We’re happy to share our learning: Exmoor National Park Authority
Young people are key to the future
An ambitious pilot project set in Exmoor National Park is keen to share its learning with others as it continues its exciting net zero journey.
Exmoor National Park Authority has installed a biomass boiler at Pinkery Outdoor Learning Centre as part of its journey to being carbon neutral.
The off-grid centre hosts thousands of young people and other groups every year who are keen to learn more about the environment and nature conservation.
The biomass boiler project has been funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
Salix visited the site, set in its own wild moorland valley in the heart of Exmoor's Dark Skies Reserve, this week to learn more about the project and see the biomass boiler in action.
From left: Ahmed Ali and Nadim El Bakri of Salix, Clare Reid, Sarah Bryan, Andrea Davis, Ben Totterdell and Dave Huxtable from Exmoor National Park Authority.
Credit: Salix Finance
Salix was accompanied by Exmoor National Park Chief Executive Sarah Bryan, as well as Exmoor National Park Authority Chairman, Andrea Davis, Learning and Engagement Manager, Ben Totterdell and Clare Reid, Head of Strategy and Performance for national park.
Exmoor National Park Authority Chief Executive Sarah Bryan said: “This is a challenging site, and the weather conditions are tough, the challenges of being off grid are significant.
“This project means that our centre will be warm and cosy, and we are using the technology of the future and by tapping into the screens it means we can now instantly monitor the energy we are using.
“We have created a green print for the future and the fact that the young people are so engaged is essential, our young people are the future.”
Chairman of Exmoor National Park Authority and Cabinet member for Climate change in Devon, Andrea Davis, said the centre was keen to share its learning.
She said: “I would encourage others to go for it, and although many smaller organisations don’t have the expertise to work on these kinds of projects, they can contact us, we are happy to share our learning. It’s all here!
“We are a great pilot, by using this technology in these extreme conditions, we believe we have found the best solution.”
The project means the centre will be able to produce electricity from logs from the Authority’s sustainably managed woods. The boiler will supply renewable heat and hot water for the site and has replaced fossil fuel systems.
Head of Strategy Clare Reid added: “The grant funding has allowed us to explore new technologies and the Salix support has been invaluable.
From left: Dave Huxtable (Pinkery Centre Manager), Andrea Davis (Chairman), Sarah Bryan (CEO) and Ben Totterdell (Learning & Engagement Manager).
Credit: Salix Finance
Dave Huxtable, Pinkery Centre Manager, demonstrates how the newly installed biomass boiler works.
Credit: Salix Finance
Fact file:
- The project has been funded by £115,211 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix Finance.
- The new boiler has replaced outdated fossil fuel systems and will supply renewable heat and hot water for the whole site, including the classrooms and accommodation units.
- The works, together with the addition to the centre’s electric vehicles, its on-site wind turbine, solar panels and increased battery provision to power equipment, will bring Exmoor National Park Authority closer to its Carbon Neutral Goals.
- Pinkery provides educational resources to schools and other organisations that are interested in nature conservation and outdoor learning. It provides students with the opportunity to experience the unique environmental and cultural heritage of the park learning about climate change and experiencing the reality of sustainable living at Pinkery.
- The Pinkery building was originally built as an upland farmhouse and has been used by young people since 1969.
