Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 63

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
John explained that the secret is in harvesting

Ely Power Plant in East Anglia is the worlds

the straw when it is very dry and then applying

largest straw burning power station in the

intense pressure to compress the straw to make

world, consuming 200,000 tonnes of straw a

logs. In doing so the straw ends up in a dense

year!

log with a moisture content less than that

Tom and his family are enthusiastic with their

of kiln dried wood. So, there is no need for

new product and eager to promote it to those

seasoning.

that are interested. Output is planned to start

So, what are the logs actually made of? Well,
initially they will be wheat straw, but could

life

in October with ideas such as scented logs, to
capture the essence of Christmas, on the menu.

easily be made from barley, linseed, pea and

Having visited Vietnam earlier this year,

rape straw. Caroline is keen to highlight the

a country that survives by being creative, I

benefits, she explains that ‘they are a solid

witnessed them burning the waste from the rice

fuel, suitable for all domestic fires and can be

to generate heat in their kilns, needed to fire

burnt with a combination of other fuels. The

their bricks. The brick yards, would then bag

packs are compact and easy to handle, because

up the ash, selling it back to the rice growers to

they are wrapped in plastic (all packaging is

use as a very valuable fertiliser. And we think

recyclable) they are clean, easily stackable and

we’re advanced?

insect free!’
When it comes to sustainability and being able
to source orig