22 July 08 Woolly Waste Weaves its magic

Woolly Waste, an innovative eco-business from the Blackdown Hills is able to expand it operation thanks to the availability of a workshop unit at Dunkeswell Eco Business Park (DEBP).

Val Grainger, who runs Woolly Waste, sees this as the first step toward a serious renaissance of the wool industry in Devon.

“Woolly Waste is part of a much bigger community initiative which I am determined will help all sheep farmers to realise a better return for their wool.

The idea is born out of the Blackdown Hills Natural Fibre Group which comprises farmers, weavers, and textile designers. With funding from Blackdown Hills Leader+ and Devon Renaissance we have been able to buy and install the machinery to undertake processing of recycled wool as well as 2nd and 3rd grade sheeps wool that is not suitable for processing into clothing or fashion accessories. This means we have a real answer for hundred’s of commercial sheep farmers who currently see little or no profit from their wool clip.”

Woolly Waste has no shortage of product ideas; as well as felt for fashion items, their machines can produce felted wool products such as mulch mats for gardens (slugs hate wool), and with further investment in machinery, insulation for the building industry for which the National Trust have already told Val “you produce it, we’ll buy it!!”

“The next big part of the jigsaw was solving the problem of premises. Dunkeswell Eco Business Park has proved ideal. Not only do they share our vision of business as an environmentally sustainable activity, DEBP has also allowed us to establish our business in the local area and given us flexible terms at affordable rates. We could not have asked for more.”

Richard Evans, Manager of DEBP, is delighted to have Woolly Waste on site. “Woolly Waste epitomises what DEBP is all about. We have worked hard to realise our goal of renovating these redundant units to environmentally high standards, such as wood pellet boilers, rainwater harvesting, and high insulation values to minimise energy requirements. To be able to give a local business a chance to establish itself within the heart of its own community is gratifying. The fact that Woolly Waste is also a business which puts environmental issues at its centre, is an added bonus.”

Woolly Waste has now taken up tenancy of its workshop unit. The first piece of machinery has arrived; all 3.5tons of it !(pictured). Val managed to get a 1920’s Walker & Sons Cotton Carder from Yorkshire in perfect working order. The felting machinery is expected to arrive at DEBP any day.

Looking to the future, Val’s vision is to develop the facility at DEBP to scour, and process large volume’s of recycled and lower graded sheeps wool.

“This is not about helping a few enthusiasts with speciality sheep. We are building a business which will make a fundamental difference to mainstream sheep farmers’ in Devon and the West Country at large. This is for them.”

Richard Evans is the Manager at Dunkeswell Eco Business Park. Office and workshop units are still available on affordable and flexible terms. Anyone interested can get in touch with him at the Blackdown Hills Business Association’s office. Tel: 01823 681 484

Richard Evans will be happy to help with enquiries at the Honiton Show on 7th August. He will be on hand all day in the Blackdown Hills marquee. Along with a host of other Blackdown Hills businesses, Val Grainger of Woolly Waste Waste will also be in the marquee representing the Blackdown Hills Natural Fibre Group.

16th July 08 Dreams become Reality

After months of planning, fund raising and plain hard work, Dunkeswell Eco Business Park (DEBP) is now able to realise its goal of providing sustainable, affordable work space to local Blackdown Hills Businesses.

This week saw the arrival of the first tenants in the form of Val Grainger of Woolly Waste, as well as a visit from Simon Mallett, Senior Project Development Officer, Devon Renaissance, and Mike Anderson, director-general of the Climate Change Group and a Defra management board member. Devon Renaissance and Natural England are significant funders of the project which is the brainchild of the Blackdown Hills Business Association who have overseen the development of the project.

The units have all been converted from dis-used buildings at Marcus Road, Dunkeswell Airfield Industrial Estate, and are refurbished using eco-friendly, low carbon building technology. They provide flexible and affordable office and workshop units for local business.

Simon Mallet, of Devon Renaissance was delighted to see the project reach completion "This project demonstrates how a local group using an innovative approach can provide business accommodation in an environmentally sustainable way."

Richard Evans, Manager of DEBP said “its very rewarding to see the first tenants in at DEBP. Woolly Waste is a great example of what this project is all about. A truly local business that has found an innovate use for waste wool to produce a product which is in demand across the region. I’m happy to say the DEBP has helped Woolly Waste to get started and we wish them every success.”

4th July 08 Roll & Action!

Three local lads from Dunkeswell have taken their first steps into an exciting business in Digital Video. George Barratt, 18, Guy Wells, 15 and Adam Johnson, 20, have signed on the dotted line for an office unit at the new Dunkeswell Eco Business Park. Their enterprise is called “Tower Studios”, named after The Tower building at the Business Park where they have rented one of the office units.

One of the aims of the Dunkeswell Eco Business Park (DEBP) is to encourage young people from the locality to set up in business, through a combination of affordable rents, flexible terms and business support.

The three friends first became interested in video through Dunkeswell Youth Club where they were able to learn their trade with an experienced video producer, Dale Bulleid.

George, Adam and Guy are still very active at the Youth Club, and are pleased to be able to “put a bit back” through some funding they have been awarded by the Youth Opportunities fund. This will enable them to pass on their skills to other members of the Dunkeswell Youth Club.

George Barratt is excited about starting up in business at DEBP “Dunkeswell Eco Business Park has enabled us to have our own creative space and still be in our own community.” Guy Wells added “It also means our office is really accessible to Youth Club members who can get here by foot, or bike!”

Adam Johnson felt the whole package at DEBP will make a difference “Richard Evans, the DEBP Manager will be able to point us in the direction of business support and advice which will be really important as none of us are particularly experienced in business.”

Richard Evans, the DEBP Manager who has guided the lads through the whole process is enthusiastic about Tower Studios taking up tenancy in the next few weeks: “The DEBP ethos is about encouraging young entrepreneurs. We are delighted to be so clearly fulfilling one of our main goals.”

This was echoed by Simon Mallett of Devon Renaissance who are investing more than £100,000 of funding into the project: “The DEBP project is one that really struck a chord with the team here when we saw it. It shows how a local organisation, thinking innovatively, can bring redundant buildings back into productive economic use, recycling brownfield land that would otherwise just sit there, benefiting young businesses and doing all of this in a way that demonstrates how environmental issues can be addressed in really practical terms.’

DEBP is the brainchild of the Blackdown Hills Business Association who have overseen the development of the project.

The units have all been converted from dis-used buildings at Marcus Road, Dunkeswell Airfield Industrial Estate, and are refurbished using eco-friendly, low carbon building technology. They provide flexible and affordable office and workshop units for local business.

The site is nearing completion and first tenants will be taking up residence from mid-July 2008. Several of the units are leased, but office and workshop space is still available.

Anyone interested should get in touch with Richard Evans, Dunkeswell Eco Business Park Manager. He can be contacted at the Blackdown Hills Business Association’s office. Tel: 01823 681484 or email Richard at richard@debp.org.uk.

Tower Studios can be contacted on 01404 891692 or email dunkeswell@hotmail.co.uk

Media

Media can obtain more information about this project from Catherine Broomfield at HOOP Associates.

HOOP Associates are handling PR for the DEBP. Tel: 01404 812 478 email Catherine@hoop-online.co.uk.