9:00am Monday 19th July 2010
By Mark Bowen
A DIVERSIFIED farm business in Fownhope is achieving widespread recognition for exemplary environmental practice.
Caplor has won three green awards in the last six months by putting an emphasis on sustainability.
In February the company's wind turbine was shortlisted for the National NEMEX renewable innovation award.
A few months later the business was highly commended in the environmental category of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce awards.
And now Caplor has been named winner of the carbon reduction cost saving award at the 2010 West Midlands Low Carbon Economy Awards.
The company’s activities span agriculture, property and renewable energy installation. The farm is part-powered by a wind turbine, solar photovoltaic system and solar hot water system.
It incorporates more than 400 acres of land, giving room for a 200 acre crop of potatoes and space for rearing pigs.
It is operated using a set of business principles aimed squarely at sustainability, including using a grass-based feeding system to avoid the need for grain collected by a fossil fuel-intensive harvesting method.
It has also offset emissions by continually planting trees on the farm grounds, a figure standing at more than 400 since 2002.
Business owner Gareth Williams said sustainability is at the heart of Caplor’s vision. “We aim to develop, diversify and positively contribute towards a sustainable community,” he said.
As a result of recent growth the company is now recruiting for a business development manager.
The Low Carbon Economy Awards were held as part of the Mayday Network activity. This collaborative enterprise was founded by the Prince of Wales in 2007 to challenge, support and inspire businesses towards a more sustainable future.
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