Green Policy

Staying Green at Blackthorn Gate

Here at Blackthorn Gate we have spent a lot of time creating an environment which is sustainable both for work and for pleasure. We would like to engage our guests in ensuring that a stay here is as comfortable and green as possible. With this in mind we have:

● Planted 30,000 thousand trees to create woodlands, have restored and replanted 6km of hedgerows, excavated ponds and ditches all as part of our plan to create wildlife habitats. 
● We generate approximately 50% of the electricity we use from our own wind turbine.
● Worked closely with Tees Valley Wildlife, Askham Bryan Agricultural College and local volunteers on programmes including bird, bat, pond and wildflower surveys, tree planting and building a sand martin and kingfisher wall.
● The Lodges are triple glazed, insulated to the highest standard and fitted with energy efficient heat pumps. All radiators have thermostatic controls.
● Provided environmentally friendly washing and cleaning products.
● Have fitted ‘A’ rated electrical appliances wherever possible. Fitted the majority of light fittings with low energy bulbs.
● Fitted dual flush toilets. Have installed a bio digester for all waste water.
● Water from the roofs of all buildings is diverted to a ditch which runs into a wildlife scrape.
● Provided recycling facilities for guests.
● Are committed to complying with all environmental regulations and setting objectives for improvements. Ensured that our Lodges were constructed with pine from sustainable forests.

You can help by:

● Switching off lights when you go out for the day and when you retire for the night (especially porch and veranda lights).
● Switching off underfloor heating and towel rails in bathrooms when not required. 
● Switching off the sauna when not required.
● Using the recycling facilities provided.
● Shopping locally and sampling the locally produced delicacies.
● Leaving the car at your Lodge and wandering around the woodland and ponds on the farm or taking a longer walk using the public footpaths that cross the farm.
● Letting us know what you see around the farm by writing in our nature diary. Also if you see, for example, a bird or flower you don’t recognise, take a photograph or make a note of its description and where it was seen and we will try to identify it.