No kidding! Goat farm is Water Champ

Family-run Broughgammon Farm in Ballycastle has become the second farm to receive the Consumer Council’s ‘Water Champion’s’ Award. The accolade is given to businesses and farms that demonstrate how they have reduced water usage and saved money through the implementation of water efficiency measures.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Aug 2013, 10:51 BST
Pictured left to right are; Charlie Cole Broughgammon Farm, Graham Smith Consumer Council, Sandy Cole Broughgammon Farm and Tony Traill, Element ConsultantsPictured left to right are; Charlie Cole Broughgammon Farm, Graham Smith Consumer Council, Sandy Cole Broughgammon Farm and Tony Traill, Element Consultants
Pictured left to right are; Charlie Cole Broughgammon Farm, Graham Smith Consumer Council, Sandy Cole Broughgammon Farm and Tony Traill, Element Consultants

The 50 acre farm which recently featured on the BBC Northern Ireland series, ‘Farm Fixer,’ under the watchful eye of Lord Sugar’s right-hand-man Nick Hewer, specialises in Cabrito (Kid Goat Meat), Seaweed and Rare Breed Soay Sheep Meat.

It is headed up by brothers Charlie and Sandy Cole who decided to go for the ‘Water Champion’s Award’ as the farm continues to strive for maximum environmental protection in its farming practices. As well as developing an energy efficient home, the family has installed a rainwater harvesting system which provides non-drinking water to the house. A separate system provides water for the 300 strong goat herd and for the onsite processing of local seaweed. The farm’s butchery also benefits from water efficiency measures such as low flow taps and the installation of a new waste water treatment plant ensures that naturally cleansed water is returned to the environment.

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Speaking about the award Sandy Cole said; “It’s fantastic to receive this award from the Consumer Council.

“We have gone to some effort to ensure that the home and farm is energy and water efficient, we worked with Element Consultants to design our home in 2006. We have two 10,000 litre rainwater tanks to provide non-drinking water to the house and the option of adding treatment at a future date so the water is drinkable. We plan to go further by installing a water turbine to complement the two wind turbines already in place.

“We would encourage all farms to look at their water usage as there are considerable environmental and financial benefits to be gained from maximising water efficiency around the land and home, it’s simple forward thinking farming.”

Aodhan O’Donnellof the Consumer Council said: “We were very impressed by the farm’s clear commitment to the protection of the environment through its practices.”