Friday
19
April
Illuminated water wheel provides festive attraction
29/12/2019 @ 12:38
Visitors to Montgomery have been treated to an illuminating attraction that is set to be a popular part of festivals to come.
Each evening after dark a 1.5 metre illuminated water wheel burst into life in the Whitegate Pool nature area, not only providing a glowing spectacle for hundreds of visitors, but also providing clean energy to power other Christmas decorations in the town.
Following two successful winter eco-fairs using electricity supplied by a similar water wheel, members of Montgomery Energy Group made the wheel the main attraction.
It was constructed using unwanted bicycle parts and 60 upcycled plastic milk cartons arranged around the rim to catch the flowing water and help the wheel to turn.
Along with many members of the public, groups of Brownies, Cubs and Rangers also visited, asking questions and learning about the science involved in the production of the electricity.
The water wheel charged several batteries which powered some of the Christmas lights in the town, including ‘jewelled necklaces’ of eco-powered lights adorning six of the hornbeam trees in Broad Street, and glowing upcycled glass bottles showing scenes of the nativity along the path to St Nicholas’ Church.
James and Owen Weston (pictured), age seven, said the wheel was “colourful, fast and beautiful” and the best bit was all the lights and the speed of the wheel. They learnt about the eco electricity generation and battery storage, all explained to them by the wheel’s creator, David Wilson, and their dad, Mark, a physics teacher.
Mark said: “It was a fantastic way to brighten up a dark winter evening. David engaged the children by showing them how the water wheel captured the energy of the moving water and not only lit up the area with hundreds of bright LEDs but also charged up a car battery as well."
There are plans for future light festivals to develop this upcycling theme to create new colourful displays that enhance Montgomery as both a visitor attraction and a lovely place to live.
Each evening after dark a 1.5 metre illuminated water wheel burst into life in the Whitegate Pool nature area, not only providing a glowing spectacle for hundreds of visitors, but also providing clean energy to power other Christmas decorations in the town.Following two successful winter eco-fairs using electricity supplied by a similar water wheel, members of Montgomery Energy Group made the wheel the main attraction.
It was constructed using unwanted bicycle parts and 60 upcycled plastic milk cartons arranged around the rim to catch the flowing water and help the wheel to turn.
Along with many members of the public, groups of Brownies, Cubs and Rangers also visited, asking questions and learning about the science involved in the production of the electricity.
The water wheel charged several batteries which powered some of the Christmas lights in the town, including ‘jewelled necklaces’ of eco-powered lights adorning six of the hornbeam trees in Broad Street, and glowing upcycled glass bottles showing scenes of the nativity along the path to St Nicholas’ Church.
James and Owen Weston (pictured), age seven, said the wheel was “colourful, fast and beautiful” and the best bit was all the lights and the speed of the wheel. They learnt about the eco electricity generation and battery storage, all explained to them by the wheel’s creator, David Wilson, and their dad, Mark, a physics teacher.
Mark said: “It was a fantastic way to brighten up a dark winter evening. David engaged the children by showing them how the water wheel captured the energy of the moving water and not only lit up the area with hundreds of bright LEDs but also charged up a car battery as well."
There are plans for future light festivals to develop this upcycling theme to create new colourful displays that enhance Montgomery as both a visitor attraction and a lovely place to live.
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