Sustainability at Rudge Farm Cottages

At Rudge Farm Cottages, we are committed to sustainability—not only to protect the beautiful landscape we call home but also to reduce costs, cut down on pollution, and operate in harmony with nature. Over the years, we have introduced a range of environmentally friendly initiatives that help us to run more efficiently while keeping our impact on the planet as low as possible.

Harnessing Solar Power for a Greener Stay

One of our biggest steps towards sustainability was the installation of 30 solar panels in 2002, allowing us to generate our own renewable energy. In 2023, we took this a step further by adding battery storage, meaning we can now store the solar energy collected during the day and use it in the evenings—when our guests are home, cooking, watching TV, or simply relaxing on the sofa. This system significantly reduces our reliance on the national grid and helps us to run almost completely off-grid during peak times, lowering our carbon footprint and making Rudge Farm Cottages a more sustainable place to stay.

Even our animals benefit from solar power—our chicken and duck coops are completely off-grid, powered by standalone solar panels fitted to the roofs. These solar systems provide internal lighting, helping the chickens know when it’s time to head to bed, all without the need to run additional power cables across the farm. It’s a simple yet effective way to provide comfort and structure for our animals while maintaining our eco-friendly ethos.

Eco-Friendly Waste Management

Unlike many rural properties that rely on traditional septic tanks, we have our own domestic sewage treatment plant. This system aerates waste, encouraging beneficial bacteria to break down organic matter and purify the water. Not only is this far better for the environment than a standard septic system, but it also means we only need to have the tank cleared roughly once every two years, rather than multiple times a year. This helps to reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and minimise disruption to the peaceful landscape that makes Rudge Farm so special.

Natural Pest Control and Organic Gardening

We take an entirely natural approach to managing pests at the farm, avoiding the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals. Instead, we:

• Repurpose wool from our sheep after shearing, using it as a natural barrier to deter slugs and protect young plants in our gardens and courtyard.

• Let our chickens and ducks roam freely in the courtyard at times, allowing them to naturally reduce slug and snail populations, preventing damage to plants without the need for chemicals.

• Encourage birds of prey by installing kestrel and owl boxes on-site. This helps to control the rodent population naturally, reducing the need for traditional pest control measures such as traps and poison. We also have a resident buzzard who is a regular presence at the farm, further contributing to the natural balance of our ecosystem.

• Keep our lake chemical-free, ensuring it remains a thriving part of the natural environment. We use peat moss and a bubble aeration system to naturally balance the water and support healthy aquatic life—without introducing any artificial additives into the ecosystem.

• Reuse organic matter wherever possible, including spent peat moss from the lake, which is repurposed into our garden beds to help seedlings and flowers thrive. In addition, waste from our chickens and ducks is added to a compost heap, allowed to naturally ferment, and later spread across our garden areas—creating a closed-loop system that feeds back into the land.

Sheep-Powered Lawn Care

Cutting grass is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and requires fuel-powered machinery, which is why we’ve found a far more eco-friendly solution. Instead of constantly mowing our full-size, five-a-side football pitch, we simply close it off for a couple of hours and let our sheep take care of it. These natural lawnmowers trim the grass efficiently, enjoy a good meal, and save us the effort—all while keeping things environmentally friendly and fuel-free.

Reusing and Repurposing Furniture

Sustainability is not just about energy and waste—it’s also about making mindful choices in how we furnish and maintain our cottages. When renovating, we deliberately avoided flat-pack furniture from overseas, which often has a short lifespan and a significant carbon footprint due to manufacturing and shipping. Instead, we chose timeless, well-crafted pieces that we could reuse and restore, giving them a new lease of life rather than sending them to landfill.

This approach not only helps the environment by reducing waste and unnecessary production, but it also adds to the traditional charm of the farm, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels authentic and full of character. Many of our cottages feature beautifully restored furniture, each piece with its own story, designed to last for years to come.

Encouraging Biodiversity and Rewilding

Rather than constantly purchasing new plants, we take a sustainable approach to gardening by harvesting 50% of the seeds from our flowers and redistributing them around the farm. This practice allows us to maintain our gardens in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way, ensuring a continuous cycle of growth without relying on garden centres.

In addition, we recently seeded an entire acre of foxgloves and bluebells at the top of our woodland, creating a stunning natural habitat that supports bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This wilding project enhances biodiversity at the farm, providing a vital food source for insects and small mammals while adding to the beauty of the landscape.

Sustainability at the Heart of Rudge Farm

Sustainability isn’t just a box we tick—it’s woven into the way we run Rudge Farm Cottages. Every decision we make considers the long-term impact on the environment, from cutting down energy use to encouraging natural pest control and wildlife conservation.

By staying with us, our guests become part of this commitment too, enjoying the benefits of an eco-friendly holiday while experiencing the beauty of the Dorset countryside in its most natural and unspoiled form. Whether it’s relaxing in a cottage powered by solar energy, wandering through wildflower meadows buzzing with life, or simply knowing that their stay supports sustainable practices, our guests can enjoy their time at Rudge Farm knowing they’re leaving a lighter footprint on the planet.