Chris Huhne
Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh
Kismet welcomes Chris Huhne to Marwell
Chris Huhne with Kismet the giraffe at Marwell
Energy and climate change secretary and Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne met the tallest resident of Marwell Wildlife – Kismet the giraffe – when he visited to discuss plans for renewable energy.
Mr Huhne was briefed by Chief Executive, James Cretney, Dr Tim Woodfine, Conservation Director and Duncan East, Sustainability Manager on Marwell’s ambitious plans to install renewable heat and electricity plants to keep the animal houses warm.
The plans which are being considered include solar panels over the visitor car parks, together with a large anaerobic digestor which will take the animal dung from Marwell and use it to produce electricity from methane gas.
A third part of the plan is for bio-mass boilers designed to use the woodchip harvested from nearby woodlands.
“It is good to see Marwell leading the way not just on its core specialism of protecting and conserving wildlife around the world but also our adjustment to climate change.
“This should be a wake-up call for any business not yet persuaded of the benefits of a low carbon and more secure energy future” said Chris Huhne.
James Cretney added: “As a charity dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and other natural resources, it was a pleasure to welcome and discuss our innovative sustainability plans with the Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne.”
For more information on Marwell Wildlife visit www.marwell.org.uk