News

The New Year begins with plenty of exciting news concerning the Collingham Community Orchard. Thanks to Noel Barrowclough (Studio G) for this lovely draft plan (Swinderby Road is at the bottom, Crew Road to the right). Following the unanimous approval of the scheme by the Parish Council and their kind donation of a piece of land for the planting of fruit trees, we have gained the support of the local residents who live close to the orchard site. A public meeting held in November was met with a positive and encouraging response, a platform from which we can build a wider community project.
This year will see the first trees planted, some this spring and more in the autumn.
Until relatively recently, orchards were a familiar sight across the country, and not just in rural locations. Fruit was grown for a local market, but post war changes in shopping habits and the decline of a mixed agricultural economy, meant that they fell victim to replacement by other crops or development, their shadow remaining in the naming of housing developments like Damson Way or Bramley Close. With this loss went the mature trees fragrant with spring blossom, numerous local varieties of fruit which failed to meet the supermarket criteria for uniformity or transportability and a rich and varied flora and fauna which thrived on the mix of nature and nurture unique to orchard management. Community orchards across the country are now working to reverse this decline.

If you would like further information or like to get involved contact Ashley Wright  (click for email) or call 01636 892596.

At last count, there are now about 13 sets of PV panels installed in the village

Any excess electricity produced by PV panels can now be sold back to the supply company, meaning more money in the Imries' pocket and therefore helping the system to pay for itself. Under the government's new ‘Feed In Tariff’ you can get paid up to 41.3p for every kWh (kilowatt hour) generated. You will also save money by not having to buy that same kWh, an average of around 15p. The value of each kWh for this example would be 56.3p per kWh. Most domestic PV systems are predicted to pay for themselves in less than 10 years without any allowance for electricity price inflation. Systems carry manufacturer's guarantees of efficiency of up to 25 years.

Installed in December 2009, the Imries' system has already generated well over 6 MWh (mega watt hour) of electricity by 1st September 2011. And as from 5 June 2011, the system has been upgraded to 22 panels, generating a maximum of 3.96 kWh, which takes greatest advantage of the government's domestic feed-in tariff.