Edible Futures, a Bristol-based community food project which grows edible plants in order to make community gardens which transform marginal land into productive space, is set to receive a unique solar tree. The tree will provide electricity for the nursery that will power a rain-fed irrigation system.
The project has been able to proceed after Demand Energy Equality raised over £5,000 of crowd-sourced funds which was matched by renewable energy platform, energyshare.
The funds will be used to create sculptor John Packer’s solar tree design, which utilises solar panels for leaves. It is hoped that the tree will raise awareness of the necessity of renewable energy sources. The tree will be made by local community groups from around Bristol.
“It’s important that wealth should not be a barrier to renewable energy,” said Demand Energy Equality's Daniel Quiggin.
“The solar tree will have an educational aspect. The local community will come together, at workshops, to build the solar PV panels that will form the leaves of the tree.
“In doing so we aim to further our communities understanding of energy and energy systems as well as irrigation systems and growing our own food. It is only through an understanding of energy and food systems that our communities can become resilient and self sufficient, which is imperative given growing food and energy costs.”