Low Carbon Farming
One of the most appealing aspects of Northumberland National Park is its tranquillity. It is the most sparsely populated place in England, with some magnificent, untouched, landscapes. Yet behind this idyllic scene of beauty, lies a remote and challenging environment for those trying to make a living from the upland landscape.
Hill farming © Roger Coulam
Many of the farms in the upper Coquet Valley are not connected to the electricity grid, and are still using dial-up connections to access the internet. When compared to other rural areas in England, they are falling behind, which is expensive to the business, and detrimental to the environment and viability of the community.
Over the next twelve months the farms project aims to address this problem for 22 properties in upper Coquetdale that have formed a partnership, supported by their landlord, the Ministry of Defence. They aim to incorporate a range of measures to improve their quality of life, lower the costs of fuel consumption, test new ways of working, and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the area. A feasibility study is required to ascertain what technologies are going to work best in each location. Where possible, community-scale renewable energy measures will be incorporated, so that more than one building will benefit from the solutions installed.
This may involve a single wind turbine or small hydro electricity scheme, and could mean that excess heat from a building is piped to an adjacent property, rather than lost altogether. Although the solution will depend on a case-by-case study, what is evident is that there is a lot of local goodwill to work together to address the problems that the properties are facing. This energy must be harnessed as soon as possible, if the projects are going to be effective. The businesses are prepared to invest some of the their money, at a significant short-term loss, into the scheme, if there is funding to help with the difference.
The properties in need of immediate support include: Linbriggs Farm; Linshiels Farm; Quickening Cote Farm Cottages; Shilmoor Farm; Batailshiel Haugh Bungalow; Bygate Hall Cottages; Barrowburn Farm; Windyhaugh Farm; Rowhope & Trows; Carlcroft Farm; Blindburn Farm; Fulhope Cottage; Alwinton Farm; Uswayford Farm; Great Ryle Farm; Low Bleakhope Farm; and Rye Hill Farm.
The move to support the properties with insulation, clean, renewable, energy sources, is vital for the Low Carbon National Park project and similar work will be rolled out to a further 50 farms across the Park in subsequent years.
Additionally, work will also commence to look into the day-to-day practices that need to be addressed. For instance, fuel supply on tractors is an ongoing issue, and whether community electrical charge points can be installed should be investigated. The recently approved Northumberland Uplands LEADER Upland Hydro-Scheme will also contribute to low carbon sheep farming. It will assess:
- The types of micro hydro technology available
- An on-site engineering evaluation for each farm so that a viability assessment can be made
- The potential for the micro hydro system to contribute to the on-farm carbon footprint reduction
- Collate, and write up of a final report to include the broader economic and environmental sustainability options
- Grant aid schemes that are available for the implementation phase.
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