Our Green Story

Wester Derry Farm has 60 acres of land which since 2001 has been part of an agri-environmental land management scheme to encourage biodiversity. As a result we now have species rich meadows, wetland and water margin which are a haven for flora and fauna. We participate also in Perthshire and Angus Tree Line Project and Tayside Barn Owl Project all to provide habitat for many species including Skylark, Brown Hare, Barn Owl, Linnet, Lapwing and River Otter. It is wonderful to be able to share our land and its wildlife with our guests

An important part of our environmental plan is to make optimal use of renewable energy. Our farmhouse at Wester Derry uses geothermal heat – our ground source heat pump provides all our heat and hot water. Holly House at Wester Derry is partially powered with electricity generated from our micro-hydro electric scheme which uses our lovingly restored old threshing mill wheel and all the hot water is provided by an air assisted thermodynamic heat pump. Both Holly House and Hazel Lodge at Wester Derry have solar PV arrays which generate green electricity to partially power both houses and they both have super log burning stoves which we fuel completely from windfall trees on the farm.

In December 2014 we commissioned a fully co-operatively owned 250kW wind turbine on our hill land which now exports enough electricity to the National Grid to power about 80 homes and provides community benefit funds for 2 local schools.

In October 2015 we installed an electric vehicle charge point on the farm and are now the proud owners of a hybrid electric vehicle which, it is estimated, will result in an annual carbon dioxide saving of 5.28 tonnes. A solar PV array on our farm steading generates the electricity we use to charge the electric vehicle so we feel really good to fuel our car with sunshine!

In Septemer 2022 we installed 2 new dedicated EV chargepoints,one at Wester Derry for use of guests staying in Holly House and Hazel Lodge and the other for guests staying at West Lodge.