Author Archives: Alison Kidd
Evaluating electric quad bikes for hill farmers
The Prospectors recently visited Shropshire Quads to try out an electric quad bike. We took a hill farmer friend with us for his specialist experience (of quads, hills and sheep!). Whilst impressed with the quad’s performance and likely towing and … Continue reading
Low Energy Rural Travel that’s FUN
The Prospectors, Peter and Alison are co-founding Directors of the Eco Travel Network here in the Brecon Beacons. It evolved from our earlier research on rural travel and our 2011 trial of electric buggies. This video about the Eco Travel … Continue reading
Bodies informing minds & ‘Heads up’ rugby
Experiments show that adopting either a high or low power body posture for just 2 minutes changes: how people feel about themselves, their willingness to take risks and their testosterone and cortisol levels (relative to samples taken a few minutes … Continue reading
Decarbonising Transport with Electric Vehicles
National and Local Government are backing a shift to electric vehicles, as is clear from their policies: 1. Electric car grants of up to £5000 off the purchase price. 2. Exemption from vehicle excise duty. 3. Exemption from the London … Continue reading
Should a Twizy be able to charge from a 13amp plug?
Availability of public charge points is cited as key to wider take-up, but most electric cars charge most of the time at home, overnight, at domestic power levels (typically 10 amps or 2.2kW for safety reasons), and will continue to … Continue reading
Twizyology 4 – Low energy travel – a different way of thinking
We own a Renault Twizy and operate a small hire fleet of them via the Eco Travel Network here in the Brecon Beacons. Apart from being great fun to drive and a fabulous way to enjoy the hills and lanes … Continue reading
Our Winsome Pedal project lives on
Back in 2005/2006, Swallow Boats in partnership with The Prospectory, developed a beautiful, sleek 17 foot pedal powered boat for exploring rivers and lakes in a low-effort, fun and environmentally friendly way. The project was called “Winsome” after my late aunt … Continue reading
Prospectors win Green Award
The Prospectors (a.k.a. Alison and Peter) are founding Directors, along with Ian Foster of Westview Guesthouse Llowes, of the Eco Travel Network – a scheme through which local hotels and B&B’s hire out Renault Twizys to visitors to the Brecon … Continue reading
Woolly Perspectives on Art and Conservation
In collaboration with artists, Pip Woolf and Kirsty Claxton, we recently conducted 7 discussion groups with the varied participants and stakeholders involved in the Woollen Line Project – an innovative art and conservation project in the Black Mountains. The groups … Continue reading
Putting compassion back into nursing – how does that work?
According to recent headlines, compassion has somehow got lost from NHS nursing and needs to be re-introduced. This is a difficult concept to get one’s head around especially when the Latin origin of nurse (nutrire) means “to nourish”. If we … Continue reading
The Prospectory 