East Lothian accommodation, farmhouse B&B

We generate the heat and hot water for the house from biomass – a woodchip boiler – that is fuelled by our own coppiced timber. We use energy efficient light bulbs where possible turning off appliances and lights when not in use. All the bathrooms have showers. We use a short machine cycle for washing and laundry balls, and when the weather permits everything is dried outside. Eco cleaning products used.

There are numerous bird and bat boxes throughout the garden and the farm and we have created several ponds and a herb-rich meadow. We farm sustainably. All our arable fields have field margins; we have planted 2km of new hedges and restored a further 3km of old hedge; we have planted 15,000 broadleaf trees.

We recycle all our glass, plastic and paper. We compost all our food waste. We support local conservation projects such as the Life Science Trust at Pishwanton, Gifford and the wildlife trust. Our guests have leaflets and information in their rooms about local conservation projects, walks etc and public transport.

We support the local community by providing access to the farm by marked paths and having open days. We also regularly host farm visits for various groups – from local primary schools, innercity pre-school children, agricultural students often from abroad, to senior politicians, ambassadors and those just interested in the working countryside, practical conservation and wildlife.

We employ local staff, use local companies for maintenance and repair work and buy local produce from local suppliers whenever possible.