Despite the challenges of recent years, we have endeavoured to turn our efforts into something positive by advancing our sustainable approach and ethos across our operations. In addition to minimising our environmental footprint and bolstering local communities, we have actively engaged with nature. This includes cultivating diverse habitats for wildlife along our riverbank, throughout our kitchen garden, and on our smallholding grounds. We’ve recently introduced a new nature walk that offers guests views of the Lugg Valley, revitalising a once forgotten patch of land. Our commitment to conservation extends to our heritage orchard, where we’ve planted over 40 trees and hedging plants. Furthermore, we’ve taken steps to address food waste through enhanced composting initiatives.

More specifically, our sustainability approach has focused on these key areas:

Farm to Plate Food, Drink and Everything Else

We take pride in producing a significant portion of our food from our kitchen garden, orchard, and smallholding. Not only does this enhance flavour, but it also drastically reduces our carbon footprint by minimising food miles. For the products we do source externally, we prioritise supporting local, small-scale, and artisan producers. We are dedicated to highlighting and crediting these regional producers, including individual farms renowned for their high-quality goods. Many of our dishes also feature ingredients from the Slow Food Ark of Taste, aimed at preserving endangered foods.

We are committed to sustainability in our seafood choices, sourcing only MSC certified and sustainably sourced fish. Whenever possible, we serve organic meats sourced from farmers who share our passion for quality and ethical farming practices. Embracing the trend towards plant-based diets, we take pleasure in developing innovative dishes that blend diverse flavours and incorporate foraged herbs from the Lugg Valley.

Our wine list has been curated to feature smaller-scale, ethical, and organic wine producers, with a growing selection of English wines known for their minimal food miles. Our spirits often hail from Herefordshire, complemented by refreshing ciders crafted from locally grown apples, along with ales and lagers produced just a short drive away.

Wastage – Reuse, Reduce and Recycle

We recognise that waste is a significant issue and strive to minimise our impact. By partnering with local suppliers, we often reuse crates for transport instead of relying on single-use bags and boxes. Our composting efforts allow us to reduce kitchen waste significantly, creating both wet and dry fertiliser. We continue to eliminate single-use plastics and prioritise suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability.

Hundred House Coffee provides ethically sourced, carbon-neutral, packaging-free coffee. Nobel Isle supplies us with cruelty-free, vegan, 100% recyclable, and British-made face and skincare products. Birchall Tea is the world’s first carbon-neutral tea company. Additionally, many of our materials are made from recycled and sustainable sources, including wool carpets, staff aprons made from recycled plastic bottles, and up-cycled old apple crates for storage.

Energy and Carbon Footprint

We aim to achieve carbon-zero status through extensive tree and hedge planting both on-site and within our local communities. This initiative not only reduces our carbon footprint but also creates more green spaces for local residents and employees. We promote car-sharing among staff and have recently installed bicycle racks to encourage greener activities for our guests. We provide free Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for our guests and use environmentally friendly chemicals. We are increasing the use of waterless and water-saving technologies and continually adopting low-energy technologies. Additionally, we have improved insulation throughout the property to enhance energy efficiency.

Wildlife and Ecology Preservation

During the last lockdown, we planted a variety of native wildflowers and heritage fruit trees to create greener spaces that support bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Our gardens and green spaces are managed by hand using organic land management practices. Look out for our homemade bird boxes crafted from waste materials. We also repurposed dead branches, wood piles, and bracken to create natural shelters for small mammals, including hedgehogs. We’ve developed a nature walk through this space, complete with benches, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the views over the River Lugg basin and Aymestrey Parish.

In response to the positive feedback on our eco-friendly initiatives and our goal to become a carbon-neutral business, we are introducing a voluntary carbon-neutral donation for our guests. This initiative allows diners to add a £1.50 donation to offset the carbon footprint of their meal. These donations will fund various green projects throughout Herefordshire, benefiting local schools and village communities. We invite any community seeking support to reach out to us.