A pied wagtail on our camping barn roof

Weardale is possibly one of England's best kept secrets - it has beautiful countryside and breathtaking landscapes with access to superb outdoor spaces rich in wildlife and flora. We have endeavoured to minimise the impact of our camping barn on this environment.  To assist us in this aim we have joined the Green Tourism Business Scheme which helps tourist businesses operate in a more sustainable way.  We had our first GTBS assessment in November 2009 and were awarded a Gold grading.  

Among the measures we've taken so far are utilising a wood-burning stove and solar panel to provide heating and hot water via a thermal store. We have also installed a raincatcher system to harvest our rainwater, which is then filtered and used to supply the washing machine and toilet. Energy saving light bulbs and fittings have been installed throughout, and both the fridge-freezer and washing machine have a Grade A high efficiency rating. All the cleaning products supplied in the barn are natural and biodegradable.  We also actively reduce waste going to landfill by recycling our visitors' bottles, cans, cartons, paper and card, as well as composting any raw fruit and vegetable waste, teabags and so on.

In the barn we provide information about how you can contribute to our efforts to 'green' our business during your stay and lessen its impact on the beautiful Weardale countryside. 

We also provide information about our local environment - including the unique moorland, hay meadows and bird life - and guides to help you plan your walks, cycle rides and days out in the surrounding countryside.

 

Looking towards Frosterley at hay time on Carrs Farm

When we bought the barn it was close to becoming derelict. It has been re-roofed using reclaimed slate and wood. And reclaimed flagstones, cobbles, and stone have been used in re-landscaping the courtyard. Wherever possible, we have employed local tradespeople to carry out the specialist building, plumbing, electrical and woodwork, and sourced materials locally. 

We have put up bird, bat and lacewing nesting boxes, together with a single bee post. Most of these were made at green craft events at Harehope Quarry, our local environmental education project, where we regularly help out as volunteers. Our garden attracts a variety of bird life - we often spot pheasants exploring the lane by the side of the house at quiet times of the day, and have had pied wagtails, swifts, blackbirds and blue tits nesting in the garden. In addition we've also had bullfinches, chaffinches, jackdaws and the occasional woodpecker feeding at our bird table, and thrushes, robins, sparrows and wrens helping themselves to worms from our flowerbeds.  At twilight bats can regularly be seen swooping above the courtyard and we often hear owls hooting from the neighbouring trees. 

To help reduce our carbon footprint we are also members of the Weardale Community Supported Agriculture scheme.  CSAs are locally run schemes which allow local people to get more involved in the production of naturally grown fruit and vegetables.  Weardale CSA rents two plots of land, one on the outskirts of Frosterley and the other in the Rectory garden at Stanhope.  Come rain or shine, we regularly join a small group of local volunteers to help weed, dig, plant and harvest crops at both sites!  We're still learning what grows best, but this year we did particularly well with our broad beans, blackcurrants, onions and celeriac.

We are always looking for ways to improve our contribution to the local environment and would ask you to help us by doing what you can to be a greener visitor.  Thank you!

We also gratefully acknowledge support from the North Pennines AONB Partnership and Natural England (via the West Durham Rural Pathfinder) in our endeavours to green our business.