Media invite
What: Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority is to help launch one of Cumbria’s leading woodfuel projects at the Langdale Hotel and Estate, near Ambleside.
Where: Langdale Hotel, The Langdale Estate, Great Langdale, near Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9JD
When: 2.30pm, Thursday 30th of April 2009
Media who would like to attend the launch should contact Jon Perkins or Paul Gardner on 01524-782086 or email jon@ospreycommunications.co.uk
Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority is to help launch one of Cumbria’s leading woodfuel projects at the Langdale Hotel & Spa, near Ambleside, on Thursday the 30th of April 2009.
Mr Leafe will join Langdale Hotel & Spa Director of Resort Operations, Nick Lancaster, to fire up the new, hi-tech woodchip boiler, provide a chipping demonstration, talk to people about woodfuel as a sustainable energy source and show people around the new boiler house.
The Langdale Estate includes a luxury hotel and spa, timeshare and self catering holiday accommodation in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Estate management team is striving to balance the requirements of its visitors with the sensitivities of the local and wider environment, so the installation of a new woodchip boiler is part their long term commitment to sustainable tourism and to being an ethical employer.
The new woodchip boiler will reduce the Estate’s dependency on LPG (liquid propane gas) and the high cost and volatile pricing that it entails. The woodchip boiler will now provide the main fuel source to heat the hotel’s leisure area, including swimming and spa pools; two restaurants; 10 bedrooms and conference facilities.
Fossil fuels such as oil and gas release carbon dioxide, which both contribute to climate change. Renewable fuels such as wood are part of a cycle where carbon is captured, released and then captured again as the forest grows, so burning wood instead of oil and gas is good for the planet.
Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, says:
“Biomass – along with hydro power - is a significant renewable energy source in the National Park. Its use as a fuel is important in our plans to have a Low Carbon Lake District. Getting the tourism sector to take seriously its environmental and carbon impacts is vital in the Lake District.
“This scheme is a perfect example of how these objectives and can be achieved and sets the right direction for others to follow.”
The Langdale Estate woodchip boiler was fitted by Cumbrian specialist W. Barden Biomasss, who supply woodchip boilers and woodchips. The Langdale boiler was a flagship commission for the company.
William Barden explained:
“Winning hearts and minds is crucial in our campaign to get the county thinking about woodfuel. To have such a high profile organisation championing green energy is a breakthrough. Countless visitors will benefit from a system run on locally sourced timber and will hopefully learn about one of our greatest sources of renewable energy – wood.”
The Langdale Estate have also created safe public viewing panels in the on-site fuel bunker and safe access to the main boiler for guided visits from anyone interested in woodfuel.
Nick Lancaster, Director of Resort Operations at Langdale Hotel & Spa, says:
“The decision to use woodfuel was initially brought about by the cost savings involved and a wish to reduce our reliance on LPG. The type of woodfuel we chose, chip rather than pellets, was motivated by a wish to use a locally sourced product that would reduce our Carbon Footprint further, whilst benefiting not only the local economy but also local woodlands and their biodiversity.”
The Langdale Estate was supported by grants and advice from Cumbria Woodlands and the Forestry Commission.
Neville Elstone, Rural Development Officer from Cumbria Woodlands, says:
“Using wood to heat businesses and homes in Cumbria has real benefits for local people and woodlands. Effective woodland management helps to create new markets for timber, which is really good for woodland biodiversity and helps protect our beautiful landscapes.”
The Forestry Commission in England is supporting the development of woodfuel as a clean, efficient and renewable energy source.
The Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Strategy for England is to bring an additional two million tonnes of wood into the market, annually, by 2020 saving 400,000 tonnes of carbon every year – the equivalent of 3.6 million barrels of crude oil and enough to supply 250,000 homes with energy. To achieve this target they are focusing their efforts on the potential wood resource available in the 60% of English woodlands that are currently undermanaged.
During the past year over £200,000 worth of grants have been committed by the Forestry Commission in North West England to regenerate the region’s woodlands and help boost the local economy.
Peter Fox, Woodland Officer for the Forestry Commission, says:
”There is huge potential to increase the use of woodfuel using wood from Cumbria's undermanaged woodlands. Well managed woodlands can benefit the local economy by creating and supporting jobs in the woodfuel supply chain. They also provide increased biodiversity benefits and a renewable source of cheap, carbon lean fuel.”
For more information on the Langdale Estate woodfuel project visit www.langdale.co.uk/environment/index.htm
For more information about Cumbria Woodlands visit www.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk
For more information about the Forestry Commission and woodfuel visit www.forestry.gov.uk/england-woodfuel
Ends
NOTES TO EDITOR
- Images of the launch event will be available from Friday the 1st of May 2009 by calling 01524-782086.
- Nick Lancaster (Director of Resort Operations) from Langdale Hotel & Spa; Neville Elstone (Rural Development Officer) from Cumbria Woodlands and Peter Fox (Woodland Officer) from the Forestry Commission are available for interview. Please contact 01524-782086 for interview requests.
- National Woodfuel Policy
The UK Government is committed to combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. In 2008, Government signed up to European targets to produce 15% of all energy produced in the UK from renewable sources and the recent Renewable Energy Strategy proposed that 30% of that renewable energy would come from bioenergy. Woodfuel is a sustainable and low carbon source of bioenergy that can make a substantial contribution to achieving these targets. For more information on national renewable energy and climate change policy visit the Department for Energy and Climate website.
Within the Forestry Commission, England, Scotland and Wales are working in partnership with many private and public sector organisations to help deliver these national bioenergy targets.
- Forestry Commission England is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland
- Forestry Commission England runs the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) to support and promote the national and regional delivery of forestry policy, as set out in the Government's Rural Strategy. EWGS is part of the Defra family of environmental support. Further information about these schemes can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm. EWGS is a part of the Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE).
- The Forestry Commission (FC) North West England (NEW) is a regional arm of the Forestry Commission. It supports the delivery of wide-spread public benefits across the region, using woodland management and creation as the basis for change. The FC NWE region has a diverse remit; as a grant giving body to the woodland sector; the region's forestry regulatory body; helping the region to address climate change by developing wood fuel supply; supporting and developing the region's forest and woodland industries; actively promoting and protecting the Northwest's natural heritage (especially ancient trees and woodlands) and enabling communities across the region to live healthier lives. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland-grants
- MEDIA CONTACTS: Peter Fox (Woodland Officer) on 017687-76616 or 07768-142942; Neville Elstone (Rural Development Officer) Cumbria Woodlands on 01539-822140 or Nick Lancaster (Director of Resort Operations) Langdale Estate on 015394-37302.