Recycling and composting facilities are available on-site. We have a commercial recycling contract and each of the barns is equipped with recycling bags and kitchen compost bins. Large composting bins are situated on-site.
We have installed an electric car charging station to allow you charge both your car and your own batteries overnight!
Bring either your 13 or 32amp charge cable with you and we can arrange for you to charge your vehicle.
The eco-laundry is a purpose-built communal laundry. It acts as a heat dump for the biomass boiler during off peak times, making it a perfect drying room.
The hot water washing machines use surplus heated water stored in the boiler room.
The farm aims to create and maintain biodiversity and wildlife habitats through such things are hedgerow management, providing wild bird cover and creating buffer strips alongside the edges of cropped fields. Thousands of hedgerow plants have been planted, acres of wild bird seed planted and dozens of bird and owl boxes put up to encourage the already large populations of bird species (incl 10 on the BTO red list). We have a family of wild deer at the wood, and a large number of hares and owls. We have bird books and lists in the cottages for guests to try and spot any new species.
Regular RSPB bird surveys have been carried out showing a large increase in bird populations since the environmental work commenced.
The farm gets involved voluntarily hosting farm walks around the fields and demonstrations in the farmyard for interest groups with The University of York, RSPB and Wildlife and Nature Groups.
The work on the farm has been recognised nationally with the selection of Richard as a finalist in the Countryside Farmer of the Year awards 2009 as well as the northern regional winner of the National RSPB Nature of Farming Awards 2013.
In July 2014, Richard was awarded overall winner of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Tye Trophy for excellence in farming and conservation. This covered the whole of the Northern region.
Chris Tomson, RSPB said: “Through wildlife-friendly farming schemes and his own initiative, he has undertaken a huge amount of conservation work for the benefit of everything from butterflies and bats to skylarks and hares. The farm throngs with wildlife and is a joy to visit.”
In it a selection of Yorkshire and locally grown produce is supplied as well as homemade brown bread.
We work with local people to help service your comfort, whether it be handmade soft furnishings, artwork on the walls, pampering you with beauty treatments, home chef or coach hire for large groups.
Our complimentary toiletries are the Gilchrist & Soames ‘Bee Kind’ range, fully recyclable packing and printed with soya ink. They do not contain parabens, phthalates or artificial colours. A proportion of the proceeds from these products goes towards supporting honey bee and sustainable pollination research.
Where at all possible for such items as cleaning products, washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs, etc we purchase the ECOVER range of green products from suppliers such as ‘biggreensmile.com’. These products can also be bought in bulk and decanted into suitable existing containers.
For those food items that cannot be sourced locally like coffee, we purchase FAIRTRADE branded items.
The buildings have been designed to maximise on energy efficiency and have been insulated beyond all building regulation levels. The windows and door glazings have all been argon filled to ensure minimal heat loss.
The technology was part funded by the DECC Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
We have built a purpose-built boiler room to house the LZC technology controls, boiler and thermal stores. We are happy to demonstrate these to you during your stay. We use a biomass boiler and solar panels to provide for our hot water and heating needs.
The hot water generated ensures constant supply to your en-suite showers and baths. In addition, all properties are heated on all floors by under floor heating which is a healthier alternative to conventional radiators and is a more efficient form of central heating. Each area is thermostatically controlled for your comfort.
A major investment in autumn 2011 saw a fourteen fold increase in our generation capacity. We now produce twice the amount of electricity than we use. The surplus goes into the national grid, however to cover peak periods we are signed up to ‘Green Energy’ a company that only uses renewable sources for its electricity production.
Low energy bulbs and energy efficient ‘A’ rated appliances are installed throughout.
We encourage our guests to use the public bus service which operates from the barns into York city centre. Timetables and directions to bus stops are offered inside the cottages. In addition, timetables, directions and details of the ‘Park&Ride’ bus service operated from the York Designer Outlet are offered. Please see the LOCATION page on our website for links to online bus service timetables for both bus services.
There are a number of laminated sheet guided walks in the guest information file as well as a laminated copy of the cycle sustrans ‘Solar System’ route which operates into York from nearby. We are members of the national Walkers Welcome and Cyclists Welcome schemes.
