- Bio mass boiler – all timber for this is produced on the Estate as part of our forestry programme. The bio mass boiler provides all the hot water and heating for the Estate office, Wasing Park the wedding and events venue including the 26 bedroom hotel and for Wasing Place the manor house.
- Organic Farming – We believe that farming and regenerating our environment for future go hand in hand at Wasing, a belief which fuelled the farm’s conversion to organic farming back in 2018. Organic farming is a farming system that sustains and regenerates the health of soils, ecosystems and people, relying on ecological processes and biodiversity rather than the use of environmentally damaging inputs. Wasing’s land and livestock are certified by the Soil Association and we are proud to produce quality food in a sustainable manner.
- Estate to Plate – Livestock are an important part of our organic farming system, helping us to manage our permanent pastures in a way which is sensitive to the needs of the environment. The Wasing Herd of Sussex cattle was established in 2019, with the breed being chosen due to their native heritage and ability to convert low input grass into high quality meat, crucial in our organic farming system. The breed is descended directly from the red cattle that inhabited the forests of the Weald at the time of the Norman Conquest and are native to the south of England. We believe strongly in the virtues of pastoral farming and our animals only eat grass and forage crops produced on farm for their entire life, producing food which is much tastier and healthier for humans to eat than meat from animals fed grain. Our organic beef is Soil Association, Pasture for Life and Red tractor certified. We also grow some of our own fruit and vegetables and are able to offer game and crayfish from the Estate.
- Conservation – Conservation is very important to us, and we are proud to have implemented a large Countryside Stewardship scheme across the estate aimed at enhancing biodiversity across the estate and improving water quality. As part of this scheme, we dedicate over 200 acres (or 106 football pitches) of land to specially grown flower and seed crops to feed our pollinators throughout the year and our birdlife over winter, supporting red list birds such as Skylarks, Yellowhammer and Linnet. Management of trees and hedgerows is very important on the estate, where we are now aiming to let our hedges grow bigger which provides more food for our birds and wonderful blossom in the spring. We are also involved in the management of a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) at Wasing where we have been creating habitats to encourage Odonata, better known as dragonflies and damselflies. We have over 20 species of Odonata at Wasing, including the Small Red Damselfly and the Emerald Dragonfly. We are committed to maintaining this special habitat and improving it going into the future.
- Composting – Our Ridan Composter helps us easily, quickly and economically turn our kitchen waste into an eco-friendly solution that the Estate gardens can reap the benefits from. The main advantages of installing this composter are the reduction of waste disposal and road transport costs, the reduction of greenhouse gasses and landfill, the ability to reduce the Estate’s carbon footprint & great quality compost is created to benefit the Estate gardens in multiple ways
- Compost toilets – Eco friendly compost toilets will be installed at The Mount, reducing waste water and energy use and the dependence on traditional plumbing
- Wasing Fisheries – We are committed to caring for our surroundings by giving back to nature in many ways. Our new Go Green campaign at Wasing Fisheries highlights the importance of environmental conservation and preservation. Following our successful & continuous collaboration with the Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Litter campaign to introduce fishing line recycling points around our lakes, we are dedicated to going even further with our environmental initiatives. Litter picking is a vital part of the work that happens behind the scenes at the fisheries, not only to keep the space looking clean for members but to benefit our local flora and fauna. Looking forward, we are currently working on plans to collaborate with Action for the River Kennet (ARK) to keep our waters as clean as possible. By introducing frequent testing, we can make sure our section of the River Kennet is maintained as a healthy hub for wildlife.
- The Castle Barn – a renovated barn housing many corporate meetings and events. The under-floor heating is run using the bio mass boiler.
- The Garden Room – a purpose built meeting space with two glazed walls of folding back doors, providing natural light and warmth. Air conditioning is intentionally not available and during the warm weather the walls can be opened up creating an indoor/outdoor environment convivial for meeting
- Lighting – low energy light bulbs are used throughout the venue
- We hold an annual litter pick where c40 Wasing colleagues head out in teams from the Estate towards Aldermaston, Brimpton and Woolhampton to collect rubbish and fly-tipped items from the roadsides and riverbanks
- Urinals – to save water, the urinals at the Castle Barn are fitted with eco-friendly cartridges
- Local suppliers – wherever possible all food is sourced from local suppliers including meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, cheese, real ale etc.
- Employment – all part time and full time events staff are from the local area. Most of our waiting staff attend local schools and work here whilst studying at sixth form, taking gap years and throughout their university period.
- Contractors – including builders, fencing contractors, tree surgeons etc we always employ local companies and businesses.
- Recommended suppliers – we have a list of local suppliers that we recommend to all wedding couples including florists, photographers, entertainers etc.
- Recycling – venue waste and glass wherever possible is recycled.
- Wasing’s Pick Your Own Pumpkin event – We grow our own organic pumpkins for locals to come and pick their own pumpkin and the event’s theming focusses on nature and the creatures that are native to Wasing Estate. We avoid using excessive plastic for the woodland trail décor, opting for decorations mostly wicker and wood from the Estate
