You are invited to a day out in the West Country! 

Join us for lunch at the beautiful Stanton Manor House in Swindon, followed by a short bus ride to the Westmill Wind Farm and Solar Park for a tour of one of the largest on-shore windfarms in the UK. Your ticket includes transport to and from Swindon Station, a Manor House pub lunch and tour of Westmill Wind Farm. If you choose to only attend the Wind Farm visit, you must arrange your own transport to and from the Wind Farm.

If you are travelling from London, the train to Swindon will be departing from Paddington Station. The train is roughly 50 minutes. Please ensure you arrive to Swindon Station by 11:30.  Purchase your train ticket here.

Run of Events

• 11:30 - Meet at Swindon Station
• 11:45 - Bus to Stanton House for Lunch
• 12:00 - Lunch at Stanton House
• 14:15 - Bus to Westmill Wind Farm
• 14:30 - Arrive at Westmill Wind Farm
• 15:45 - Leave Westmill Wind Farm, return to Swindon Station

About Westmill Wind Farm:

Westmill, located in Oxfordshire near the Wiltshire border, is unique with both wind and solar community-owned electricity generation on one site. The site is 100% community-owned and generates power equivalent to the electrical energy consumed annually by 2,800 homes, generating around £1 million income a year, and preventing over 5,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

During your visit you will learn about renewable energy and the eventful history of the site. You will hear about the installation and energy generation of the turbines and solar panels, how they work, and how they are owned by the local community. And you will discover how our Solar Park became one of the largest community-owned solar farms in the world!

This tour offers a unique, intimate and understandable perspective on how a wind farm and solar park works, all led by volunteer guides.

Tour Highlights:

• Getting close to and listening to the turbines
• Experiencing the sheer scale of the turbines and the Solar Park
• Feeling the open nature of the site
• Discovering how the wind turbines and photovoltaic panels work
• Learning about the economics of the Westmill Wind Farm and Solar Co-operatives
• Having the chance to discuss the need for sustainability

Before the Visit: 

• Please ensure you wear layers as weather at the Wind Farm can vary greatly
• Visitors should be fairly mobile and wear appropriate shoes. The tour involves a moderate level walking of around 1 to 2 miles. Most of this is on hard, stony ground, except the solar park which is grassy.
• The University of California Trust has permission to share details of the group and the booking with The Westmill Wind Farm and other contractors who work on the Westmill site, for the purposes of efficient and safe activity scheduling.
• You are required to follow the safety instructions provided by your tour guide or detailed in pre-event emails.

Weather and Climate: The site is open and exposed, and the ground is uneven, so please dress appropriately. Wind chill means that Westmill usually feels colder than other places in the local area. 

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By attending a University of California Trust event, you are agreeing to comply with our code of conduct. To learn more, please visit here.

Further questions? Contact us here