Greenhouse and district heating system
On site here at Hillockhead we had already trialled a heatpump system for the house and office. However, our plans expanded to further develop the site and we have now installed a biomass woodchip boiler to power a large greenhouse as well as the house and office.
In such an exposed location, the old farm quarry suggested itself as an ideal place for a greenhouse. Facing south east, it catches all the winter sun and as it's sunk into the hillside, the other three sides act as a heat store.
We are experimenting with various vegetables and trying to get as close to year round production as possible. Not just vegetables but some fruit trees too, includeing peaches, lemons and bananas.
Listed below are many of the suppliers involved in the build....my apologies if I have left you out......please get in touch and we'll add your details.
Groundworks
Enlarging the quarry. Earthworks by
Ian Anderson 07971041701
Shuttering for the poured concrete walls.
Afternoon tea discussions.
Mid winter weather is not ideal for building projects!
Boiler and Chip Store
At the Brutalist stage. The separate chip store and boiler room is at the far end behind the dividing wall with the ladder leaning against it.
Steel work supplied by:-
DickChapman
HardgateSmithy, Migvie,
Tarland AB344XQ
Tel:013398 81356 / 81396
Mob:07711217425
dickthesmiddy@aol.com
.Giant 4000 litre buffer tank about to be fettled in the door.
Many thanks to Graham Stuart for all the plumbing work.
General building materials supplied by:
GPH www.gph.uk.com
Craigievar Timber
www.craigievartimber.co.uk
Bare bones of the chip store (back left) before the wall that separates it from the boiler is built.
The Austrian made ETA Hack 200kW wood chip boiler is installed and connected to a huge array of dials, pipes and levers. And the internet.
Supplied by:-
HWEnergy
Lochaber RuralComplex
Torlundy
Fort William
PH33 6SQ
Telephone: 01397 706412
Heating Pipes and Woodchip Delivery
Finned heating pipes supplied by:-
Turnbull & Scott
Unit 1a
Burnfoot Industrial Estate
Hawick
Roxburghshire
Scotland
TD9 8SL
Telephone: +44 (0)1450 372053
Fax: +44 (0) 1450 377 800
Email: info@turnbull-scott.co.uk
Early days before the blower lorry was functioning, trailer loads of chips had to be barrowed in through the greenhouse. A painful procedure in high winds - like working in a very large-grained sand storm.
Wood chips supplied by:-
Treelogic
East Dalfling,
Blairdaff,
Inverurie,
Aberdeenshire,
Scotland AB51 5LA
T/F 01467 651498 M 07739 093510
www.treelogic.co.uk
Newfuel's huge truck now connects it's hose to the access point on the front of the building and rumbles away, blowing chips straight into the store.
Wood chips supplied by:-
NEWFuel Ltd
Netherdale House
Turriff
Aberdeenshire
AB53 4LE
Telephone:0870 446 0220
Fax:0870 446 0221
Email:info@new-fuel.co.uk
Windows and Glass
Glulam beams form the roof and front window structures.
Supplied by:
Lamisell Ltd.
Meeth
Devon, EX20 3EP
Telephone: 01409 220333
Fax: 01409 220344
Email: lamisell@btconnect.com
Bayliss M7, Triple Spring Auto-vents on the windows react to the temperature in the greenhouse to provide ventillation.
Bayliss Autovents
Lysander Works,
Blenheim Road,
Airfield Industrial Estate, Ashbourne,
Derbyshire DE6 1HA
Phone. 01335 342981 Fax. 01335 343860
Email: sales@baylissautovents.co.uk
Dutchlight glass panels were fitted at first but were prone to breaking in stormy conditions.
The new roof glass system has thicker toughened glass and rubber seals under the Alukap aluminium strips which cap the vertical joins.
System supplied by;
Pinefield Glass
1 Pinefield Parade
Pinefield Industrial Estate
Elgin
IV30 6AG
UK
Telephone: +44 1343 545222
Fax: +44 1343 542246
Mail: info@pinefieldglass.com
www.pinefieldglass.com
Getting there and working in all weathers.... Bruce King Joinery Ltd.
Locally sourced larch cladding supplied by:
Ian Anderson 07971041701
Surge control, lighting, solar light control, irrigation controls, etc.:-
L & E Fowlie Electrical Ltd
Guise of Tough
Alford
Aberdeenshire
AB33 8HU
Telephone: 01975 581 100
www.lefowlieelectrical.co.uk
Produce
Early season carrots
In the main growing season we usually have tomatoes, courgettes, onions, spinach, peppers and aubergines. Plus year round sweetpeas and fresias.
We try various heritage seeds, this is the particularly delicious Royale de Guineaux.
The Organic Gardening catalogue
Telephone: 01932 878570
www.organiccatalogue.com
Real Seeds
www.realseeds.co.uk