An Isle of Wight farm is looking to become more eco-friendly by purifying its wastewater and creating a wetland.
Owner of The Garlic Farm, in Newchurch, Colin Boswell, is looking to create a fully-lined, multi-species, soil-based wetland on one of its fields.
A sewage treatment system
Down the road at Mersley paddocks, Biologic Design, on behalf of the farm, could create a three-acre wetland ecosystem treatment.
It would act as a nature-based, regenerative, sewage treatment system, purifying up to 12m³ of wastewater from the neighbouring Garlic Farm each day.
Five swale pools
The system would have five swale pools, lined with clay, to prevent the untreated wastewater — coming from the houses, holiday accommodations and restaurant — going into the ground.
The purified water would then be stored in a separate pond, holding 3,500m³ of bathing quality water, and used on the garlic fields.
Providing greater resilience
It is being introduced, the designers say, to provide greater resilience to agricultural production as the garlic is vulnerable in periods of drought, as the rainwater soaks away rapidly.
Biologic Design says, in documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council’s planning department, the system will be planted with a variety of trees, shrubs, reeds, sedges and wetland wildflowers as well as fruit and nut trees, soft fruit and herbs, like mint.
No electricity would be used in the purification and production of the water.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/00536/FUL, on the council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 7th July.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
