Turbine Tours

The Co-operative Group's Coldham Farm was the setting for a fantastic educational day about wind power, agriculture and conservation last Sunday. The Coldham estate wind farm (a joint project between the Co-op Group and Scottish Power) already provides the setting for the "Energy Works" project, in which local schoolkids come to learn about power generation - both by renewable and conventional methods. Sunday was the chance for all-comers to come and visit the turbines and learn a bit about renewable energy, recycling, composting, and how our Co-operative Farms produce the foods that we eat. I didn't advertise the day on here beacuse it was primarily for residents of the Fenland area - the local council are heavily involved with delivering the Energy Works programme.
I must say that my expectations were exceeded. Visitors were presented with a stall selling (at very advantageous prices(!), and with proceeds donated to charisty) a hog roast, fairtrade tea and coffee, Co-op-grown strawberries, and the new Co-op Apple Crush - which of course is made from our own apples. From there we entered the Energy Works classroom to see what sort of activities await the lucky visitors there. Also present was a representative from the Oadby Lodge Farm-To-Fork project - an equally impressive setup that lets schoolchildren see how arable crops are produced. I embarassed myself somewhat when I confused oats and rye in the seed-identification game, but what do you expect from somebody who grew up in the Black Country!

A marquee provided some shade from the sweltering sun, and a location for stands from various groups, including the county council, Scottish Power, Co-operative membership and much more. A bus trip took visitors the mile or two to the turbines themselves. Although the Co-op currently has eight turbines, there are more about because of a neighbouring farm. Planning permission has just been granted for seven more turbines. I talked to a guy from the Co-op's Property division, and he was proud that very few objections were submitted to the planning inquiry; a fact that he puts down to both a well-designed project, and the work that the Co-op did to get the local community onside.

I enjoyed looking around at the rest of the farm as well (I love the idea of the Co-operative growing its own produce); most of what I saw was wheat and rape, but the estate also produces sugar beet, potatoes, onions, shallots, broccoli and even pumpkins! A significant and growing proportion of what they grow now ends up under the "Grown By Us" label in Co-op stores.

Yet another great day that left everyone who visited feeling a bit more positive. More please Co-op!