A NEW woodchip-fired heating boiler is being fitted at Castle Drogo to help reduce carbon emissions.

The property has been able to install this technology with the support of the Big Lottery Fund, which has allocated £100,000 to Castle Drogo as one of a number of projects being funded as part of the Bio-Energy Capital Grants Scheme.

The work complements part of a wider programme of renewable energy projects being carried out by the National Trust through its green energy partnership with Npower. The new bio-mass boiler is set to cut Co2 emmisions from heating by 89%, a staggering 150 tonnes a year.

Castle Drogo's property manager David Bailey said: 'This is an exciting project for us at the property and the National Trust as a whole.

'Not only are we making significant improvements to our carbon footprint at the property and saving the charity a significant amount of running costs, we are also improving our visitor facilities.' 

He said the tea room would add more locally sourced and seasonal produce to the menu: 'Something our visitors have been telling us they want to enjoy more of.'

And by removing hot ovens and equipment from the historic castle, they are also improving the conservation and protection of the grade I listed building.

'Following the work to the visitor reception area we are very keen to encourage local groups to use the facilities as a venue for functions and meetings. 

'These changes will also enable us to provide a much better facility for walkers who only want to visit the estate, especially during the period when the castle is closed for annual conservation work'.

The redevelopment of the castle's 21st Century visitor reception building will mean the trust no longer needs the 70,000 litres of oil currently used every year, a saving of £35,000 per year.

It will greatly reduce the property's carbon footprint and improve the wildlife habitats within the estate. Within a few years the castle hopes to supply its own 225 tonnes of wood-chip needed to fuel the boiler.

It will see significant improvements to visitor facilities, which include increasing the size of the tea room, adding a new al fresco dining area and improvements to the car park.

Other elements of the £2.8-million project are being part funded through grant income, including lottery and other contributions.

Major capital projects at Drogo include a programme of roof and window repairs and a programme of building works which is costing the charity an estimated £6-million over the next seven to ten years.

Visitors to Castle Drogo will be able to view the wood-chip boiler in action and the trust hopes this will help inspire others in considering a more green approach to heating.