Highgrove goes green

Prince Charles’s estate in right royal eco-makeover

The days of humble serfs tilling their lord’s land may be long gone. But country estates are still key in keeping Britain’s rural communities alive and kicking. Especially if they combine innovation with tradition, says Forum for the Future in its new report, Rural estate sustainability: leading by example.

One place that’s pulling its finger out is Highgrove, the Prince of Wales’s Gloucestershire estate. Acting on advice from Forum, the royal household has introduced water- and energy-saving measures, including rainwater harvesting to flush toilets and irrigate land, a reedbed sewage system and eco-friendly insulation. They’ve even fitted double-glazing on the 18th-century windows.

Over at the 900-acre Home Farm, solar panels have been installed to heat water, and the Prince is also looking into producing and selling bio-diesel. It’ll make a change from Duchy lemon curd… - Hannah Bullock

Forum for the Future (Claire Skinner), c.skinner@forumforthefuture.org.uk

15 January 2007

Hannah Bullock