Exmoor Low Carbon Festival

Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2012

With everything from hydro power, wood heating systems, setting up community energy projects or trying an electric bike, the Dartmoor and Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2012 from the 1 to 7 October has exciting events on offer for those interested in saving energy and the environment.
At the Lyn Food Festival on Sunday 30 September people will be able to enjoy a ‘taster’ where local produce from a variety of food and drink manufacturers will show how low food miles improve the flavour. The festival also includes arts and crafts, live music and entertainment. For more details see www.lynfoodfest.co.uk
On Tuesday 2 October there will be a morning tour of a newly installed 25kW hydropower scheme at Broford Farm near Dulverton where people will be able to see for themselves how Exmoor’s water resources can be harnessed. Energy produced in this way can help farms and businesses on Exmoor to generate revenue from their water resources and farmers can reduce their costs by doing some of the work themselves. Experts will be on hand to answer questions, including the Environment Agency and representatives from the company that installed the system and. The half day event costs £10 (including light lunch buffet) and will cover information on hydro system design, costs and payback, consents and licences required. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions that people may have about their own potential hydro site.
 An introduction to wood heating systems will be the focus of an event at the Exmoor Forest Inn in Simonsbath on Wednesday 3 October.  This will be a great opportunity to see the newly installed, automated wood chip heating system at the Exmoor Forest Inn in Simonsbath which is set to save its owners thousands of pounds a year. The event will include a guided tour of the heating system, information about wood boilers work, how they can reduce heating costs and generate revenue, the costs and payback, wood fuel supply and also advice on managing your own woodland.
This event will be of particular interest to tourism and other businesses and also households with a high heat demand. The cost of the event will be £10 including lunch.
At the same venue there will also be a chance to take the sting out of Exmoor’s hills with a free taster session to enjoy cycling through this beautiful part of the moor with a bit of electrical assistance. A number of electric bikes are available for up to an hour, fully charged but free of charge, courtesy of Exmoor Unplugged, Experience Exmoor and Reaction Electric. For more details and to book, please contact Ben Eardley, email: bdeardley@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.ul on 01398 323665.
At the Minehead Energy Saving Centre Open Day (next to the Cooperative Supermarket) on Thursday 4 October there’s free and impartial energy saving advice. The newly opened advice centre will have qualified domestic energy advisers on hand to answer questions. Advice will also be available regarding grants and other financial supports for energy saving measures. For more details contact Virginia Evans on 01643 703161 vireva@yahoo.co.uk
The community renewable energy workshop on Friday 5th October 2012, at Winsford Village Hall will be the ideal place for people who want to turn ‘the talk’ into action. Experts who have worked on such community schemes will be on hand to provide the experience and expertise to help develop and realise local opportunities and to begin to remove the barriers that prevent these initiatives from getting off the ground. Anyone who owns some woodland, a stretch of river, or some buildings can also find out how it could be used to harvest renewable energy for the benefit of the community. This event is free and a buffet lunch will be provided. Places will be limited so people should book early to avoid disappointment.
Tim Stokes from Exmoor National Park Authority says: “We would especially like people to attend who have ideas for community projects or who would be interested in investing in community energy schemes.”  For more information or to book your place, contact Ben Eardley BDeardley@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk  or Tim Stokes tcstokes@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk on 01398 323665.
Other events being run in the week include a woodcraft demonstration and taster sessions at Pulhams Mill near Brompton Regis and the Exmoor Food Fair Weekend in Porlock on 6 - 7 October.
If you would like to know more, attend any of the events or have any ideas for your own that you would like to contribute then please get in touch with Ben Eardley at Exmoor National Park Authority on 01398 323665 or email him at bdeardley@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk.  To view details of the festival programme please visit http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/communities/sustainable-exmoor/low-carbon-festival

Published: 24 August 2012