Environment

Nature, biodiversity and environmental impact are at the heart of what we do. We don’t get everything right but we try hard. Whisper Gill, Breaday Gill and Folly Gill form part of a courtyard of traditional farm buildings. In 2007, we began slowly and carefully renovating and converting the buildings in an environmentally conscious way. We adopted technologies, materials and products that are about respecting the buildings, the people who stay in them and the planet. Existing materials were re-used and repurposed. We drove builders and tradesmen mad with unusual products like lime mortars and plasters, sheepswool, hemp and woodfibre insulation and our hate of waste. The district heat and hot water is provided by our biomass boiler and solar thermal panels. Our small farm is run by Lorna’s father assisted by our youngest son. We try to be good guardians for future generations everywhere. We have planted lots of native trees and this work continues. We have devoted 30% of our arable land to nature through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Over the next year we will plant and restore around 500 metres of hedgerows, restore 100 metres of dry stone walls and also plan to restore an historic dew pond. All of these measures are aimed at improving Silpho as a sanctuary for nature; and for our guests and us.