A West-Wales farming couple have been successful in securing funding from Triodos Bank UK to expand their already successful diversified farm, and take it off-grid.
Geraint and Christine Thomas, of 80-acre Bargoed Farm in Llwyncelyn, Aberareron, first established themselves as a successful camping and caravan site in 2016, providing over 50 serviced hardstanding pitches (many of which have private hot tubs).
In the years since, they have expanded the business to include the Moody Cow farm shop and bistro – selling locally sourced food and drink, which are well used by both tourists and locals alike. A very popular indoor children’s play centre (Moody Calf) was added in August 2021 and, in January 2022, the Ysgubor wedding and events venue was launched; with the Posh Cow coffee and wine bar due to open in the very near future.
The support from Triodos will fund new solar panels and battery storage, allowing Bargoed Farm to source (and store) the majority of its power from renewable energy, enabling them to go off-grid and keep energy costs down.
It will also help to finance the conversion of farm outbuildings into self-contained holiday accommodation, due to be ready by Easter 2023. It is anticipated that this will be available both to tourists and as part of wedding/event packages.
Geraint Thomas, owner of Bargoed Farm, said: “Our aspirations to reach net zero are an important part of our business plans and we’re excited to have the opportunity to take a step closer to this by increasing our solar energy supply. We’re set in a beautiful part of the Welsh countryside, and we hope our new accommodation will help encourage people to visit the area and enjoy everything it has to offer.”
Sarah Johnson, Relationship Manager for Wales at Triodos Bank UK, added: “Working with a proactively sustainable organisation like Bargoed Farm is an ideal fit with our mission and values and we’re delighted to support its efforts to achieve net zero and to expand its business further.”
