Defra funding for Herts brewery

Funding from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) has helped a Hertfordshire brewery set up a permanent environmentally friendly home.

Edward Darling from Greys Farm, Therfield , near Royston , has converted one of his redundant farm buildings to accommodate Buntingford Brewery. The converted farm building also houses offices which are used by an environmental consultancy.

Mr Darling said: "We have been able to combine good business and environmental improvements, with RES making it all possible. The new brewery will bring more employment to the area, as well as producing popular beer and creating an additional income for the farm. This fits in with my long-term ecological commitment on the farm."

Mr Darling has also found a green solution to treating the waste water from the brewery. A reedbed filtration system treats the waste, with the cleansed water emptied into a specially designed pond. Both the reedbed and the pond encourage wildlife onto the farm, especially rare farmland bird species.

He added: "The new reedbed has already attracted sedge warblers and green sandpipers, with lapwings regularly flying in to drink water from the pond. "

The farm also receives Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) funding to encourage farmland birds and rare arable flowers through sensitive environmental management. By creating grassy margins and leaving stubble, Mr Darling has created favourable conditions for the birds and flowers, which were once common in arable fields.

Nicola Newell, an advisor for the Rural Development Service in the East of England, said: "This project provides a number of benefits, with Mr Darling now having a secure market for some of his malting barley. The local community can also visit the farm and brewery and buy good quality, locally produced beer. The CSS agreement and the land management at Greys Farm, also help complement neighbouring Therfield Heath which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest."