Scouts give the thumbs up to the solar panels at Corf Camp, near Porchfield.
FOLLOWING a fundraising effort, which has taken them from fetes to festivals, Island scouts are thrilled with their eco-friendly campsite.
Corf Camp, near Porchfield, which is used by scouts from the Island and the mainland, now boasts a solar power installation to generate electricity for the site, with surplus power being sold back to the national grid.
Several solar panels have been fitted to the roof of a large hut by Cowes company, Engenius.
Part of the cost was met by a grant from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the rest was raised by the scouts themselves, partly by a recruitment drive and raffle at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
The fundraising effort has been led by the Isle of Wight Scouting Active Support Project Unit, led by co-ordinator, Malcolm Cox.
"The success of the project is due largely to the amazing support we received from ex-scout John Giddings and his team at the Isle of Wight Festival. We now aim to cancel out the campsite's annual power bill and make it a bit more eco-friendly," said Mr Cox.
"The solar panels are generating electricity and, thanks to this lovely sunny weather, our funds are benefiting by more than £50 a week."
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk