Umberleigh Barton Farm
Umberleigh Barton Farm is a working mixed farm situated in North Devon. The owners of the farm business have installed a biomass boiler to supply space and water heating to the various buildings on site. As a result the farm is no longer dependent on the fluctuating costs of heating oil. The Umberleigh Barton Farm complex consists of six residential properties. Two of these are occupied by Mr and Mrs Andrew and Mr Andrew’s parents, whilst the other four are occupied by tenants. The intention is to supply fuel from 14 hectares of undermanaged woodland and a newly planted 3.95 hecatre plantation of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow.
Crops for Energy helped Mr Andrew with the feasibility study looking into the potential for this project, managed the boiler procurement process, completed the Energy Crops Scheme application, helped organise mechanised planting and supplied SRC willow varieties.