Thursday 30th July 2026: It was a surprising start to this year’s event as, while arrivals were registering and getting a well deserved cold drink in the warm afternoon sunshine, the sound of aero engines made everyone look up as a pair of Spitfires flew low and steady across the sky. This was a fortuitous coincidence but gave cause to smile as people gathered awaiting the opening of this flagship networking conference.
The slideshow displayed at the event can be seen here… THE CHARTER 2026 SUMMER EVENT SLIDES
This was a landmark event for one other reason – The marquee was powered from an electric car with vehicle to load capability. No long extension cables or diesel generators required, just a short lead from the car under the side of the structure fed 4 X 3 pin sockets which supplied electricity for everything needed during the proceedings. More than four hours of support drained less than 10 miles from the range of the battery. No problem!
Was this the first networking event of this type in the UK to have mains supply from an EV in a field away from the grid ?
The Itinerary for the day was as follows…
2.30pm Guests started to arrive
3.00pm Introduction by Peter Frost, Carbon Charter Lead at Suffolk County Council
3.10pm Welcome by our Host, Nick Woolley, MD of Woolley Asset Management and resident of Pilgrim’s Barn.
3.25pm KEYNOTE PRESENTATION by Stuart McHendry – Director of carbon and Circularity at Scotch Partners and a Chartered Environmentalist. Exploring how whole-life carbon and circular thinking can create better-performing, more resilient and resource-efficient buildings, drawing on lessons from Pilgrims Barn.
3.45pm SPECIAL GUEST Simon Tilley, Director of the Hockerton Housing Project.
3.50pm Charter update by Richard Jenner of Groundwork UK
3.55pm Wrap up and awarding of new accreditations.
4.15pm End of formal proceedings and start of refreshments. Networking, chatting and electric vehicle / static display viewing as applicable.
5.00pm – 6.00pm starting to close.
As the sound of Merlin engines faded, everyone took their seats in the famous ‘twin-hat’ marquee to hear Peter Frost, Environment Strategy Officer at Suffolk County Council and Lead on the Charter, welcome attendees to the 2026 Charter Summer Event at Pilgrim’s Barn, nestling in the beautiful Suffolk countryside near Haughley. This opening was humorously interupted by his colleague, Claire Ling, as they promoted the Suffolk-In-Motion event planned for 10th October at Copdock Park & Ride and the laughter showed how everyone was settling in for a fun afternoon with a difference.
It was then the turn of our Host for the day, Nick Woolley, who is MD of Woolley Property Management and resident of this beautiful farm building conversion, to open the proceedings and talk about the story of this sustainable dwelling. For anyone wishing to see this location for themselves, Nick’s Wife, Saffron, runs wellbeing escapes where you can experience the tranquility and ambiance and can be contacted here… https://www.pauseatpilgrims.com/
We were delighted to welcome Stuart McHendry as keynote speaker for this year. Stuart is Director of Sustainability and Circularity at Scotch Partners and a Chartered Environmentalist, with more than 15 years’ experience advancing sustainable design across the built environment. A physicist and sustainable engineer by training, Stuart specialises in whole-life carbon, circular economy and net-zero design, helping clients and design teams translate ambitious environmental goals into practical, deliverable solutions.
He is a co-author of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment Global Standard and has contributed to the development of CIBSE guidance on embodied carbon in building services. His experience spans residential, commercial, educational, civic and heritage projects across the UK and internationally.
Stuart explored the value of whole-life carbon and circular thinking in the residential and wider building sector, drawing on lessons from the remarkable transformation of Pilgrims Barn.
Spotlight on Sustainability: Pilgrims Barn
One of the highlights of this year’s Carbon Charter networking event was the opportunity to explore around the location of Pilgrims Barn itself. This is an exceptional example of what can be achieved when traditional rural architecture meets cutting‑edge sustainable design. Originally an old farm building, Pilgrims Barn has been meticulously transformed through a self‑build project to far exceed Passivhaus standards (with an amazing EPC rating of A134), while requiring less cost per square meter to build, demonstrating how existing structures can be reimagined to achieve extraordinary levels of energy efficiency and environmental performance.
The building is powered by a large solar array integrated into the roof, generating enough renewable electricity to meet the site’s energy needs throughout the year. This is paired with significant battery storage capacity, enabling the property to not only operate entirely off‑grid electrically (including EV charging) but last year export over 5 Megawatts of energy to the National Grid. Apart from drinking water, Pilgrims Barn functions independently, showcasing a future‑ready model of decentralised, resilient energy design that reduces reliance on traditional utilities.
Sustainable water management is central to the site’s ethos. A comprehensive water reclamation system captures and reuses rainwater across the property, supporting both daily operations and an impressive rainwater‑fed swimming pool – an innovative feature that exemplifies the owner’s commitment to closed‑loop resource use. The result is a home and event venue that minimises environmental impact while maximising comfort and functionality.
For attendees, Pilgrims Barn served as a living case study, providing a tangible starting point for discussion about low‑carbon construction, retrofit opportunities, energy independence and the practical realities of achieving near‑off‑grid living. Its blend of heritage, innovation and ecological ambition made it an ideal setting for this year’s networking event and a source of inspiration for any business exploring the future of sustainable development.
He was followed by Simon Tilley of the Hockerton Housing Project – Another key contributor to the creation of Pilgrim’s Barn.
With a Charter Update from Richard Jenner of Groundwork East bringing the speeches to a close it was time to move on to one of the best aspects of an event like this… The awards.
Congratulations to all the TEN recipients. Including last year’s Hosts, Home Farm Nacton, who were going for Gold and, having gone before the Charter Panel only the day before, were surprised to find out they were successful at the event itself as their name was called out. Smiles all round.
…And then Ned Harrison, the Founder of the Carbon Charter Project, stepped forward to surprise our Host, Nick Woolley, with a Special Recognition Award for an exceptional contribution to the wider sector of environmental sustainability and to the Charter itself.
As well as supplying the delicious food, including vegan treats that many couldn’t believe could taste so good, a shoutout from Allison’s Eatery for the Charter event on LBC’s James O’Brien Show that morning had raised the profile of the event to a national audience. The phone-in moment can be seen captured at 1 hour and 19 minutes into this YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q9hqQXwL_Q
There was a line of other electric cars alongside the vehicle that actually supplied the electricity to power the event. Building on the theme from 2025, this year Thurlow Nunn brought along a range of the latest in autonomous electric robotic lawnmowers which trundled around guided by AI rather than needing a hard perimeter like little R2 from last year’s event. Anyone wanting to get back the time they usually waste cutting the grass should get in contact with them HERE to see what the newest technology can offer.
As the food was enjoyed and the venue and exhibits viewed, it was time for the real close-up discussions to take place as guests mingled and chatted as they looked around…
There were signposts at strategic locations around the grounds as well as a wall of photos and reports from the construction and case study of Pilgrim’s Barn for visitors to see as they strolled around exploring and holding conversations.
As the crowd began to make their way home, gratitude was expressed for the Hosts and organisers setting up such a memorable and successful gathering. Here’s to 2027.
Our thanks go to Nick and Saffy for Hosting at their beautiful home and making us all feel so welcome, Allison’s Eatery for the always-delicious catering and Thurlow Nunn for their support. Plus, well done to the SCC Environment Team who were there to make everything go smoothly. More can be seen about Woolley at https://www.woolley.co.uk/
