Environmental commitment

What has been changed at Laporte to support the environment?

We have planted over 4000 trees and shrubs (mostly native) to restore natural ecosystem services and re-create wildlife habitats with hedgerows, windbreaks, fruit and nut orchards and silvopasture, to protect the soil and animals on our land. Specifically choose Shropshire sheep for their good grazing habits and because they do not eat the bark of trees!

Tree species include a variety of Oaks, Truffle Oaks, Italian Alder, Chestnut, Walnut, Scots Pine, European Beech, Sycamore, Field Maple, Poplar, Cypress, Douglas fir, Strawberry tree, Elderberry, Wild service, Goat willow, Rowan, Yew, Cedar of Lebanon, Silver Birch, Whitebeam, Lime, Elm, Eucalyptus and Hornbeam. Newly planted hedgerows are all around our land with mixed species including, Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Hawthorn, Hazel, Serviceberry, Holly, Dogwood, Myrtle, Pyracantha, Blackthorn, Spindle and Wayfaring tree, Buckthorn and Gelder Rose. With a mixture of fruits and berries to support biodiversity for wildlife and help sequest some CO2. Planted 100's of different varieties of garden plants, specifically focusing on medicinal plants, berries, herbs and plants for butterflies and bees. Re-seeded the woodland and planted 20 varieties of ferns, wild garlic and woodland flowers and created 2 ponds which are now buzzing with aquatic life, frogs & dragonflies.

As a family, we regularly remind each other of the importance of energy conservation and efficiency measures (turning power and lights off, lids on for cooking, washing clothes at lower temperatures and not wasting food or water). We only use eco cleaning products in our house and provide the same for the gites. No chemicals on our land or garden. Growing fruits and vegetables to reduce transport and packaging needs, as much as time permits. Buy in local meat from organic neighbouring farmers where possible. Recycle everything we can and compost our waste food.

We are very proud of what has been done, mostly successfully and sometimes temperamental to begin, but we are reaping the benefits already. Each autumn more trees are planted and some naturally regenerate, with the hope that the next generation has something to appreciate and benefit from.