History of ‘green’ energy to be uncovered on Green Fun Day

Visitors can get stuck into some good green fun for free at  Quarry Bank Mill [1] on Heritage Open Day, Saturday 13 September.

Between 12 noon and 4pm there’ll be green living activities for all ages celebrating the way Quarry Bank Mill has produced sustainable energy

throughout its history to the present day. The opportunity to learn about the role of the River Bollin, and Quarry Bank’s huge water wheel, alongside

family craft activities and trails, storytelling tours, and the chance to win a year’s free supply of electricity will ensure it’s a great family day out.

Quarry Bank will be free to enter on Saturday, 13 September for a special Green Living event in partnership with the 100 per cent renewable

electricity company, Good Energy[2], and sustainable energy charity, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)[3],

Visitors are invited to discover Quarry Bank’s innovative new energy scheme – its Hydro-electric scheme and Fish pass and to meet our

advocate of green living: Eco Elvis! The day is all about sharing the National Trust’ssustainability stories and inspiring people to have a go in their

own homes and gardens.  

There’ll also be an opportunity to win a year’s free electricity with Good Energy[4] and take home some energy saving advice.

This event is part of Heritage Open Days[5], the largest free heritage festival in the country.

Bruce Williams, conservation volunteer at Quarry Bank said: “The story of Quarry Bank Mill is all about power – from its earliest

beginnings when water powered this 18^th century cotton mill, followed by the age of steam generated power, and finally our new Hydro-electric

scheme, which once more uses water from the 1784 weir which drove the water wheel and powered themill machinery. Now the water from the

weir is now driving a huge turbine which generates electricity to help power the Mill and move closer towards the National Trust’s own target of

generating half its energy from renewables by 2020.

The scheme, which was carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency also means that, thanks to the installation of a fish pass, salmon

and other freshwater fish can  now reach the upper parts of the River Bollin to spawn – the first time they have been able to do so in over two centuries

as their route was blocked when Samuel Greg built his weir. Our move towards green energy is also therefore benefitting the life and eco-systems of the river.

We hope visitors will be inspired by our move towards greener energy and that they’ll consider how they too can become greener in their everyday life at home”

Charmaine Coutinho, Business Development Manager at Good Energy said: “We’re really excited to be part of the National Trust’s Green Living Days.

It’s a great idea to tell visitors about the steps they can take to become cleaner and greener in their own homes – including switching to a 100% renewable electricity

company like Good Energy.

“This event is also a great opportunity to highlight some of the work we have been doing together via our partnership with the National Trust[6] over the past year”.

Rachel Coxcoon, Head of Local and Community Engagement at CSE, said: “Our trained and friendly energy advisors help thousands of people a year to cut

energy bills and take action to make their homes snugger and cheaper to heat.

“We’re pleased the National Trust is embracing energy saving with its ambitious – but do-able – target to reduce consumption by 20 per cent. Not only is this a

valuable contribution to cutting UK carbon emissions, but it also saves money which can be spent on caring for our national heritage.”

The event at Quarry Bank Mill is one of many Green Living days happening at National Trust places across England and Wales in September. By sharing

sustainability stories and offering guidance, the conservation charity aims to help others discover ways to look after their own homes and save money on energy bills.

National Trust staff and volunteers are now working hard to support the charity’s ambitious energy targets, to reduce energy use by 20 per cent and generate half of its

energy from renewable sources by 2020. If these targets are met it will help cut the Trust’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent and save an estimated £4m each year.

Money saved through the charity’s energy programme will be ploughed back into conservation work across the 250,000 hectares of countryside, 742 miles of coastline and

hundreds of historic places that the Trust looks after in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Quarry Bank is open 11am – 5pm on Saturday 13^th September. Visitors can enjoy free admission all day.

Find out more about the National Trust’s green living work and partnership with Good Energy and CSE at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/energy