A Denbighshire estate described as “paradise” by Queen Victoria during a visit in 1889 has taken on a saintly aura after the heating system for its guest rooms was converted to run on environmentally-friendly wood.
The Crogen Estate in Llandrillo, near Corwen, took the monarch’s fancy over 100 years ago and is today just as popular with visitors attracted by the area’s dramatic mountain ranges and pine forests.
Now, guests staying at the estate’s family-run bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodation on the banks of the River Dee will be warmed by wood instead of fossil fuels after the owners installed two log boilers.
The conversion was made possible thanks to a grant of £12,579 from the Wood Energy Business Scheme 2 (WEBS2), a £20 million EU-backed project run by Forestry Commission Wales.
The boilers provide hot water and space heating for the Coach House, which offers self-catering for up to 16 people in the estate grounds, and the B&B which sleeps six people just a short stroll away in the main house.
WEBS2 is part-funded with £7.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. It offers capital investment to small and medium enterprises for woodfuel heating systems and processing equipment to develop the sustainable and renewable wood heat market across Wales.
Henry Robertson, partner in Crogen Enterprises, said, “The WEBS grant was fundamental in our decision-making. The WEBS2 team were very good in their support, including giving advice on the planning process and the type of equipment needed.”
WEBS2 programme manager Mike Pitcher praised the estate’s owners for converting to a more environmentally-friendly form of heating which had far-reaching benefits to society.
He said, “Modern woodfuel heating is a clean, convenient and sustainable form of renewable energy.
“By supporting businesses to switch to wood in place of fossil fuels, WEBS is helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Wales.”
Home to the Robertson family since 1857, Crogen is an area of outstanding natural beauty just three-and-a-half hours from central London and two hours from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.
The house, which dates back to 1380, is Grade II star listed and is set within a 2,500 acre private estate.
It offers an exclusive and discreet venue for wedding ceremonies, corporate events, sporting weekends and tailor-made activity breaks.
“We’ve arrived in paradise,” Queen Victoria once said. With a little help from WEBS2, that sentiment holds every bit as true today.
For more information on the WEBS2 grant scheme, see www.forestry.gov.uk/woodenergywales or contact Michelle Brunt on 0300 068 0088, [email protected]
For more information on the Crogen Estate, contact Henry Robertson on 01678 530709, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.crogenestate.com
