Nethergill Footprint

Nethergill Carbon Footprint
Sustainablility project February 2012 - Biomass Boiler installation at Nethergill
After many years of research into flow rates for micro-hydro electric, by wind speeds for turbines etc. we have opted for a biomass boiler to heat and supply hot water to the farmhouse, self catering appartments and field study centre (self catering and field study centre build starting March 2012).
The boiler will utilise cord wood bought in as 22 ton loads from the plantation which borders our farmland.  The plantation is being felled on a 30 year rotation, replanting with a mixture of deciduous and coniferous.  (Greenfields Forest is the 17th Red Squirrel reserve in England).
The bought in cord wood will then be cut and split using a machine hired in from local Gayle Mill.

The theory behind biomass installation:
The carbon dioxide emitted when wood is burnt is the same amount that was absorbed over the months and years that the plant was growing.  The process is sustainable as long as new plants continue to grow in place of those used for fuel.  There are some carbon emissions caused by cultivation, manufacture and transportation of the fuel, but as long as the fuel is sourced locally, these are much lower than the emissions from fossil fuels.
Copyright The Energy Saving Trust

Ellbeck Wood
Large woodland planting scheme - planted in Feb 2008  - 18,500 trees.  Planted in conjunction with the National parks and Forestry Commission the woodland has been planted solely for biodiversity and green benefits. 

Farmhouse
Recycling:
Due to our remote location we are very conscious of recycling and adhere to a strict policy.  Landfill rubbish is kept to an absolute minimum.  Our collection service is a mile down the road at the end of the farm track.  We aim to use this service only once every three weeks.

Glass bottles, plastic bottles and tins:
Collected from the end of the farm drive every 3 weeks

Paper and carboard:
Collected from the end of the drive every 4 weeks.  All sensitive items are shredded and used in the compost heap, any overflow is used for bedding in the chicken shed and cattle shed.
 
Green waste:
All green waste is composted
No bonfires are allowed in the Yorkshire Dales National Parks

Log burners:
3 log burners - all chimneys lined in 2007 to promote fuel efficiency.
Wood is sourced from Greenfields Forest bordering Nethergill land.  A firewood licence has been granted to Nethergill for twisted and uneconomical trees to be used.  All timber is purchased out of the forest and either delivered in large loads or carted direct from the forest using ‘Bracken’ a native Dales pony.

Guest rooms:
E cloths and Ecover or similar green products used for cleaning with occasional use of conventional products where necessary.
Waste bins lined with compostable or recycled plastic, all guest rubbish is recycled where possible, split down into plastic bottles and paper.
Shower gel and sop purchased from 'Pure Lakes' - pure, natural and using 100% recycled packaging
Low energy bulbs gradually replacing conventional bulbs in guest rooms and throughout the house.
Coffee and tea supplied in sealed glass jars and milk supplied fresh in jug for each room on request.
Cereals in boxes are purchased and served in glass jars and resealed rather than using small individual packets.
Windows throughout the house gradually being replaced with double glazed windows.

On the Farm
Nethergill Farm is in both an Environmentally Sensitive Agreement and a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. 
Diesel is stored in a bunded tank to avoid any leakage into the water course
No artifical fertilizer is used
No sprays used
Cattle and sheep eat grass and hay.  Concentrates are used in very small quantities and only when absolutely necessary.