Charcoal Retort available to local landowners

The North Devon Biosphere are relaunching their Charcoal Retort with a training course for local landowners in Umberleigh on Friday 11th April.
 
The retort produces charcoal in 24 hours, rather than 3 days in the traditional method, because it recycles the methane produced to accelerate the cooking of the wood. Charcoal is greater value than the wood put into the kiln and therefore increases the revenue. The product can be sold as barbeque charcoal or can be used as biochar as a soil improver and carbon lock in the soil.
 
Once trained in use of the Charcoal Retort it can be hired from the Biosphere team and used as part of woodland management. It also makes a great experience for visitors at a campsite for example, as they can learn about charcoal production and woodland management, load a portable kiln, burn the wood and leave with a bag of charcoal!  

Charcoal can be sold to guests as BBQ charcoal, or it can be used as a soil improver – see Biochar / RHS Gardening  for further information on this.
 
If you are interested in finding out more about training or hiring the Charcoal Retort please contact [email protected] for more information as we hope to arrange additional training dates.