Location:

Ballinfull, Co. Sligo

Profile:

Charles Henry owns and manages a B&B and self-catering cottages at Ardtarmon House. He has installed a woodchip boiler to provide full Domestic Hot Water (DHW) and heating to the accommodation.

Challenge:

Whole stem harvesting of the willow using affordable methods.

Delivery:

Leading on from our preliminary research on similar small scale harvesting technologies and processes, CREST have engaged a Level 7 Mechanical Engineering student group and their lecturers at IT Sligo to design and fabricate a small scale harvester as their final year project.

Result:

CREST are providing funding for materials to build the harvester. CREST staff will provide continuing liaison and support to the student group and the project. The prototype will be ready for field testing in May 2014.