The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 17: Autumn 2020 | Page 28

GOING GREEN

BATH ’ S FIRST MILK VENDING MACHINE

Somerset dairy farmer Andy Salmon has launched Bath ’ s first milk vending machine , located at Green Park Station .
Andy ’ s family have farmed at Bullsbridge Farm near Frome for 80 years . Three years ago , he set up Tytherington Milk Station , selling free range milk to local people via a vending machine located at the farm gate . Now Andy is bringing the same quality local produce to the residents of Bath .
The milk comes from a herd of 240 cows grazing lush green pastures just 13 miles from the city and will be delivered to the refrigerated vending machine at Green Park Station daily .
Customers will be able to purchase a one litre glass bottle with a screw top which they can fill from the machine , take home , wash and reuse .
Andy said , “ We are proud of our farm , our cows and the milk we produce . That ’ s why I wanted to find a way for local people to enjoy our milk and learn a bit more about who we are and how we farm . It was clear from the moment we installed the first vending machine on the farm that people were keen to find out what really fresh milk from the farm tastes like . The feedback we have received has been fantastic and the fact that they keep coming back for more has given us the confidence to grow our business and offer our milk to the people of Bath .”
At a time when then country is being encouraged to build back greener , Andy believes the supply of milk from local , pasture-based farms like his can really make a difference for people , planet and cows .
The farm is part of the Free Range Dairy Network , an organisation that works to support traditional family farms committed to giving their cows the freedom to graze in fields . Their ‘ Pasture Promise ’ logo is the only label on milk to give milk lovers an assurance that the cows are grazed for a minimum of 180 days a year , 18 hours a day .
Neil Darwent . Director of the Free Range Dairy Network , added , “ Giving an identity to the milk produced by Britain ’ s traditional , pasture-based farms means people are rediscovering ‘ proper milk ’ that tastes like milk used to taste . We are delighted to be working with the Salmon family on their new venture and the people of Bath are in for a real treat ! The Pasture Promise logo gives milk lovers the chance to vote for freedom and fairness whenever they buy milk .”

CURO DELIVERS B & NES ’ FIRST PASSIVHAUS

Housing association and housebuilder Curo has delivered the first ultra energy-efficient homes in Bath & North East Somerset .
Curo has built four Passivhauscertified houses at their 700-home Mulberry Park development in Combe Down , Bath .
Featuring Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery ( MVHR ) systems , high levels of insulation and triple glazed windows , Passivhaus homes
provide excellent comfort in both winter and summer , while consuming very little energy compared to standard housing . With minimal changes to day-today life , occupiers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy costs by up to 90 per cent . Four local families due to
move into the homes were given a tour by Curo Chief Executive , Victor da Cunha .
Victor said , “ A truly sustainable place to live needs to be energy efficient , spacious and have access to good quality open spaces as well as being close to public transport , shops , schools and other important community services .
“ That ’ s precisely what we ’ ve been trying to do at Mulberry Park over recent years and these new , more energy efficient homes will help us continue to shape our designs , so the homes of the future are even more affordable for residents and reduce reliance on fossil fuels .
“ We know that these first four pilot homes for rent will help us
set the standards for that home of the future , and these new residents will play a critical role in helping us learn and improve our designs , so we can roll out more and more of them . I want to thank the families for agreeing to provide us with the ongoing feedback we need and wish them well in their new home .”
Nick Harvey is one of the new residents . For the last 12 months , he has been living at his mother ’ s house where he shared a bedroom with his three sons aged six , four and two .
He said , “ It ’ s fantastic that our new home is better for the environment and cheaper to run too , that will help a lot . I ’ m also very much looking forward to being part of the community . Mulberry
Park is looking amazing – I ’ ve been watching the development take shape over the past few years ; gorgeous looking houses , a school and nursery – where I hope to move my boys to - and a community café right on our doorstep . This will be perfect for us .”
Over the coming years , Curo will build eight more Passivhauscertified homes at Mulberry Park , which will be sold on the open market .
Over 30 per cent of the new homes at Mulberry Park are being delivered as affordable housing for rent and Shared Ownership .
The development is already home to more than 300 families and benefits from a state-ofthe-art community hub and café , primary school and nursery .

Engaging young people as active citizens and citizen scientists

As part of EU Green Week 2020 a key event is happening in Bristol , organised by the University of the West of England ( UWE ). The event is entitled ‘ Engaging young people as active citizens and citizen scientists ’ and attendees will hear from two multi-city research projects which have put young citizens at the heart of science and decision making for a clean air , zero carbon and biodiverse future . The event takes place on Wednesday 21st October . To find out more email : sophie . laggan @ uwe . ac . uk
For more info : www . eugreenweek . eu
@ EU _ ENV
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