At Batsford, caring for the environment is at the heart of everything we do. From the way we construct our buildings to how we heat our spaces, manage water, and support wildlife, sustainability guides every decision we make. We’re also proud to share that we recently won the Best Sustainability Award at the North Cotswolds Awards, recognising the impact of our ongoing commitment to the planet.

Sustainable from the Ground Up

Our main building was created with the environment in mind: constructed using FSC-certified timber and insulated with natural Herdwick sheep wool from the Lake District. Heating is provided by both ground and air source heat pumps, delivering warmth with impressively low carbon emissions.

Powering Batsford Responsibly

Solar panels in our top car park and on the roof of our newly built gardener’s workshop and machinery store now generate an average of 50% of the electricity we use each year — saving around £15,000 annually.

Throughout the site, we also use LED low-energy lighting to further reduce energy use.

Reducing Waste and Choosing Better Materials

We work hard to minimise waste wherever possible. All our carrier and paper bags are 100% biodegradable, cardboard boxes are repurposed to make plant trays, and all café take-away containers are recyclable or biodegradable.

Our waste streams are carefully separated — from plastics and paper to food waste — and collected weekly by Grundon Waste Management to ensure everything that can be recycled, is.

Protecting Our Most Precious Resource: Water

Water conservation is a major focus at Batsford. Rainwater from our main building is captured and stored in eight large underground tanks with a total capacity of 20,000 litres, used for watering plants around the site.

Above our main car park, our purpose-built lake holds around 3 million litres of water. Not only does it provide a thriving habitat for wildlife, but it also helps slow stormwater during heavy rainfall, reducing flood risk to nearby areas. It serves as vital drought resilience too. In total, Batsford can store over 3 million litres of water across our tanks and lake.

Caring for Our Ecosystems

We operate our own sewage treatment plant, which means every cleaning product we use is monitored to ensure it’s bio-friendly and safe for the natural processes within the plant — and safe for the environment once treated.

Supporting a Low-Carbon Future

We are gradually transitioning away from petrol and diesel machinery, replacing tools with electric alternatives wherever possible. Our newest addition is a fully electric John Deere utility vehicle for use around the plant area and nursery.

To support greener travel, we also offer six electric vehicle charging points for visitors.

Looking Ahead

Sustainability isn’t a project for us — it’s a core value. We’ll continue investing in renewable energy, water conservation, biodiversity, and low-impact materials to ensure Batsford remains a beautiful, resilient, and environmentally responsible place for generations to come.