sustainability AT DENSTONE HALL

Thinking in generations
Our family has farmed at Denstone Hall for generations. Looking after the land, making the most of what we have and leaving it in good heart for those who follow comes naturally to us.
Food. Farming. Family. Our approach to sustainability connects all three. How we farm and source our food, how we use resources, reduce waste and support the place we call home.
We know there is always more we can do, we are always learning, improving and doing things properly.

Climate & Resources
Using less. Making better use of what we have.
Our Farm Shop was designed with the future in mind, with high levels of insulation, an air source heat pump providing hot water for underfloor heating, low-energy LED lighting and efficient equipment.  Our solar panels can generate enough electricity to power the business during sunny months, while a 10,000-litre rainwater harvesting system collects water for flushing toilets and watering our plants and gardens.
As we grow, we’ll keep looking for practical ways to use fewer resources and generate more of what we need ourselves.

Circular Economy
Good food is too valuable to waste.
When you know how much work goes into producing good food, you want to make the most of it.
Our butchers work nose-to-tail wherever possible, making thoughtful use of the whole animal.
Not everything delicious has to look perfect. Fruit and vegetables that are a little wonky, marked or simply past their prettiest for the Farm Shop shelves can still be wonderful to eat. Our kitchen gives them another life in soups, puddings and dishes for the Café.
Across the business, we recycle, use reusable displays and continue to reduce unnecessary packaging and single-use materials.

Land & Biodiversity
Looking after the land that looks after us.
Our British White cattle are reared here at Denstone, with cereals grown in our own fields forming part of their feed.
Alongside the land we farm, pollinator-friendly planting and wildlife habitats provide space for bees, insects and other wildlife to thrive.
Local beekeepers keep hives on our land, producing honey that makes the short journey back to our Farm Shop shelves.
For us, good farming means caring for more than the food we produce. It means looking after the land as a whole.

Responsible Sourcing
Knowing where our food comes from and who made it.
We work with more than 70 local farmers, growers, bakers, makers and producers, alongside carefully chosen suppliers from further afield.
Buying locally is about more than food miles. It means knowing the people behind our food, understanding how it has been produced and supporting the farming families, makers and skills that make our region special.
Good food has a story. We like to know who’s telling it.

People & Place
Keeping it closer to home.
We employ locally and work with more than 70 local farmers, growers, makers and producers, helping support jobs, skills and independent businesses within the Staffordshire and Derbyshire area.

Our countryside setting matters too. With the Staffordshire Way and the old railway line through the Churnet Valley close by, Denstone Hall is a natural stopping point for walkers, cyclists and families enjoying the area.

For us, sustainability is also about supporting the place we call home, its people, its businesses and the countryside around us.