Wind farms across the UK will be entertaining thousands of families with free activities and exclusive tours of their sites.

This August Bank Holiday (26-28 August) wind farms across the UK will simultaneously open their gates to host a variety of activities from face-painting to fibre optics shows! 

Amidst this fun, children and adults will also learn about the real power of the wind and the role of wind turbines in our renewable energy future.

Never have the twin challenges of climate change and energy security been higher on the public and political agenda. The recently announced results of the Government’s Energy Review have put this country on a path to generate 20% of its electricity supplies from renewable sources, recognising the role of technologies like wind and wave power in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and keeping the lights on in Britain.

The opening of wind farms combined with free family activities offers a unique time in the calendar to both entertain and educate about the future of renewable energy and the critical role we can all play.

Wind Weekend is organised by the Embrace the Revolution campaign, which has the signed support of some 20,000 members of the public and a host of high profile celebrities including, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, who said: “We all have a part to play in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and getting electricity from wind energy is one way to do this. Wind Weekend is a perfect opportunity to support this free green fuel and find out how the power of the wind can make a difference."

Wind farms opening on the weekend include:-
England
• Delabole (Good Energy), Cornwall
• Scroby Sands (E.ON), Norfolk
• Ecotech Centre, Norfolk
Scotland
• Ardrossan (Airtricity), North Ayrshire
• Black Law (Scottish Power), South Lanarkshire
Wales
• Rheidol (E.ON), Mid Wales
• Centre for Alternative Technology, Southern Snowdonia
• Hafoty Ucha,nr Corwen, Conwy, North Wales
Northern Ireland
• Tappaghan Mountain (Airtricity), Co Fermanagh
• Altahullion, Co Londonderry (B9)
 
As well as big wind farms, small wind systems, such as those installed at people’s homes or work places, have an equally important role to play in securing our clean energy future.  Some other small wind turbines you can see over the bank holiday:

• Mile-end Park, London
• Millennium Centre, Dagenham
• St Nicholas Fields, York Environmental Community, York
• Wood Green, Godmanchester Animal Shelter, Cambridgeshire

For updates on participating wind farms and activities please log on to  http://www.embracewind.com/weekend/windfarms.html.

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Further information

Alison Hill
Head of Communications
020 7689 1966
Alison@bwea.com

Kate Ashenden
Communications Officer
020 7689 1935
kate@bwea.com

Notes to Editors

Embrace the Revolution is a national campaign from BWEA, challenging the myths about wind energy and giving supporters of wind, three-quarters of the UK population, an opportunity to take action. 

See www.embracewind.com for further information.

The first Wind Weekend was held in 2005 and attracted 6,000 people to 14 wind farms.  100 per cent of visitors who filled in a questionnaire said that they had enjoyed their experience and would recommend it to others.  The results also revealed that following their visit to the wind farm 78 per cent of people wanted to find out more about wind farms and renewable energy.