AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS York resident has taken up a new post to bang the drum about the benefits of using wood as a renewable fuel in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Rudie Humphrey, 36, of Poppleton, has been appointed as the first regional co-ordinator for wood fuel by the Forestry Commission and Yorkshire Forward.
Mr Humphrey’s task will be to exploit the region’s 230,000 acres of woodland, over half of which is under-managed, say forest chiefs.
They point out it could be capable of yielding a sustainable output of timber to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
A keen drummer in his spare time, Mr Humphrey runs music nights at York City Screen, but his day-job is to get more people, firms and organisations to tune into the wonder of wood. He explained: “Most people who have looked at the issue can see there’s an amazing opportunity to expand the wood fuel market.
“Rising energy costs have focused minds and using timber makes as much economic as environmental sense. The key is to get more woods into management with a cycle of regular planting and felling to ensure a good sustainable timber supply.
“But for some people the idea of chopping down trees and burning them goes against the grain, even if new trees are planted.
“In reality, doing so actually helps wildlife by opening up the tree canopy and diversifying habitats. We don’t need to spin the issue to realise that wood fuel could be a very virtuous circle.”
He said: “By knitting together wood fuel initiatives running across the region, we can maximise our efforts and ensure success is copied elsewhere.”
There are currently 44 wood fuel boiler sites across the region producing enough power to heat 1,300 homes, plus offices, libraries and schools. They range from green power plants at Swinton Park Hotel, near Ripon, to the recently completed multi-million pound council offices in Barnsley.
Rudie Humphrey, 36, of Poppleton, has been appointed as the first regional co-ordinator for wood fuel by the Forestry Commission and Yorkshire Forward.
Mr Humphrey’s task will be to exploit the region’s 230,000 acres of woodland, over half of which is under-managed, say forest chiefs.
They point out it could be capable of yielding a sustainable output of timber to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
A keen drummer in his spare time, Mr Humphrey runs music nights at York City Screen, but his day-job is to get more people, firms and organisations to tune into the wonder of wood. He explained: “Most people who have looked at the issue can see there’s an amazing opportunity to expand the wood fuel market.
“Rising energy costs have focused minds and using timber makes as much economic as environmental sense. The key is to get more woods into management with a cycle of regular planting and felling to ensure a good sustainable timber supply.
“But for some people the idea of chopping down trees and burning them goes against the grain, even if new trees are planted.
“In reality, doing so actually helps wildlife by opening up the tree canopy and diversifying habitats. We don’t need to spin the issue to realise that wood fuel could be a very virtuous circle.”
He said: “By knitting together wood fuel initiatives running across the region, we can maximise our efforts and ensure success is copied elsewhere.”
There are currently 44 wood fuel boiler sites across the region producing enough power to heat 1,300 homes, plus offices, libraries and schools. They range from green power plants at Swinton Park Hotel, near Ripon, to the recently completed multi-million pound council offices in Barnsley.
(York Press 17 November 2008)
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