From sustainable fashion and field-to-fork restaurants to green getaways and B-Corp brands to buy, here are the best ways to go green in Hampshire
SUPPORT A FARM
Hollycombe Home Farm
This farm-to-table pop-up returns this month to the working family farm in the South Downs village of Liphook. Tuck into home-grown meat served on long communal tables with views over the pasture where your food used to roam.
‘The feasts showcase the very best, freshest ingredients from our farm, cooked over an open fire. The menus are announced nearer the time due to the seasonal nature of what we serve, but guests can look forward to four mouth-watering courses with seasonal veg and 100% grass-fed meat. There will be delicious vegetarian/ vegan options, too,’ says Edd Jenner, fourth generation farmer and event mastermind.
September 16 and October 14
hollycombehomefarm.com INSTAGRAM LOGO @hollycombehomefarm
TRY A LOCAL PRODUCER
Jude’s Ice Cream
One of Hampshire’s tastiest B-Corp’s is Jude’s Ice Cream. ‘It’s our mission is to pioneer radical change in our industry by making the most delicious craft ice cream and treading lightly on our planet,’ explains Managing Director, Chow Mezger. ‘Bringing joy through creating incredibly indulgent ice cream flavours and healthier products for kids is at the absolute heart of everything we do. We work with carbon footprinting expert Professor Mike Berners-Lee and his team at Small World Consulting, to measure our carbon footprint and identify the most sustainable ways to reduce it. In 2020 we committed to reduce our carbon intensity per litre of ice cream by 43% by 2030, and so far, we have reduced it by 21%. We’ve achieved this by comprehensively reviewing everything we do as a business and proactively identifying ways to reduce carbon – from installing solar panels at our Twyford ice cream factory and introducing more and more people to the delights of plant-based ice cream – which has a 47% lower carbon footprint than our dairy and uses up to 80% land.
‘As a BCorp we’re committed to using business as a force for good. In the last year we’ve donated over 66,000 portions to charities and NHS heroes, paid a Living Wage and supported Ukrainian refugees in partnership with the Sanctuary Foundation. Ultimately though we hope that we have brought joy to everyone who has tasted our ice creams!’ judes.com
CHOOSE LOCAL MENUS
The Pig, New Forest
The Pig in the Forest has a 25 Mile Menu - serving up simple, fresh flavours from zero-miles ingredients grown in its own onsite Kitchen Garden, paired with carefully selected produce from within a 25-mile radius. Expect delights like James Golding’s hot smoked Chalk Stream trout with freshly pickled cucumber and Willy’s cider dressing; South Coast Cuttlefish with foraged rock samphire and New Forest Gooseberry tart with foraged elderflower curd – all served up in the rustic greenhouse-inspired restaurant. thepighotel.com
BUY FROM B-CORPS
Summerdown
Certified B-Corp, Summerdown, have been growing, harvesting and distilling their very own Black Mitcham peppermint for almost three decades on the farm in the Hampshire countryside. This vibrant plant is transformed into an aromatic, barrel-aged peppermint oil, which plays the starring role in all the award-winning chocolates and herbal teas – all of which are 100% plastic-free and come in fully recyclable packaging. Jo Colman, Head of Sales and Marketing at Summerdown said: ‘Sustainability has always been a way of life at Summerdown. Our Master of Mint, Ian, has turned our farm into a peppermint playground for wildlife, insects, and flowers. We have beehives in our mint fields, barn owls in farm buildings and every year we plant special feed crops for birds and sow wildflower seeds, encouraging new creatures to make themselves at home around the edges of our fields and woodlands. Because of all our sustainable practises, as a farm we are carbon neutral.’
Don’t miss the new edition of four cosy shepherd huts – some with wood-fired hot tubs – the perfect escape to unwind in nature. summerdown.com
GO ON A CARBON-FREE ADVENTURE
The New Forest National Park
With 140 miles of footpaths and 100 miles of waymarked off-road cycling routes, the New Forest National Park is a fantastic place for some carbon-free adventuring. If your legs get tired, you and your bike can take the New Forest Tour hop-on, hop-off bus service. Three inter-connecting circular routes take in all the attractions and provide an eco-friendly way to explore the National Park; don’t miss a spot of kayaking on the River Beaulieu with New Forest Activities – if you’re lucky you may spot Moon Jellyfish floating gently down the river.
FORAGE FOR YOUR FOOD
Autumn Foraging Workshop
Spend an autumn day foraging for fresh berries, an array of edible mushrooms, nuts and herbs for teas, tinctures and medicines in the Hampshire countryside. Hampshire forager Freya Rimington will lead the walk before finishing with a small picnic lunch, to feast on the seasonal ingredients that you’ve foraged with your fair hands. The walk will be slow-paced, but uphill in areas, over fields, and through woodland. Sturdy shoes at the ready, along with a little basket to gather a few goodies, and a notebook or camera to help you jot down all the tips.
