The Environment

At Downhouse Farm we are conscious of our impact on the environment and are continually reviewing and taking steps to lower our carbon footprint and improve our local environment.

We know there is always more we can do and ways we can improve, so if you have any suggestions please do let us know!

Within our accommodation…

• We use a green energy supplier who provide 100% renewable electricity from solar, wind and hydro and who carbon offset all their gas (bulb.co.uk).

• Where possible we use refills for toiletries, hand wash and washing up liquid to reduce our plastic waste. These provided products are environmentally sourced from companies such as Ecover or Faith in Nature.

• We buy toilet rolls from a plastic-free company who donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world (uk.whogivesacrap.org).

• We have a comprehensive recycling system and encourage our guests to use it.

• We use a local facility (just over one mile away) to launder all linen to reduce the transport emissions. The facility runs from a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) excellent-rated facility and uses biodegradable products in the laundering process.

• The tea and coffee we supply in our welcome hamper is always fair trade.

• The renovations of Granary Barn have incorporated an electric car charging point, 3.2kW solar array with solar battery storage and 6kW air source heat pump, with the aim to generate as much energy as possible from renewable sources on site.

• An electric car charging point has been installed at the Farmhouse, encouraging guests to travel more sustainably to the farm.

The wider farm and gardens…

• Each winter we undertake hedge and tree planting around the fields to link up habitats and we will continue to do more each year. 

• We’re taking out field corners to make more space for nature. Species spotted around the farm and buildings include stoats, badgers, a number of bat species, slow worms, bank voles, grass snakes, newts, toads, foxes, roe deer, nuthatches, woodpeckers, red kites and the list goes on. Do tell us about any wildlife spots you have - we love to hear about them!  

• We’ve planted an apple orchard, with local traditional heritage varieties. We’ve also planted a number of walnut trees. 

• We’re trialling a food growing plot using no chemical fertilisers or pesticides and hope to expand it in the future.  

• We’ve planted a hedge around the farmhouse garden with a diverse native hedging mix to encourage more wildlife to the garden. 

• We have put up a range of bat, bird and bee boxes and created stone and log piles. 

• We have dug in a pond and planted wildflowers and pollinator-friendly plants. 

• We compost all our garden waste on site or shred it to use as a mulch around newly planted trees and hedges. 

In tHe pipeline…

• Taking out more field corners to make even more space for wildlife

• Working with an ecologist and nearby land owners to look at changes we can implement to encourage certain species back to the area.

Here are a few of our wildlife spots at the farm…