bath & wells: mission
RURAL AFFAIRS
Fact Finding mission to Wessex Grain and Carymoor Environmental Centre
Following in the footsteps of Bishop Peter, members of
the Rural Affairs Group recently went on a fact finding mission to Wessex
Grain and Carymoor Environmental Centre.
Chairman of Wessex Grain, John Waltham, gave a brief history of the company and explained
how they operated.
The company started in 1980 with a 10,000 tonnes grain store which was opened with equity
put up by 45 farmers from Somerset and Dorset. In ten years this had grown
to 30,000 tonnes and is now 60,000 tonnes. The granary has a very sophisticated grain laboratory and is geared up
to handle high volume and high value commodities. These large tonnages ensure a constant supply and long runs
are available to individual suppliers. As a farmer owned business it is committed to helping local farmers achieve
premium prices at a low cost whilst minimising trading risks and is the main
grain exporter from the ports of Plymouth and Poole.
Wessex Grain
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John Waltham then went on to talk about the future and the production of
bioethanol, a 99.7% proof alcohol. Outline planning consent has already been granted for a plant and the Company is
now preparing its submission for full planning permission. |
The bioethanol fuel is produced from sugar or
starch crops such as sugar beet and cereals. Cars will use a fuel blend
containing up to 85% bioethanol mixed with petrol and emit 65% less greenhouse
gases than when running on petrol. The three main co-products of this process are bioethanol,
high protein cattle feed and CO2 for industrial markets.
To summarize John said that UK
farmers are in an excellent position to help the Government achieve both
environmental and fuel security objectives, as the long term problems of fuel
security and climate change need long term answers. In order to establish a UK biorefinery industry the
Government needs to extend the life of the tax break on biofuels to 6 years and
to activate the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
The Group then moved on to Carymoor Environmental Centre where a brief history of the development was given
by Rural Affairs Group member, Hamish Craig, who is a Trustee of the Management
Team and Chairman of the Trustees and Management Committee.
| Carymoor is a registered charity and environmental body
which has taken over the management of a former landfill site three miles
from Castle Cary. It became a registered charity in December 2001 having originally been
founded as a company limited by guarantee and not for profit registered in
1998. |
A bronze age roundhouse
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The Centre was initiated by a small group of
enthusiasts in 1996 in order to conduct programmes of environmental education.
The start up phase was supported by Wyvern Waste Services Ltd through the
Landfill Tax Credit Scheme with assistance from the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The
site is leased to Carymoor Environmental Trust and it has a land management
agreement which provides core income to the Centre.
It provides an engaging and fun resource for the
demonstration of environmental issues for everyone.
The objectives of the Centre are to:-
- Increase awareness of
biodiversity and sustainability
- Conduct educational
programmes on biodiversity and sustainability
- Manage the land for wildlife
and nature conservation
- Provide the local community
with an Agenda 21 activity centre
Carymoor wartime reservoir
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The Group walked around the site, looking at various points
of interest, which included a wartime water reservoir where incendiary
bombs were once burnt, which now houses over 130 newts; Martin's Mump
which is named after the Wyvern Waste Site Manager who was in post for the
formative years; a bronze age roundhouse; a straw bale house and the
visitor centre. |
Robert Widdowson,
Rural Affairs Adviser
April 2005
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