Biochar Compost EIP Project
We are undertaking a research project with other farmers and growers across Wales, funded by the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) Wales The aim of the project is to trial growing various plants with Biochar compost in different parts of Wales.
The growing experiments will compare using trial plots with: no biochar, pure biochar, compost enriched biochar and only composted manure. The compost is created here at Henfron Farm using a combination of winter bedding from our herd of dexter cows and Wool from our flock of Welsh Mountain sheep.
The project is underway across Wales and we look forward to sharing the results.
For more information: https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/business/european-innovation-partnership-eip-wales/approved-eip-wales-projects/improving
The 'Elan Links' Heritage Lottery funded scheme is also supporting the EIP project.
For updates please read the blogs.
Peat Free Biochar Compost
Biochar Research
Biochar and Compost
RE-DIRECT
In 2019 our Biochar retort was used by the RE-DIRECT project to which investigated the feasibility of converting biomass resources from several European countries into carbon products.
The EU funded RE-DIRECT project incorporated partners from 5 European countries; Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the UK.
Tony attended the closing conference in North Wales and explained the Biochar process.
Biochar Compost Project
Henfron Farm was the base for a compost research project using sheep manure and Biochar.
The resulting compost passed the PAS100 certification.
This project was funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales (RDP) as part of the Welsh Government and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Arwain is the LEADER 2014 – 2020 programme in Powys.
Welsh Government Nature Fund Elynedd Purple Moor Grass project
In 2015 Tony completed a Welsh Government ‘Nature Fund’ project which entailed removing the dominant ‘Molinia Caerulea’ (Molinia, Purple moor grass) from the moorland on Henfron farm and processing it into Biochar. One of the aims of the project was to improve the biodiversity of the moorland especially for the Golden Plover. Henfron Farm was the base for all the practical side of the research including harvesting and removing the Molinia from the moorland and experimentally processing the Molinia into Biochar.
The outcome of the project was that Biochar processed from Molinia grass has a high carbon content making it useful for carbon sequestration. The removal of the surplus grass also improve the biodiversity of the land.
