Sustainable, Green & Eco Weddings by Heaton House
Luxury countryside wedding venue Heaton House Farm, Macclesfield, has one more feature in its range of offerings for couples looking to tie the knot: the chance to have an eco-wedding in a sustainable, green venue.
With more and more people conscious about the environmental impact of a big wedding, Heaton House Farm has been leading the way in its effort to reduce the carbon footprint of its farm, switch to renewable energy sources and minimise waste from all events at the venue.
“Increasingly, one of the most important things soon-to-be-wed couples are asking when they visit is how ‘green’ we are,” says Sarah Heath, Marketing Manager at Heaton House Farm.
“They’re looking for a countryside venue that is doing its part to protect and look after the surrounding area, and we’re proud to be able to offer that sustainability.”
Heaton House Farm was one of the first businesses in the region to install solar panels, and within 10 years had more than doubled the number of panels on its barns. With 250 currently installed, they generate up to 60kwh of energy during the daytime!
To make the best use of this renewable energy, the farm has adjusted key working hours to ensure equipment and machinery can utilise the solar power, and constructed insulated storage to heat water which is used for guests’ showers that night and the following morning.
The installation of a biomass burning has further reduced the venue’s carbon footprint, with agricultural, forest and waste from weddings all being burnt on site to generate heat and electricity. Any fallen trees across the site’s 165 acres are used for construction or fuel purposes.
“Reducing and recycling is a key part of everything we do here at Heaton House Farm,” continues Sarah. “We were an early switcher to LED bulbs throughout the venue, which saw a 90% reduction in our electricity use, and with our biomass burner we’ve dramatically reduced our reliance on overseas fossil fuels, and minimised our carbon footprint even further.”
The venue is even able to boast about its recycling. An on-site recycling station has been long established, with specialist collections to reduce unnecessary, small pick-ups by trucks.
“We even recycle the fruit from drinks,” adds Sarah. “It’s just one of the little points that shows our guests we’re committed to sustainability.”
This focus on environmental responsibility has seen a large number of couples turn to Heaton House Farm for their eco-wedding, and it’s a trend that will undoubtedly continue into the future.
As more and more of us consider the impact of big weddings and events on the countryside, Heaton House Farm continues to work towards its ultimate goal of being 100% carbon neutral and sending zero to landfill.
If you’re interested in eco weddings and how to be more sustainable in your wedding choices (whilst still keeping the luxury!), you might also enjoy this feature.
Lots of love…