Environmental Policy
Greengate is a small holding that works with the natural environment. I am careful to maintain the land in keeping with the Peak Park practices.
I aim to use the resources of my small flock of Lincoln Longwool sheep from fleece to finished product.
I offer workshops in traditional skills such as spinning, weaving and dyeing on the small holding. The dyes used are all obtained from plant extracts. All meals offered on these workshops are home cooked.
I also offer a school visiting scheme, where the children can be introduced to the very friendly sheep and learn all the ways the wool can be used.
On the small holding I have two working barns, one of which has just been renovated with the help of the Bonsall Barn project.
It is my policy to make as many of the craft items for sale, completed or in kit form, from my own wool products as is possible. All other craft items for sale will have been made from materials resourced from local businesses with the EQM mark.
All packaging items will be made from recycled products, ranging from paper to ink cartridges.
My small holding is managed with the old farming methods of grazing and resting the fields. No fertilizers are used in the management of the fields and spot spraying only is used when necessary. I have four surveys per year carried out by a volunteer of English Nature to keep a log of the wild flowers on my land. We have supplemented these flowers with seeds resourced locally.
My dry stone walls are being rebuilt and a wide margin is left between that and the sheep fence, to encourage the local wild life. I have bird and bat boxes in the appropriate places.
My sheep are given every care and attention, and are all hand tamed. Some are taken to shows and schools and are happy to be petted. Any lambs to be sent to slaughter are taken to the local butcher, only three miles away to ensure that the stress levels of a journey is kept to a minimum.
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