Ten years ago the population of Knoydart took the bold step of purchasing land and taking control of their future.
The Knoydart Foundation – set up to manage the buy out - are marking their achievements over the last decade with a range of activities that start with a day of celebrations on 26th March and continue throughout the year. Activities include a Spring and an Autumn Watch along with a week looking at carbon reducing activities in July( more details on the website).
Knoydart with the most remote community on mainland Britain has no access to the national grid. Addressing energy needs and looking at how to reduce their carbon footprint are pressing issues.
Currently Knoydart Renewables, a community based organisation run a micro- hydro scheme from Loch Bromisaig. This supplies the village of Inverie but there are constant challenges. Villagers on the peninsula are still reliant on expensive fossil fuels such as diesel for powering vehicles and oil for heating houses.
Thanks to funding through the Climate Challenge Fund - as part of the Community Energy Scotland Powerdown Project – the Foundation are now looking to employ someone full-time to support efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition to looking at the individual carbon footprint of households, they plan to look at hydrogen energy options for transport and also ways to maximise on using wood for fuel. This is a low carbon option and there is the wood around to use. We will also be looking at the renewable energy options for those houses that are not part of the micro hydro scheme.
Fuel and energy are important but food is what really keeps us going. They have deer on the peninsula – a great source of lean meat and are looking to increase sales of this locally rather than taking it off the peninsula. They are also looking at how to use the market garden to supply more food locally.
All these actions will help to keep Knoydart more sustainable and resilient for the future.
The Knoydart Foundation – set up to manage the buy out - are marking their achievements over the last decade with a range of activities that start with a day of celebrations on 26th March and continue throughout the year. Activities include a Spring and an Autumn Watch along with a week looking at carbon reducing activities in July( more details on the website).
Knoydart with the most remote community on mainland Britain has no access to the national grid. Addressing energy needs and looking at how to reduce their carbon footprint are pressing issues.
Currently Knoydart Renewables, a community based organisation run a micro- hydro scheme from Loch Bromisaig. This supplies the village of Inverie but there are constant challenges. Villagers on the peninsula are still reliant on expensive fossil fuels such as diesel for powering vehicles and oil for heating houses.
Thanks to funding through the Climate Challenge Fund - as part of the Community Energy Scotland Powerdown Project – the Foundation are now looking to employ someone full-time to support efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition to looking at the individual carbon footprint of households, they plan to look at hydrogen energy options for transport and also ways to maximise on using wood for fuel. This is a low carbon option and there is the wood around to use. We will also be looking at the renewable energy options for those houses that are not part of the micro hydro scheme.
Fuel and energy are important but food is what really keeps us going. They have deer on the peninsula – a great source of lean meat and are looking to increase sales of this locally rather than taking it off the peninsula. They are also looking at how to use the market garden to supply more food locally.
All these actions will help to keep Knoydart more sustainable and resilient for the future.
They would be delighted if anyone wants to join in celebrating their success to date and support them to a vibrant future.
