In a bid to go green and get fit, more than 10% of Dewlay staff are now cycling to work, covering a total of 55 miles a day.

Leading the peleton is managing director Nick Kenyon who, as a keen cyclist recently completed the Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lake District. A gruelling 112 miles covering Kirkstone, Honister, Wrynose and Hardknott passes.

With ten members of staff now cycling to work from Bilsborrow, Inglewhite, Inskip and Nateby, the number of cars coming up Dewlay’s drive has dropped significantly.

“Cycling to work has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing myself so when a number of staff expressed an interest in cycling we got behind them 100%,” comments Nick.

“After a busy and hard day at work, cycling home helps to keep you fit and saves on fuel costs as well. We are just considering refrigerated panniers for the bicycle to deliver our cheese to our customers – carbon free cheese!” he adds.

Clocking in 15 miles a day, Martin Scannell, Dewlay’s procurement manager has been cycling for more than three months now.

“A couple of us began to talk about what we could do to get fit and then we heard about the Cycle to Work Scheme. Not only are we getting fit but we are cutting down the number of cars on the road, which is great no matter what the distance to work,” comments Martin.

With Dewlay already reducing its carbon footprint by 2,992 tonnes of CO2 a year thanks to its wind turbine, using grey water where possible, and maintaining green planted areas around the site, Nick Kenyon is keen to push other green initiatives, and staff cycling to work is just the next step.

“With ten members of staff cycling to work instead of driving in the car, we are saving an additional two tonnes of CO2 each year. That is a phenomenal amount and something I’m really proud of. But it is not just about going greener and looking after our environment, it is vital to the wellbeing of our staff that they are physically fit and active,” he adds.

“And who knows, in a couple of years time we may have our own Dewlay cycling team taking part in the Fred Whitton Challenge!”

While staff are going green, Nick also reveals that in the run up to the first anniversary of Dewlay’s 126metre wind turbine being commissioned, Dewlay are set to launch a community fund.

“The Go Green Fund is being set up to give something back to the local community. The wind turbine has certainly been a talking point over the last 12 months with an overwhelmingly positive response. The turbine has also helped to put Garstang on the map and we are keen to see that some of the benefit of the turbine is passed back into the local community.

The fund has been set up to support local green or environmental projects that hopefully the wider community can benefit from,” says Nick.

“The first donation will be made on the first anniversary of the wind turbine, so we will shortly be releasing more information about how local community groups, schools and committees in the local area can apply for funding.”

The Go Green Fund’s core value is to support and develop local community groups and their projects, and will be overseen by Dewlay’s directors Nick and Richard Kenyon.

9 November 2010. ENERGY MINISTER LAUNCHES DEWLAY’S‘CASTLE OF THE CLOUDS’ TURBINE

The official launch of Dewlay’s wind turbine in Garstang was marked by a visit from the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Charles Hendry MP.During his visit, the Minister undertook a tour of the production facility with Dewlay’s Managing Director and Production Director Nick and Richard Kenyon, along with Frances Karki, Chief Operating Officer of Wind Direct which has supplied, installed and is operating the turbine.Charles Hendry officially unveiled the name of the turbine ‘Castle of the Clouds’. The name was chosen by local schoolgirl, Faith Anderson, 8, from St. Michael’s on Wyre CE Primary School after Dewlay invited schools in the region to name the 126 metre turbine.

Revealing the official name for the turbine, Nick Kenyon said: “We are delighted to welcome Charles Hendry to Dewlay today to mark the opening of our turbine and unveil its name ‘Castle of the Clouds’, which is a great symbol for the company. We are thrilled that the turbine is now fully operational. It is a proud day for us all at Dewlay as we deliver such a landmark project in the dairy sector, and we hope that our efforts will be a good example for others to follow suit.”

The turbine, installed at the rear of the company’s 18 acre site, will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 2,992 tonnes per year, and sees the culmination of work that has been carried out alongside Wind Direct over the past two years.

Charles Hendry, Minister of State for Energy said: “Onshore wind will play an integral part in tackling the two major energy challenges we face – the pressing need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the equally important need to deliver secure, affordable energy supplies.

“I want communities and businesses to feel a sense of ownership in projects like this. That’s why we’re committed to allowing communities that host renewable energy projects to keep the business rates they generate.

“I applaud Dewlay for making the choice to generate green electricity and congratulate them on becoming one of the first cheesemakers in the UK to be powered by wind energy on this scale.

“People will ask what makes Garstang Blue so green. And while ‘green’ cheese has always been considered as one of those things that will never happen, after this visit I can now say that Dewlay lays claim to this feat!”

Frances Karki, COO of Wind Direct added: “Dewlay are saving money on their energy bills and will receive an income for any electricity that is exported to the LDN. In doing so, they are demonstrating their green credentials to both clients and suppliers alike. All of this ultimately adds to the sustainability of the business and helps to protect the environment.”

