Horse riding and sustainability vacation in the South Downs, UK

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This adventure allows UK-based clients to travel and experience beautiful natural surroundings without having to fly as Westerlands farm is easily accessable by train from all over the UK.

All of the farm accommodations have electricity powered by a biomass boiler - which uses organic matter generated by the farm itself, and will only purchase additional feedstock (if needed) from sustainable sources.

Walking and horse riding are incorporated into every day of the itinerary as the best means of exploring the South Downs National Park, and as means to reach local restaurants and pubs.

All food served on the farm and its Woodfire Campsite outdoor restaurant are locally sourced with vegetarian & vegan options available.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Westerlands harvests rainwater for most of the toilets on site. The toilets drain either into the soil or cess storage, meaning the farm is not contributing to the UK’s famous sewage problems.

The farm has several bat and owl boxes around the accommodations, and are also building bug hotels. They keep bees on site and these have grown to five distinct hives in the last years.

Revenue generated from tourism at Westerlands directly contributes to the farm’s rewilding projects such as hedgerow planting to encourage biodiversity. Westerlands works very closely with the South Downs National Park and is actively involved in a number of their schemes to help protect the indigenous wildlife and ecosystems of the area.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All the accommodations at Westerlands are within the Jamison family’s land - this is 100% a local family business. The farm also employs local guides, carpenters, stalkers and farmers, as well as supporting a local campsite business and selling meat through a local butcher. Additionally, they encourage guests to make use of the local shops, pubs and businesses to also help support the local economy.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Every member of the family and the staff that help to run the farm are from the UK and live in the surrounding area, with over 70% of the staff being women, with everyone being paid above the UK minimum wage.

Westerlands has a workplace diversity strategy and is open to all races, genders and sexual orientation of staff and potential new staff from all nationalities as long as they are eligible to work in the UK.

This openness of course also applies to guests as everyone is encouraged and welcomed onto the farm to interact with nature, including the LGBTQ+ and all other communities.

The majority of accommodation at Westerlands is accessible to those with limited mobility, vision or hearing. Anybody is welcome here as the farm seeks to democratise access to nature, however some of the longer walks including steep slopes may be challenging for those with less or limited mobility.