The Peake family is passionate about conserving this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which they all live and work. Their long-term strategy has always included investment in green practices in order to be responsible custodians of the countryside and to create a robust and sustainable business to pass on to future generations. This philosophy goes back over 70 years to when Bill and Devora Peake were founder members of the Soil Association and practiced organic husbandry, way ahead of their time.
Both the farming and leisure businesses within the family’s Boxford Group have won a number of awards over the years in recognition of its green initiatives, including Best Green Enterprise, Sustainable Tourism, and the international AD and Biogas Industry Award in 2019.
The Anaerobic Digestor at Boxford Farms uses organic bi-products from fruit growing, fruit processing and maize, and the fermentation process produces a biogas which is converted into heat and power for the farms and Resort. The residual “digestate” contains essential macro and micro-nutrients which are immensely beneficial to the soil. This has been used by the company for several years as a rich, sustainable feed for its fruit orchards and golf courses. This digestate has now been commercially dried, packed. and launched to the public as an exciting new 100% organic fertiliser called “Gro”. Find out more about Gro here!
The AD Plant and biomass boilers on the farm, plus air source heat pumps and solar panels at the Resort and Lodges together produce more green energy than is actually required by both the Apple Tree Lodges and Stoke by Nayland Resort.
These stunning eco-lodges have been carefully hand-built to sit perfectly, and very naturally, within their idyllic woodland location. Their exterior walls are made from sustainable Iroko hardwood and the rooves are constructed using natural cedar tiles which age to a beautiful silvery grey.
Sustainable solar and photovoltaic panels on the rooves, as well as air-source heat pumps, provide power for underfloor heating, lighting, and hot water. With all of these initiatives, there is enough green energy to satisfy all of the lodges’ power requirements, and the team is proud to have won several environmental awards and to have become a “Green 100 East Anglian Business”.
When the Gainsborough and Constable golf courses were constructed around the lodges’ site in the 1970s, conservation was a priority for Bill and Devora Peake. They planted 60,000 trees and created picturesque lakes and water features, taking great care to work with and enhance the inherent beauty of the landscape. After the courses were built, the area became part of the Dedham Vale designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”
Stoke by Nayland Resort employs green initiatives wherever possible across all of our facilities, including our bedrooms, spa, fitness, dining, retail, and functions.
Now a third-generation company and employing 250 staff, Boxford Farms produce over 6,200 tonnes of apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries from 200 hectares in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley. Widely recognised for our innovative and sustainable practices, the Farms have won Best Soft Fruit Grower and Best Top Fruit Grower of the Year awards in recent years.
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Apple Tree Lodges, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath,
Colchester, Essex CO6 4PZ
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Address
Apple Tree Lodges, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath,
Colchester, Essex CO6 4PZ
Be the first to hear about our latest offers
Please send us your email address and we will update you with regular offers and packages
Address
Apple Tree Lodges, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath,
Colchester, Essex CO6 4PZ
Be the first to hear about our offers
Please send us your email address and we will update you with regular offers and the latest news
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