As the saying goes: ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’.
A partly submerged tank containing a chopper pump and a mixer at Hendwr Farm’s biogas plant probably will not win any industry awards in the ‘aesthetically pleasing’ category. But who cares? Least of all, Phil Hughes, who runs it.
A traditional hill farm in North Wales that produces lamb and beef? Yes.
A highly innovative visionary business that leads the way in diversification by taking a truly circular view of its future? Ditto.
The farm (about 25 miles west of Wrexham) began in 1902, when it was purchased by Phil’s great grandfather, Cadwalader Jones Hughes.
‘Diversification’ is of course a big current buzz word, and good job too, but John Hughes (Phil’s father), saw the benefits of it back in the late 1960’s when he began offering camping at the farm, which then evolved into the thriving Hendwr Caravan Holiday Park.
Income from the serenely-set medium-sized static caravan holiday park was and continues to be a success, but its growth meant plenty of electricity consumption, so as the next Hughes’ generation brought its influence to bear, Phil (in 2011)...
The hills are alive with the pumping sound of sustainability
