We are committed to continuous improvement and working with Green Tourism, we have introduced a number of policies which we feel will reduce the impact of our footprint without diminishing the luxury that our guests expect from Nithbank Country Estate. We are proud advocates of sustainability, conservation and promoting wellbeing, helping guests connect with nature, the natural environment and local culture.
Local First – We make a conscious choice to work with local businesses, organisations and suppliers. From the pellets in our boiler to the chocolate on your pillow, we believe in promoting local talent and creating opportunities to build relationships and share everything that is great about Dumfries and Galloway.
Our Gold Award for Green Tourism recognises our awareness and commitment to our environmental practices. We are constantly working hard to maintain and improve our impact on the special environment we live in. We strive to offer luxurious accommodation without effecting our surrounding environment. Our mission is to understand how we can exist by enhancing ecosystems rather than working against them.
We love to tell our guests about this special place; home of the Biosphere, a UNESCO designated area where we value and protect the world class environment we live in. We are Proud Supporters of the Biosphere and Melanie is Chair of the Biosphere Board and Ambassador. Nithbank has been certified as a Biosphere Business due to its committment to support local producers, the environment and community.
Eco friendly cleaning products are used to keep Nithbank clean | Linen and towels are laundered using eco detergents | Guest toiletries are free from synthetic fragrance, pore blocking petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, silicones, synthetic colours, animal ingredients & parabens | organic and natural toiletries are used in refillable dispensers | We champion organic principles and do not use any pesticides or weedkillers on our estate | We compost our garden and food waste, alongside collecting leaves in the autumn for mulch.
Nithbank has an abundance of wildlife which we encourage by providing feeders, nesting boxes and improving habitats | We have planted fruit trees and encourage wild areas to attract bees and insects, we manage ponds and river frontage to encourage wildlife. | We are passionate about promoting Owl, Bat and Red Squirrel Conservation and educating guests with bat monitors who are interested to learn more. We encourage wildlife recording using an App linked to the GSA Biosphere records. | We employ local tree surgeons to advise us on tree health and have a management program in place for the estate.
We love to champion our local talent, and have a range of local products available to sample | We provide guests with a list of local shops and eateries to support local businesses | We promote local events, activities and places to visit on our website for guests to make the most of their visit | We support local charities and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.
We make all of our own jams, marmalade, scones, muesli and granola | Fruit for jams is grown from Nithbank’s Kitchen Garden and Orchard using organic practices | We champion locally sourced Scottish produce and support our talented local producers | We cater for food allergies, vegetarian and vegan | We use and promote fairly traded, ethical and organic products where possible.
Our mission is to reduce our carbon footprint, re-using and up-cycling, avoiding unnecessary depletion of natural resources & maintaining an ecological balance | We promote sustainable and responsible tourism, we showcase a responsible visitor charter in our guest book |we signpost excellent walking & cycling routes from the doorstep | We can arrange cycle or mountain bike hire for our guests | We provide rain macs, wellies, head torches to save purchasing new equipment | We recycle our waste | We provide recycled toilet paper and tissues in all guest bedrooms | we have in-room compost & recycle bins for guests to use.
A Biomass Boiler supplies Nithbank with heating & water burning wood pellets, from sustainable Galloway Forests | All lights are LED energy saving | We have a green towel & linen policy | We use highly efficient appliances which are water efficient | Showers are fitted with flow reducing valves | Cisterns are fitted with reduced flush | all cold water from our taps is drinking water | We promote artificial light reduction for dark skies and educate the effects of light pollution on wildlife.
Red Squirrel Conservation is really important to us, we work in partnership with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and support The Red Squirrel Forum South Scotland, holding meetings and training sessions for volunteers at Nithbank.
We help to promote awareness of Red Squirrel conservation and encourage guests to record Squirrel sightings with SSRS.
Galloway Forest Park was the first in the UK to be awarded Dark Sky Park status. With a limited number of buildings, light pollution is kept to a minimum.
At Nithbank we promote Dark Sky events and have our own Dark Sky Package where visitors can enjoy an evening star gazing with an added bit of luxury. We can also arrange an evening with a local Dark Sky Ranger or visit to the Scottish Dark Space Planitarium.
We collaborate with some very talented local photographers, who creatively share the beauty of the region in their awesome photography. We enjoy hosting photography days at Nithbank, where members can enjoy exploring the estate and sharing each others perspective on photography. We would like to thank them for some wonderful images of Nithbank and recognition is on our website credits.
We promote sustainable transport and are actively involved in lobbying to open our local Thornhill Station.