成人快手

Chagford has one of the earliest hydro-electric schemes in the country and there is another brilliant example at Mary Tavy.

The schemes I envisage need not be so huge as them, but equally beneficial - small but beautiful - could be the byword.

Miles Fursdon sells 'excess' power back to the National Grid.

I do know of a very successful project, designed and installed in recent years by Miles Fursdon at his farm at Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

Back in 1995, Miles and some friends created a new leat about 400 yards long, at the end of which is a turbine. The water is then returned into the same supplying river - this is real environmental use of reusable energy at its very best.

If I had my way, where the water returns to the river, another leat would begin. This would recur every half a mile or so down every river in the county, or come to that in the country.

Miles' scheme produces all the electrical needs of his farm and his mother's house, and the surplus - enough to power another 80 houses - is sold off to the National Grid!

Consider the benefits.

The use of a natural resource with no detriment to the source itself.

Miles shows Tony the generator where the noise hasn't deterred a small dipper from making her nest.

The leat and the surrounding land is an environmental reservoir for all kinds of wildlife, fish, plants, insects, mammals and birds.

It is a haven (or should we say "heaven") on earth.

There's even a Dipper that nests every year in the turbine house, despite the noise of the generator.

The location and scenery has been enhanced, no-one's view is impaired and it's achieved the aim of self-sufficiency with power to spare.

The list of benefits is immense and the objections virtually nil.

Does this stir your imagination? Do you want to find out more?

Then contact:- mr.and.gr.fursdon@farming.co.uk

See you next time.

Yer old mate, Tony

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