Category Archives: energy savers at home

Energy Savers at Home

On Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January 2014 between 10:00 and 16:00 there will be a chance to visit a variety of households across Tavistock and its villages. Come and see what steps householders have taken to reduce their energy consumption and/or begin generating their own!
Have a chat about the costs and benefits, and consider how measures might work in your home.
There will also be bus tours of some of the households available on both days. Booking is advised for the bus tours.

The open homes weekend will be followed by an Eco Fair at Tavistock College on Saturday January 25th (10:00 to 16:00). An opportunity to speak to specialists about energy conservation and reduction. The college will also be celebrating the launch of its Solar Schools campaign.
Interested in exhibiting at and/or sponsoring these events?

We’d also like to hear from householders willing to share with others how they are saving energy at home! Call or email Kate Royston, Transition Tavistock (07969 569444).

A similar event ran in 2012.

Rediscovering the value in hedges – Hedge event 1st November

Stourtown Farm provides an outstanding example of hedges ‘farmed’ for their income and biodiversity resource.

A Devon Hedge week event on Thurs. 1st November 2012
at Stourtown Farm, Sampford Spiney, PL20 6LD
Farmers, landowners, community groups and people with woodburners can all work together to manage hedges as a good source of firewood and income! You can save hedge-trimming time, harvest firewood, help wildlife and keep fit.
Come and find out more!

This is a free drop in event between 10:00 and 16:00. The programme for the day can be found below.
If you’re thinking of coming along you can always let us know! Email or call on 01822-835819 or 07969-569-444.
Download the flyer and programme here

Homemade soup, hot drinks and cakes available through the day.
No dogs please! And we recommend wellies or walking boots if possible

The day will include:
Demonstrations
o Hedge cutting and laying
o Wood fuel preparation
o Hedge surveying
o Hedge planting and stone walling techniques

Farmers … learn more about:
o How much income wood sales can generate
o Improving hedgerow management
o Latest advice & research on the benefits of field boundaries
o Hedge management practices in France
See:
o Hedge management for income in action
o New tools to estimate hedge woodfuel potential
o Different types of hedges and management

Wood Fuel Users … learn more about:
o How to prepare wood for fuel
o Forming a small community group to ‘farm’ your own wood
o Starter kits and support available
o Different types of wood and their burning properties

Enthusiasts … learn more about:
o The value of hedges as a biodiversity, cultural, landscape and historical resource
o How to recognise hedge types and species

The programme with the timing of events through the day:
1000-1100
Setting the scene: find out more about community woodfuel groups, woodfuel farm audits, hedgerow management practices and the biodiversity and historic value of our historic hedges. Talk to our experts, look at wood samples and browse our displays
1100-1230
Demonstration sessions: experience hedge laying, felling, cutting and planting methods and hedgebank building and restoration at close quarters. Take part in hedge surveys and wood fuel audits

1230-1330
Lunch: soup, rolls, cake and hot drinks will be available in the gazebo (donations appreciated). Take another opportunity to talk to our experts over lunch!

1330-1430
Setting the scene: find out more about community woodfuel groups, woodfuel farm audits, hedgerow management practices and the biodiversity and historic value of our historic hedges. Talk to our experts, look at wood samples and browse our displays
1430-1530
Demonstration sessions: experience hedge laying, felling, cutting and planting methods and hedgebank building and restoration at close quarters. Take part in hedge surveys and wood fuel audits

A partnership event between Dartmoor Circle, the Cordiale project* (Tamar Valley AONB) and Silvanus Trust hosted by Transition Tavistock and Stourtown Farm.

* Cordiale was selected under the European Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF

Energy Savers at Home – Sunday Feb 12th

Sunday February 12th is the date of our first Energy Savers at Home event. There are 10 open homes to visit and New Generation Energy’s showroom will be available all day for advice and to answer your questions on energy conservation and renewable energy generation. The programme of homes open to visit is now available to download here.
For more information see ‘Energy Savers at Home’ page.Don’t forget to get in touch if you’d like to participate in one of the mini-bus tours.

Announcing Energy Savers at Home

Transition Tavistock and the Tamar Valley AONB are planning to organise events where the public can visit homeowners to see what they have done, talk to an impartial owner about the costs and benefits, and consider how measures might work in their own homes. To learn more see ‘Energy Savers at Home’