Kelston Roundhill and Roundhill Barn

Kelston Tump LLP (the partnership of William, Klaus and Clare, the owners of Kelston Roundhill) has just authorised a small-scale test of a new prototype wind array half way up the hill. The Old Barn and the borehole providing water for cattle on Kelston Roundhill are off grid, currently powered by an ageing 27kw diesel generator. We want to use the abundant wind and sun to provide the modest amount of power needed for farming and events at the Old Barn.

The first Spinetic prototype on trial at a farm in Wilts (with car & tractor to show scale)

Designed and commissioned by Spinetic, a Wilts-based startup, the wind array is a lightweight, low-cost flexible way of harvesting wind resource. Wind arrays are drastically lower in height, have less visual impact and appear to have much less impact on wildlife than traditional turbines. We hope to test all that and more in the trial.

The wider policy context is that the UK now by law must be “net-zero” on carbon emissions by 2050, ending Britain’s long-standing and disproportionate contribution to climate change. Bath & NE Somerset Council declared climate emergency in May 2019, and is committed to carbon neutrality by 2030. B&NES commissioned some years ago two very pertinent reports. In 2010 CAMCO delivered the latest update of its report Renewable Energy and Planning Research. In 2011 Land Use Consultants delivered a report Landscape and Visual Issues for Areas with Technical Potential for Wind Energy Development in Bath and North East Somerset. The TL:DR is that Bath and surrounding areas are reasonably rich in wind resource (as any walker on the Kelston Roundhill could tell you), and that it’s a sensitive landscape (the reports mention Kelston Roundhill several times) with important sight lines, vulnerable wildlife and sites of special scientific interest. Wind is our biggest resource, but B&NES is not suitable for large scale wind farms.

B&NES Adopted Placemaking Plan sets out the existing framework (248pp); this is set to be superseded by a new Local Plan which takes over from 2020/1 (draft here: see p130 onwards for climate change related matters).

The 2010 CAMCO and 2011 LUC reports opine on the sensitivity of what they describe as large, medium sized and small wind resources. By this they mean

large (2.5MW, 135m to tip and 100m rotor diameter); medium (600kW, 61m to tip and 42m rotor diameter); and small (15kW, 25m to tip and 12m rotor diameter)

There is absolutely no way anyone is erecting such insanely massive wind turbines on Kelston Roundhill. It’s not even a controversy; we just wouldn’t think of them. But what the B&NES consultants are describing, remember, are turbines. What we’re going to trial is a prototype wind array. The maximum height is just 6m. These are better described as low-impact or modular; they are under a quarter the height of what B&NES’ consultants designate as “small”.

Kelston Roundhill is an iconic spot, visible from far away. It’s part of the skyline of the World Heritage City, clearly visible on any photo, painting or engraving made of Bath from the south west. It’s AONB and green belt. It’s sensitive, and we need to tread carefully towards a sensitive way to harvest renewable energy. It’s a good place to do the right thing. The wind speed is good (location is key, and Spinetic has been measuring it over the last year).

The trial prototype is 25m long by 6m high, and will be located along the hedge between Barn Ground and Seven Acres. There’s no public access there so if you want a close inspection or have any questions please contact us: kelstonroundhill@gmail.com.

We’ll do an online consultation survey shortly (now launched: click here) after installation so all interested parties can express their views based on the reality an actual trial installation.

The frame prior to installation

Update: see gallery of images of the test installation here. 

The 6m high frame from the top of Barn Ground.

Roundhill Barn is a non-demonational space where people of all faiths or of none, as well as any gender race or orientation are welcome.

Roundhill Barn is a non-denominational space ideally suited to retreats, reflection and spiritual refreshment.

One way or another Kelston Roundhill has always been and will always be a sacred spot. We’re not aware of any records surviving from Celtic or Roman times, but in recent years we’ve welcomed CofE groups for awaydays and evensong, Quaker days of quiet, school Ascension Day assemblies, Buddhist monks and Rastafari.

They come either informally as walkers on the hill, or by invitation and booking in advance for awaydays, worship and memorial events in the Old Barn. Pilgrims are always welcome. And it’s a perfect location for private reflection of all sorts.

But we must first remind visitors to seek permission in advance for any proposed group event. That isn’t simply as a matter of courtesy; bear in mind this is a working farm on private land.

Second: we’re very open to hosting multi-faith and interfaith events, and welcome people of any faith or none. But Roundhill Barn has a certain ethos with which fundamentalism, evangelism or missionary zeal are not compatible. If you practise intolerance or discrimination of any sort – including on the basis of gender, faith, ethnicity or sexual orientation – please find a different venue.

And – as for each and every visitor – leave no trace.

Pride Month banners provided by Bath Quaker Wren Sidhe.

Poems, stories, picnics and a Barn Dance on Fri 21 June

This year’s Bard of Bath – Conor Whelan – is organising a summer solstice celebration on Kelston Roundhill. Poems, stories, barn dance/ceilidgh. Bring a picnic if you want, or food may be available if numbers warrant it. Cash bar.

Tickets £8 available from Komedia box office (click here, call them on Bath 489070 or drop in in person and save the booking fee).

The Bard of Bath invite. Photo by Matt Prosser

The Old Barn recovers after a wedding weekend.

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Another superb eco trend from Sweden (reports Reuters). Plocka (to pick up, eg litter) plus jogging makes plogging.

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The Bathscape advisory group sharing ideas about how best to preserve and enhance the landscape surrounding the city in a meeting held at Bath CC.

The Bathscape project is great forum to meet across disciplines, overcome suspicion and misunderstandings. Kelston Roundhill lies within the Bathscape area. The project promises a range of benefits including improved grasslands and flower-rich meadows, 30 assessed and managed view points, greater numbers of volunteers and visitors and a walking festival.

Our input to the meeting: first do no harm. Let’s not municipalise our rural countryside. Let’s include the sacred dimension, art and storytelling. Also we must work hard towards diversity (see pic above #QED).

Mary and William test out the new bench cut today by Richard (c)

Kelston Records is putting on the first Concert for Aural Diversity (6 July at the Old Barn on Kelston Roundhill).

A concert for aural diversity entails music specially composed and performed for people with different states of hearing, including various stages of deafness.

Andrew Hugill talks about Menieres disease, deafness and work for aural diversity in a short film made by GN Resound.

It’s a project by the composer Andrew Hugill, recently of Bath Spa University. Prof Hugill himself suffers from deafness and other symptoms associated with Meniere’s disease. The programme is supported by the specialist Danish hearing aid supplier GN Resound.

We look forward to welcoming composer, musicians and guests to this important event, and look forward to helping make it a beautiful and memorable occasion.