Situated in the splendour of 400 acres of deer park Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa is continually striving to develop its Eco structure in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
Working with the Cumbria Rural enterprise initiative we have gained the C.B.E.N Bronze award and we are working towards the Silver. The implementation of insect Hotels throughout the Estates deer park has been greatly received.
Implementing renewable Hippo’s to the cisterns into our 42 bedrooms achieved water saving of 30,000 Litres per year (projected).
In addition to the work at “Home” the Estate endeavours to raise environmental awareness by participating in national events such as the Manchester “Art Car” project, an exhibition of dressed vehicles which were paraded through the city centre of Manchester with the intention of asking onlookers to think twice before starting their engines rather than using public transport.
Further projects include planting of Natural Bluebell, daffodil and snowdrop walks throughout the Estate.
Environmental Policy Statement
Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa offers all that is expected of an English Country House, set in the secluded splendour of 400 acres of deep park and woodland, bordered by the dramatic Skiddaw Mountain and Lake District fells. Privately owned by the Graves family, reflecting the quality of life and old world hospitality of which the famous novelist Sir Hugh Walpole wrote “A house of perfect and irresistible charm.”
But we are much more than that! We are committed to the management of our 400 acre estate in a balanced and environmentally sensitive way for the benefit of all.
Armathwaite Hall Estate is situated at the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake and indeed owns and cares for the lakeshore, a Vital SSSI. Bassenthwaite Lake is of national importance for supporting one of the only two British populations of vendace, the other being Derwent water in the same catchment. Otters have made a welcome come back, roe deer graze the lakeshore and fen, badgers are common on the Armathwaite Hall Estate and we are proud of our red squirrel population, which we have to defend from the increasing threat from alien grey squirrels.
The Estate has considerable ornithological interest. 130 different species have been recorded here in recent years, many attracted by the shoreline. Birds breeding in the water margins include little grebe. Common sandpipers breed on the stony shore and a huge number of wildfowl including teal, mallard, golden eye and tufted duck use the lake, often popping into our wildlife park as a handy haven and source of extra feed. In recent years of course the Osprey have bred on the lake and are a source of delight for our guests in the Lake View Restaurant.
The directors of Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa recognise their responsibility to manage the environmental impacts of our activities. We have assessed all of our activities and identified that our significant impacts include use of electricity and water and our output of effluent.
In order to promote good environmental practices, our policy with regard to the environment is as follows:-
- To identify the significant environmental impacts of our activities
- To develop suitable objectives, targets and management programmes, applying appropriate operational procedures to minimise our significant environmental impacts during normal and emergency conditions.
- To comply with relevant legislation, regulation and other requirements relationg to our significant environmental impacts.
- To prevent pollution, minimise our inputs of utilities and resources and the outputs of effluent to water/ sewers and water to disposal facilities; endeavouring to re-use, recover to recycle materials wherever possible.
- To ensure that environmental responsibilities are defined, communicated and understood at all levels within our organisation and to provide appropriate training where needed.
- To ensure that all contractors understand our ethos and assist in developing appropriate systems and a responsible approach with regard to environmental issues.
- To strive for continual improvement in overall environmental performance.
Carolyn Graves
Director