Charles Hendry MP will be attending the dairy on Friday 5th November to officially open the turbine and unveil its new name.During his visit, the Minister will take a tour of the production facility with Dewlay’s Managing Director and Production Director Nick and Richard Kenyon, and meet Euan Cameron, the Chairman of Wind Direct and CEO of the Wind Prospect Group which is supplying and operating the turbine.Local schoolchildren from Garstang have also been involved in a competition to name the turbine. The child who came up with the winning name for the turbine, along with their classmates will unveil the plaque alongside Charles Hendry MP.

In announcing the Ministerial visit, Nick Kenyon says: “We are delighted to welcome Charles Hendry to Garstang and are privileged that he is keen to find out more about our operation. I am sure that he will be impressed with the wind turbine project and no doubt be sampling some of our award winning cheese while he is here too.”

The 126 metre turbine, which is now generating electricity, was installed by renewable energy company Wind Direct at the rear of the company’s 18 acre site. The company is expected to reduce its carbon emissions by 2,992 tonnes per year.

The 126 metre turbine, installed at the rear of the company’s 18 acre site, is set to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 2,992 tonnes per year, and sees the culmination of work that has been carried out alongside Wind Direct over the past two years.It is now undergoing a 40 day test period during which the blades will stop and start before it is fully commissioned next month.Operations Director, Nick Kenyon, explained: “We have been working on this project for quite some time so it is really exciting to see it finally come to fruition.

“When the turbine is fully operational it will meet all of our energy needs for the dairy. It will not only be cleaner and greener but will also allow us to stabilise energy supply, which is vital in protecting our business for the future.”

Dewlay’s commitment to its environmental responsibilities has a long standing history, with it sourcing milk from a team of local farms, and other initiatives including recycling of plastic and cardboard, using recyclable film on sliced cheese and more efficient use of water.

Nick continued: “The dairy industry as a whole accounts for a high proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, so we are confident that our wind turbine will lead the way for the rest of the industry.

Dewlay’s initiative has been applauded by Dairy UK – the industry mouthpiece – as a welcoming project in the industry’s continuous efforts to meet ambitious green targets by 2015.

“Initiatives like this are a great example of ways in which the dairy sector can keep improving its environmental performance… the dairy industry is making milk greener,” commented Fergus McReynolds, environment manager for Dairy UK.

Frances Karki, Chief Operating Officer of Wind Direct, which is supplying, installing, financing and operating the turbine, also added: “This project emphasises Dewlay’s commitment to protecting the environment. It is a clear symbol of their green credentials and further strengthens the company’s competitive standing in the dairy industry.”

As part of its commitment to the local area, Dewlay will also be launching a number of initiatives to support other environmental projects in the region, as well as acting as an educational resource for local schools and groups in the Northwest.

“This is our biggest green project to date but we see it as only the first steps on our journey to be greener,” Nick concluded.

Established in 1957, the family-run business which is famous for quality Lancashire cheeses including Garstang Blue, confirmed today that it plans to have the wind turbine fully operational by October of this year.

The announcement by Dewlay, underpins the cheese maker’s commitment to the environment and comes in the wake of the UK dairy industry’s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The turbine will be erected on Dewlay’s own 18 acre green field site behind its cheese manufacturing and packaging facility, with contractors starting on site in May to install the turbine in September.

Commenting on the news, operational director, Nick Kenyon said; “As a business, we are fully committed to our environmental objectives and are excited to be at the forefront of this technology.

“The dairy industry accounts for a high proportion of the country’s carbon emissions and we are confident that the wind turbine will reduce our own emissions by 2,260 tonnes per year, paving the way forward for the rest of the industry.”

Third generation cheesemaker, Nick added: “Garstang is famous as the world’s first Fairtrade town and we hope that this will raise the region’s profile even further and prompt other UK cheese manufacturers to take their environmental responsibilities to the next level.”

“We see this as just another step on our journey to reduce our carbon footprint and become a more sustainable manufacturer.”

Dewlay takes its green credentials seriously and sources its milk from 10 dedicated farmers within five road miles of the dairy. It supplies a large number of regional outlets to cut down on unnecessary food miles and employs staff from the local area.

The company has planted hundreds of trees around the site and also maintains green areas to protect the natural flora and fauna.

Other green initiatives include more efficient use of water, recycling of clean plastic and cardboard, and thinner, recyclable film for sliced packs of cheese.

And Dairy UK, the voice of the dairy industry has given its full backing for Dewlay’s project to build a wind turbine at their site in Garstang. Commenting Fergus McReynolds, environmental manager said:

“Initiatives like this are a great example of ways in which the dairy sector can keep improving its environmental performance. We hope to see more moves towards renewable energy in the future, as farmers and processors work to meet ambitious green targets set out in the Milk Roadmap.

“As part of the Milk Roadmap, by 2015 10% of non-transport energy used by large processors in the sector will come from renewable sources, or combined heat and power systems. We are also aiming for energy use to continue to fall, as well as water use, waste to landfill and greenhouse gas emissions. The dairy industry is making milk greener.”

The cheesemaker is also keen to get the local community involved in the project and will be inviting children from across the region to design and decorate their own turbine, as well as to enter a competition to name it and to attend the official launch, which is planned for October.

For all media enquires, please contact Emma Beardsley or Diane Inglis at Souter on 0161 486 9102 / 07946 899590 or email emma@souter-rmc.co.uk