August 29 and September 5.

The second will be built by local school children during a week-long series of events in October.

To get involved, visit GraceSecondarySchool.com or call 07854 173244.