Fuel and the Environment | Carbon Offsetting

Koolfuel - Energy for a Future

About Strawsons Energy

Our Willow plantations provide havens for birds, mammals and insects. We only harvest in the winter, providing minimal disturbance to this wildlife. Willow SRC is ecologically friendly. Hardly any chemicals and virtually no nitrates are used in the production of our crops.

We do not plant fields entirely with Willow as we leave green corridors around and through our crops to allow good access at harvesting time.  We sow these areas with a mix of grass and clover and generally don’t mow them when established, providing further excellent habitat for wildlife.

These green corridors also provide an excellent habitat for humans too!  All year round access for walkers is provided to fields in which it would not be possible to walk in if planted with conventional arable crops.

Early independent wildlife studies into the benefits of Willow plantations reported that:

  • SRC plantations provide a far better habitat for wildlife than the arable fields they replace.
  • Many species of birds, which have declined in numbers because of modern farming methods, e.g. Warblers, Tits and Thrushes, have been able to colonise SRC and increase their populations.
  • There is an increase in the abundance of several perennial species of wild plants within plantations.
  • SRC plantations provide shelter and warmth favourable to a wide range of insects, most noticeably for butterfly species.

    • To view a full biodiversity report on Willow, and the effects on wildlife, please click here. Koolfuel also has other benefits over other fuels. Click here to compare the price of koolfuel when compared to alternative fuels.