Hub Sites

Eight demonstration hub sites are located across the UK, in Ceredigion, South Ayrshire, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Edinburgh, County Down, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire.

Each site grows up to 11 species of short-rotation trees and perennial grasses. These include miscanthus and short-rotation coppice willow, which produce large amounts of biomass (plant material) that can be used in power stations to produce heat or electricity or used in bio-based products.

The project compares how well different crops and varieties grow in regions across the UK and demonstrate innovations which have the potential to maximise their economic and environmental benefits.

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Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI)

Hillsborough
County Down, NI
A glacial depositional landscape with drumlins with an east/south east aspect. The soil is clay loam overlying Silurian shale and greywacke covered with grass and MS sword. A range of crops to be planted spring 2023
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54.4518165 -6.07485

Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
A F B I, Large Park, Hillsborough, UK

Bio Global Industries (BGI)

Chesham
Buckinghamshire
Flat or sloping fields situated 178 metres (583 feet) above sea level. Clay loam and flint soil. Existing 10-year old grown plantation of many species of Willow, Poplar and Eucalyptus. Crops to be planted spring 2023 are SRC Willow, SRC and SRF Poplar, Miscanthus, Sida, Black locust and energy crops.
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51.709401 -0.612333

Bio Global Industries (BGI)
Chesham, UK

IBERS Aberystwyth

Penglais
Ceredigion
An exposed slightly sloping site lapprox 2km from the coast with a West South Westly aspect. It is historically grazed grassland and sandy loam soil. Miscanthus and SRC Willow planting to occur in spring 2023 followed by SRC Poplar, SRF Poplar, SRF Eucalyptus.
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52.4328915 -4.017391

IBERS Aberystwyth
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, UK

NIAB

Headley Hall
West Yorkshire
Relatively even, slightly southerly site with loam freely draining to limestone and current vegetation of wheat stubble. Planting various species for trial and demonstration including Miscanthus; Willow; Eucalyptus; Poplar; and Grasses in Spring 2023.
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53.8661764 -1.322244

NIAB
NIAB, The Hangar, Headley Hall, Spen Common Lane, Tadcaster, LS24 9NT

Newcastle University

Cockle Park Farm
Tyne & Wear
Open exposure, sheltered by a hedged treeline on western boundary and hedges to south and east. North facing aspect, gently sloping south to north and east to west. Soil is Luvic Stagnosols with Miscanthus and SRC Willow to be planted spring 2023.
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54.9791871 -1.6146608

Newcastle University
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Rothamsted Research

North Wyke
Devon
Generally undulating, gently sloping site to the northwest, with hallsworth clay or clay loam and historic grassland vegetation used for silage and hay cuts. Planting SRC Willow and Poplar, SRF trees, Miscanthus, and other grasses in spring 2023.
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50.7693748 -3.9019086

Rothamsted Research
Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, Devon, UK

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) – Ayrshire

Auchincruive
Ayrshire
A sheltered flat north-south site, with sandy loam and current vegetation of barley stubble. Planting winter wheat cover crop in 2022, as well as Miscanthus, Willow, Poplar and Eucalyptus in spring 2023.
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55.4578372 -4.6146849

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) – Ayrshire
Scotland's Rural College, University Avenue, Ayr, UK

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) – Edinburgh

Boghall Farm
Edinburgh
A south easterly facing sloped site of mineral sandy loam, exposed to a westerly wind. Vegetation is historically OSR and S Barley. Planting of Miscanthus, Willow, Poplar and Eucalyptus is planned early spring 2023.
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55.873875 -3.207468

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) – Edinburgh
Boghall Farm, Edinburgh, UK