Sustainability at Upwaltham Barns

Here at Upwaltham Barns, we feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by the beautiful South Downs National Park. Our love for our surroundings drives our commitment to nurturing and protecting the environment for future generations.

We also know that now, more than ever, having a sustainable wedding venue is a high priority for couples looking to find their dream wedding venue. We understand the importance of offering a venue that aligns with the values of our clients. Here at Upwaltham Barns, we want to help you to create a wedding day that not only reflects your unique love story but also leaves a positive impact on the world around you.

That’s why we are proud to be an ever-increasingly sustainable wedding venue. As a family and business, we take great pride in safeguarding the beauty surrounding us and making decisions that positively impact our people, place, and community. We have implemented various eco-friendly initiatives throughout our venue and grounds that you can read about throughout this page.

Upwaltham Barns wedding venue

Supporting local biodiversity through a wildflower meadow

In 2022 we planted a stunning ‘re-wilding’ meadow behind the ceremony barn, fostering natural wildflowers, butterflies, and bees. This not only enhances the ambience, providing a beautiful backdrop to your wedding photography, but also supports local biodiversity.
 

Restoring lost habitats on the farm

We have already planted over 100 trees and 500 meters of hedgerow, aiming to restore lost habitats and boost biodiversity on our farm. This endeavour will continue to grow as we prioritise the preservation of our natural surroundings.
 

Locally-sourced produce

At Upwaltham Barns, our canape and venue flowers come from Grampa’s beautiful cutting garden during the summer months (May – October), reducing carbon emissions from transportation. The milk provided in Jasmine Cottage for our wedding couples is hand-collected from a local dairy less than 2 miles down the road, supporting neighbourhood businesses and minimising transportation impacts.
 

Sustainable waste management

All garden and florist waste is composted and reused to nourish our gardens, promoting a closed-loop system and reducing waste. Additionally, we only allow natural petal confetti to minimise non-biodegradable waste at the venue.
 

Rainwater harvesting

In the UK, we’re certainly not short of rain, and we maximise the use of rainwater for watering the gardens, conserving this precious resource while maintaining our beautiful cottage gardens.
 

Nurturing Future Generations

We actively engage our staff and younger family members, educating them about the local land, flora, fauna, and wildlife at Upwaltham Barns, instilling a deep respect for our rural surroundings.

Nibbles2Nosh and The Stable Bar

Local suppliers

Nibbles2Nosh prioritise local suppliers and producers to reduce food miles and strengthen our ties within the community. The Stable Bar boasts an array of local products, from Sussex spirits to West Sussex-grown grain lager. For all daytime drinks packages and the rehydration station, our soft drink cordials are sourced from the hedgerows of a local farm, Silverhill Farm, in West Sussex.

Supporting ocean conservation and minimising single-use products

Through our use of Sea-Change alcohol-free fizz, we contribute to vital ocean protection efforts. We also opt for recyclable and reusable glass bottles and carton products, avoiding single-use containers.
 

Home-grown garnishes

Our drinks and cocktails feature home-grown garnishes from our very own herb garden, reducing the need for external packaging and transportation.

The future of sustainability at Upwaltham Barns

As part of our ongoing commitment to becoming a sustainable wedding venue, we have exciting initiatives in the pipeline for the coming year and beyond.
 

Locally sourced “West Sussex” package

We are working on introducing a drinks and catering package sourced entirely from local vineyards, farms, and suppliers, further supporting the community.
 

Reducing paper usage and single-use items

We aim to decrease paper usage across the venue and ensure that any paper we do use is 100% recyclable. We are also trying to limit single-use items and, when necessary, ensure they are compostable, plant-based, or recyclable.

Food and Beverage Waste Reduction

We will work closely with couples to minimise food and beverage wastage, offering expert guidance to help plan more sustainable celebrations.
 

We also encourage our Upwaltham Barns couples and suppliers to join us in making small yet significant environmental decisions, such as:

Encouraging florists to find alternatives to non-recyclable/compostable floristry foam.

Encouraging couples to support local businesses and to choose rental options where possible.

Encouraging couples to opt for seasonal flowers and food, offering them guidance and tools during the wedding planning process.

Suggesting ways for couples to recycle wedding elements like flowers and to evaluate potential excesses during their special day to give back to the community or charitable causes.

Together, we can make a positive impact, nurturing our environment and creating unforgettable weddings with a green conscience. At Upwaltham Barns, we cherish the beauty of The South Downs and strive to preserve it for generations to come. We are proud of the steps we have taken to become a more sustainable wedding venue and look forward to improving even further over the coming years.

If you have any questions about our sustainability commitments or would like to come and visit Upwaltham Barns for yourself, give us a call at 01798 300252.