September 3 and 10, 10am-1pm, foragedbyfern.com
SUSTAINABLE CAN BE LUXURIOUS
Heckfield Place
This beautifully restored Georgian luxury hotel may have taken a few years to complete but it was definitely worth the wait. Set in 400 acres of Hampshire countryside Heckfield Place has nature at the core of its ethos with its own biodynamic farm providing fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers and honey to its two restaurants, Marle and Hearth. Run by culinary director Skye Gyngell, the latter is centred on an open fire, promising simple heartfelt food using the very best produce available on the day; root-to-table eating at its best. Expect dishes such as Home Farm radishes, carrots and asparagus with Burrata and herb oil; loin of lamb with Home Farm young onions and herb jab; and lemon and elderflower posset with lemon shortcake. Yum. heckfieldplace.com
REPAIR, RENEW, RECYCLE
Repair Café, Winchester
Do you have an electrical appliance that’s stopped working? A favourite pair of jeans with a precarious hole? Rather than lobbing them in the bin, now you can get them fixed up at Repair Café Winchester. This new initiative pops up on set dates throughout the month at Badger Farm Community Centre and Unit 12 Winnal and is one of many cafés across the UK that brings together skilled volunteers who can fix all sorts of items and pass on the skills to their owners, who watch while it is mended. This can prevent items from heading to landfill and save on raw materials to make a new one, which in turn cuts the emissions of CO2 and ultimately helps with reducing climate change. Did we mention there’s tea and cake there too? repaircafewinchester.org
GET GREEN FINGERS
From the Ground Up
From the Ground Up is a gardening project in Basingstoke which offers everyone a chance to work the land as a traditional allotment. Brainchild of Carla Scammell, the community allotment recently welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke to open the new accessible area to ensure wheelchair users can still reap the benefits of gardening.
‘Anyone can come down and harvest,’ said Carla, ‘no work required, unless you want to - or bring a book and lunch and find a quiet corner. We try to be as sustainable as possible, reusing most of our resources, composting, collecting seed, harvesting rainwater, making and using our own fertiliser and working with nature rather than against it.’
Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am – 2pm. FACEBOOK LOGO @fromthegroundup16
SUPPORT FAMILY BUSINESSES
Wallops Wood
When Katherine and Andrew Graham opened Wallops Wood Cottages over five years ago, they were keen to ensure they were as green and ecologically conscious as possible. Perched on a ridge of the South Downs National Park in Droxford, the aesthetical and ecologically designed self-catering accommodation has won both Silver and Gold Award for the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award at the Beautiful South Tourism. Eco-friendly initiatives include solar panels that power all the cottages and indoor swimming pool, electric car charger, owl boxes and a native wildflower meadow to encourage butterflies and insects. wallopswoodcottages.co.uk/
DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Gin aficionados will love a tour and tasting at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery near Whitchurch. Not only are the gin cocktails delicious, it’s also breathtakingly beautiful and it’s the eco-credentials that take it to the next level. Laverstoke Mill became the first distillery to be awarded the highly prestigious BREEAM Award for Industrial Design – the world’s leading environmental assessment method for buildings. A hydro-electric turbine in the River Test enables renewable and low carbon energy; the Biomass boiler uses sustainably sourced local wood chips and rainwater is harvested. bombaysapphire.com/distillery
STAY SOMEHWERE SUSTAINABLE
New Forest Escapes
This female-led team have paved the way in luxury New Forest staycation tourism encouraging guests to ditch plane journeys and, instead, immerse themselves in the slow/local life and sustainable travel here on home soil. ‘As a B Corp certified company, we strive to put people and planet first, so promoting ways that our guests can share our future-focused approach is hugely important to us,’ says Managing Director, Jane Wilkinson.
