SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE; OUR PLEDGE

As custodians of this beautiful corner of Suffolk, Alterra Farms and its associated businesses are committed to protecting the land we care for and reducing our environmental footprint. Our responsibility is simple: to manage the land with care, support our local community, and operate every part of our business responsibly.

We are actively reducing emissions across the estate and working toward carbon neutrality by 2030.

Reducing Emissions Across the Estate

Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy

We are continually improving the way we use energy across Alterra Farms:

Energy-efficient lighting and modern, efficient systems across buildings and operations
High-efficiency heating and cooling installations
An ongoing transition toward renewable energy sources
A solar project under consideration to support clean, sustainable power generation
Hydrogen-ready infrastructure to allow for future renewable integration

Minimising Waste

We are committed to reducing waste across all Alterra operations:

Comprehensive recycling of glass, paper, cardboard, plastics and oils
Composting of organic waste wherever structure and processes allow
Zero-waste principles built into procurement and operational planning
Regular review of materials, packaging, and processes to reduce environmental impact

Local & Responsible Sourcing
Supporting local, independent suppliers is central to our sustainability approach:

Fresh ingredients and produce sourced from local, sustainable suppliers
Local housekeeping, maintenance, and waste management partners
Sustainable materials specified across all refurbishment and development projects
A commitment to purchasing at least 50% of our products and produce from independent local suppliers
A focus on serving at least 75% local and independent customers across our associated businesses

Carbon Offsetting & Enhancing Natural Capital

As part of the wider Alterra Farms estate, all associated businesses operate within a carefully managed rural landscape. For emissions that cannot yet be removed, we offset through projects that enhance biodiversity, protect soils, and improve the long-term health of the land we manage.

The estate encompasses:

269 hectares of arable farmland
34 hectares of permanent grassland
1 hectare of permanent crops
12 km of hedgerow and wildlife corridors

We actively participate in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, supporting:

Wildflower margins and dedicated pollinator habitats
Multi-species summer and winter cover crops
Natural feed sources for overwintering farmland birds
Low-input, regenerative cropping practices
Beehives across the estate to strengthen pollination and biodiversity

Scientific Monitoring & Environmental Stewardship

We are committed to understanding our impact – and then reducing it through evidence-based action.

Data-Led Environmental Assessment

We integrate authoritative datasets from organisations such as Cranfield University and The Environment Agency to measure carbon storage, assess land health, and identify opportunities for Biodiversity Net Gain across the estate.

Wildlife & Habitat Surveys

Detailed ecological surveys, supported by verified records from the NBN Atlas, help us monitor wildlife activity and habitat quality across all land parcels, ensuring informed, targeted biodiversity improvements.

Soil Carbon Testing

Specialist soil carbon testing is carried out using recognised Equivalent Soil Mass methodologies. This enables us to measure sequestration potential, monitor soil health, and build a long-term carbon balance profile for each part of the estate.

Carbon Management Framework

A full estate-wide carbon audit tracks:

Energy use and fuel
Water consumption and waste
Transport and logistics
Materials, repairs and maintenance
Cropping, fertility and soil management
Land use and biodiversity activities

These data points form the foundation of our roadmap to Net Zero.

Engagement, Education & Accountability

Sharing Our Journey

As Alterra Farms progresses toward carbon neutrality, we aim to openly share our findings, methodology and progress across our associated businesses to support transparency and inspire wider change.

Social Value

Our sustainability programme includes social value metrics contributing to:

Local economic resilience
Skills, training and employment
Community wellbeing and cultural value
Long-term environmental enhancement

Team Development

Our teams receive ongoing sustainability and environmental training through:

Weekly project updates and operational reviews
Internal training sessions on sustainability principles
External certification programmes as our carbon baseline progresses
A B-Corp accreditation process currently in progress

Monitoring & Reporting

We regularly measure our carbon footprint and set annual reduction targets. Upon completion of our carbon baseline assessment, Alterra Farms will seek certification through the UK Carbon Code of Conduct and AGW Regenerative Certification.

Our Timeline to Net Zero

Carbon Neutrality Target: 2030

Carbon Baseline Completion: October 2025

Annual Targets: Progressive reductions across energy, waste, water, land use, and supplier emissions

We are on a long-term journey to protect the land we are privileged to steward, ensuring that Easton Grange Events remains as beautiful for future generations as it is for our visitors today.