Northumberland club uses its own woodchip to heat clubhouse

Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa in Northumberland has begun using its own woodchip to heat its clubhouse and hotel, ensuring the club is both carbon neutral and is saving thousands of pounds which it previously spent on oil.

The club, which previously used 165,000 litres of oil a year for heating and hot water, has installed a biomass boiler which is powered by logs that are taken from sustainably-managed trees in the grounds of the estate, which would have previously been categorised as waste. The logs are converted into woodchips and are then burned in the boiler, which is in a previously unused building next to the golf club’s hotel.

“Wood thinning is a very necessary process and it made so much sense to use the chippings,” said the club’s owner, Sir Hugh Blackett. “As we use such a huge amount of fuel for the hotel and have such a large volume of timber available from the estate, it is the perfect solution.

“At Matfen Hall we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and caring for the environment and how better to do this than to supply our own heating and hot water? To demonstrate to guests and visitors how the process works, we have installed interpretation boards, and are more than happy to give guided tours.”