With over 50 holiday cottages dotted around the New Forest, we welcome thousands of people each year to share this part of the world with us; and we use this as an opportunity to support other local and like-minded businesses. Speaking to each guest upon booking, we share our 'insider info' on where to eat, drink and be merry during their stay, and champion those who focus on sustainability. We have also developed a local larder of discounted treats from local suppliers that help with welcome hampers.’ newforestescapes.com
CHOOSE A GREEN GETAWAY
Chewton Glen
Having earned a rep’ as one of the greenest getaways in Hampshire, the five-star Chewton Glen Hotel has got its eco credentials sewn up - from the new carbon-neutral treehouse kids club to the 70 beehives housing five million bees that produce honey for the hotel and pollinate the wildflowers surrounding the house. Home-grown vegetables, electric car charging points and an orchard with over 200 heritage fruit trees come as standard. The hotel also pledges to work with the environmental agencies to monitor the flora and fauna on the estate and minimise the environmental impact on any areas of special interest. chewtonglen.com
CHOOSE CLOTHES WITHOUT COMPROMISE
The Well Worn
The Well Worn launched during the pandemic with a mission to create beautiful clothes without compromise. With us Brits sending 7,000 tonnes of clothing to recycling centres, textile banks and charities each year, The Well Worn repurposes them into something new, in a bid to take care of the planet for future generations. Everything is made locally (in Winchester) as one-off pieces or small limited-edition batches, from mended denim - reworked and repaired - to hand-dyed scarves made from natural indigo pigment from indigo plants. Preloved, deadstock and antique fabrics make up 95% of the collection. Want to get involved? Founder, Emma Shaw says: ‘During Winchester Green Week (September 23 – October 1), we will be holding a series of workshops. Bring along your favourite worn denim piece in need of a little TLC. You will learn how to repair, stitch, and patch holes and rips using Sashiko and Boro techniques. There are a limited number of places available, so sign up now to book yours.” thewellworn.co.uk
SMELL THE FLOWERS
Lower Norton Flower Farm
Situated in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, Lower Norton Flower Farm grow fields of quintessential English country garden flowers. Unlike supermarket bouquets, these blooms are local, sustainable, seasonal and scented - grown right on our doorstep – many right from seed. Owner, Alison Coleman says: ‘Friday flowers will be available until the end of September and we will be offering some slots for PYO flowers, these tend to be 'pop up' dates when the supply of flowers in the field allows. We're also busy harvesting our flowers and seed heads to dry to be used in our Christmas wreath workshops. The best way for people to be kept up to date with what is going on at the farm is to sign up to our newsletter via our website or follow us on social media.’ INSTAGRAM LOGO @lowernortonflowerfarm, lowernortonflowerfarm.com/bouquetsfriday-flower
GO OFF-GRID
The Sustainability Centre
Set in 55-acres of woodland in the heart of the South Downs, the Sustainability Centre is an independent learning and study centre, and an advocate for sustainability. Sign up for regular retreats, workshops and children’s activities themed around sustainability; the aim: to educate and inspire people to make positive changes to the way they live and work. You can stay overnight here too; an eco-lodge, camping, and yurts make it a perfect green base from which to explore the South Downs National Park. sustainability-centre.org
BUY SMALL BATCH
Gorilla Spirits
Based in the north east corner of Hampshire, in Upton Grey, Gorilla Spirits Co.’s distillery makes small-batch, award-winning spirits – all while donating £1 to The Gorilla Organization for every bottle sold. Founded by Andy Daniels, whose vision was to create a truly ethical business and an exceptional portfolio of spirits and liqueurs – all of which come in recycled glass. Cheers to that! gorillaspirits.co.uk
BOOK ECO BUSINESS TRIPS
Room2, Southampton
Mixing up all the best bits of home – fully-equipped kitchen, large king-sized bed and plenty of space to work or relax – with a super-sustainable hotel and you’ve got room2. The central Southampton ‘hometel’ uses renewable energy, solar power and has a zero-waste policy. A Gold Rating from Green Tourism ensures good eco-friendly practice; there’s even a bug hotel onsite too. Views over Queen’s Park and the harbour is the cherry on the cake. room2.com/
SUPPORT WILDLIFE
Marwell Wildlife
Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of everything at Marwell Wildlife and their eco-credentials are a testament to this. Marwell works towards the restoration and appreciation of nature through science, education and sustainability initiatives. They were awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development in 2022 in recognition of their work in reintroducing declining species to restore ecosystems and for their innovative use of renewable energy from zoo poo (yes, you read that right) to heat their buildings using biomass technology. marwell.org.uk
ENJOY OUR ECOSYSTEMS
The South Downs National Park
The South Downs National Park is the newest of the UK’s 15 National Parks; a biodiverse landscape with rich and rare habitats and extraordinary ecosystems in its rolling chalk hills. In fact, its lowland heath is rarer than rainforest; the chalk grassland has up to 40 species per square metre! The National Park Authority is committed to supporting the unique species and ecosystems of the area with initiatives including habitat restoration and a campaign to ReNature so that wildlife can flourish. With 3300km of footpaths, bridleways and byways to discover, whether you walk, cycle or take the South Downs Rambler bus (running until the end of September) it makes for a great car-free getaway. southdowns.gov.uk
