Our environment
We are always looking for ways to work ethically and use responsible business practices and as part of that commitment, we believe it is important to protect the natural environment.
The distillery is situated in a setting that contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – the meadow and the river.
This conservation designation means we must manage the land appropriately to conserve the special features of the two sites. We are proud of the fact that we have overseen the management of these vital areas and improved the conditions of these SSSIs. Since the family has owned the estate, Natural England have re-assessed the conditions on our lowland grassland and they are now designated as ‘favourable’. The meadow SSSI now has a much improved flora species:
“Other positive constant species include Meadowsweet, Valerian, Purple Loosestrife, Pond Sedge, Marsh Bedstraw and Ragged Robin. The section furthest away from the river is dominated by the grasses Yorkshire Fog and False Oat-grass with some patches of Juncus effusus. Other species within this habitat are Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil, Angelica, White Dead-nettle, Dock and Sorrel.”
Natural England Report (2012)
And we put our name to that.
Jonathan Nelson
Master Distiller
Our river
We are also responsible for the stretch of the River Test that runs through the estate. The Test is world famous for its superb trout fishing and is widely regarded as being one of the most famous chalk streams in the world.
We have a vested interest in conserving this beautiful river, as the water used in the distillation of our gin comes from the same aquifer that gives the river its ‘gin-clear’ waters. One of our responsibilities is to control the water levels, and with the experience and knowledge of our local river contractor, we have seen improved river flow and the welcome return of water voles and other wildlife.