ASHBURTON FUTURES

Hello! Ashburton Futures is a group of residents working to promote understanding and action on climate change and dwindling fossil fuels. We welcome new members, so please contact us to find out more and get involved.

We are currently working on projects on the themes of Energy, Land and Transport as well as developing a Community Orchard project. We will soon be posting more information about these activities, so please come back and visit us soon!

GLOW – Ashburton Green Living Open Weekend – 10th and 11th October 2009

GLOW offered the public the chance to see 12 inspirational eco-projects in and around Ashburton. Those taking part learnt from local house owners and community projects about insulation, solar water-heating, low-energy lighting, wood-fuel boilers, off-grid living, electric vehicles, veg-growing, composting and much more…

See below for details of the 12 projects.

GLOW received funding from Dartmoor National Park as part of the Dartmoor and Exmoor Low Carbon Festival, taking place on the 9th-12th October.

1) GLOW centre @ Bank Youth Project, 10 East Street, TQ13 7AA Find out more about the GLOW weekend, discover how Ashburton was powered in days gone by, free insulation advice, find out about the Community Orchard project, revamped clothing stall, find out about forthcoming Ashburton Futures events, ideas for Green Living in Ashburton from local school pupils, calculate your carbon footprint, learn about energy monitors, free low energy lightbulbs and lots more...

Sat 10am -5pm; Sun 10am -5pm

2) 46 East Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7AX

18th Century terraced house. A range of green living features, energy saving light bulbs, recycled plastic insulation, wood burner, draught excluders, secondary double glazing and recently installed solar thermal panels.

Sat 10am – 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

3) Ashburton Community Garden, Sands School, 48 East Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7AX

We are an informal collective of individuals and families of all ages and green-fingered stages. We meet to plant, grow, harvest, chat and sometimes eat. Looking for more land to expand. We welcome new members.

Sat 2pm-5pm; Sun 2pm-5pm

4) Electric Car, St Andrews Close Ashburton TQ13 7EG

Citreon Berlingo E500 Electrique 1999 formerly operated by Dudley Corporation. Come & see this wonderful electric version of a popular family car, and if you're lucky Richard Elliot the owner might even take you for a spin!

Sat 10am – 1pm & 2pm - 5pm; Sun 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm

5) Tuckers Farmers Market, Chuley Road, Ashburton, TQ13 7DG

Well established, under-cover market for a host of award winning locally produced meat, organic vegetables, cakes, bread, cheese, flowers, handmade baskets, jewellery, textiles, and greeting cards, an easy friendly shopping experience.

Sat 9.30am - 4pm

6) Leat House, Western Road, Ashburton, TQ13 7ED

Heading away from town, the last house on the left hand side before the petrol station.

1980's 3 bed detached property. Self installed solar thermal panels, second hand wood burner with back boiler and partially insulated loft using recycled plastic.

Sat 10am – 1pm & 2pm - 5pm; Sun 10am - 1pm

7) River Dart Country Park, TQ13 7NP On left one mile out of Ashburton on the Princetown Road.

Hydro-dynamic screw using water from the River Dart (via a leat) generating 48kwh, saving £40,000 per annum. Advanced booking essential, please drop into the GLOW centre @ Bank Youth Project during the weekend to book a visit and pick up a free pass.

Sat 10am-1pm Sun 10am-1pm

8) Fourways, Rewlea Cross, Ashburton, TQ13 7HS Head up North Street and then straight on up Rew Road, keep on for approx 0.5 mile to crossroads, carry straight on and Fourways is first drive on left after 20m.

One acre organic garden on the edge of town with vegetable plot, composting, water collection, hen and goat. House with solar thermal panels and wood-burning stove.

Sat 2pm-5pm; Sun 2pm-5pm

9) Brimpts Farm Dartmeet, Princetown PL20 6SG (right side of the road to Princetown about ½ a mile beyond Dartmeet)

700 acre working moorland Duchy Farm situated in the Dart Valley. Successful diversification’s high energy demands are met by converting local wood resource into chip, fuelling 150KW boiler. Result? Creation of Dartmoor Woodfuel Co-operative.

Sat 10am – 1pm & 2pm - 5pm

10) Old Walls Hydro, Ponsworthy 

 (directions on booking)

House and farm powered by micro-hydro turbine. Enough excess to supply around 80 homes exported to National Grid. 2 hour tour - advanced booking essential, limited places, please contact Ruth on 07773846132 or drop into the central info point at the Bank Youth Project during the weekend.

Sun 2pm

11) Dean Coombe Farm, Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0LZ. Leave Buckfastleigh on the road to South Brent and turn right 20m after the Dean Ford showroom – follow the signs.

Old stone house made warmer, drier and more energy efficient using inexpensive DIY techniques (secondary glazing, etc.). Also sustainable grounds and hedgerow management, veg garden, juice production and pasteurisation.

Sat 10am – 1pm & 2pm - 5pm; Sun 10am -1pm & 2pm - 5pm

12) Oakwood, Heathfield Road, Denbury, TQ13 6ES Leave Denbury on the Heathfield Road and Oakwood is on the left shortly after Heathfield Farm on the right.

Oakwood is an off-grid, low impact smallholding with; 6 acres oak & hazel woodland, photovoltaics 1kw power + a small windmill: spring water; composting toilets; recycling; apiary; willow fuel coppice; herb & veg beds; alternative educational facility including Forest School.

Sun 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm