An Eco-Friendly Holiday Resort in Glastonbury
‘Climate Change is real and very serious. Our lifestyle has an impact on carbon emissions and as oil becomes scarcer, our lifestyles will have to change.’
Baby Green: Caring for your Baby the Eco-Friendly Way, Jill Barker. Published 2007.
Our Green History
Jill and her husband Jonathan purchased Middlewick after they sold their environmentally friendly business, Green Baby. They set out to bring everything they had learned from owning an eco-retailer to this new business. Originally a 17th century farmstead, Middlewick is now an eco holiday resort nestled in 16 acres of land – a place where guests can be inspired by a sustainable vision for the planet. Still a work in progress, Middlewick has come a long way since Jill and Jonathan moved here in 2011.
Eco-Friendly Holiday Cottages, Farm Shop, Café and Spa
Green initiatives at Middlewick
Middlewick Then and Now
Our cottages were originally heated with inefficient night storage heaters and gas boilers. Now, we use biomass boilers heat our eco holiday cottages and indoor swimming pool. Solar panels supply most of the electricity for the Accommodation, Café, and Spa.
We changed all lighting to LED bulbs and set outdoor lighting on motion sensors to save energy at night.
We also swapped furniture and interiors around, upcycled or recycled furnishings, and prioritised natural, fairtrade and locally made options.
2022 and Beyond
Sustainable Farm Shop and Café
In 2022, we embarked on a very ambitious project: we decided to build an eco-friendly café and farm shop. This is housed in a brand-new building that is a shining example of sustainability, with its solar panels, air source heat pumps, fully electric kitchen, and environmentally friendly interior design.
Working with our Glastonbury-based builders Melhuish and Saunders, we achieved what we set out to do. We built an A-rated environmental building – a rating that less than 0.3% of all commercial buildings in the UK achieve. The build was supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, in recognition of its importance to local tourism, jobs, and the community.
Green Technology
Striving to be Carbon Neutral
Our first green installation was our biomass boilers.
As our cottages and swimming pool needed to be updated, we installed 2 large boilers and built a 10-tonne wood pellet storage room. We then installed 120 PV panels onto our barn roof. This allows us to create 30Kw/h of electricity for our resort.
We also added an additional 72 panels to generate electricity to supply the Farm Shop and Café. We have 5 air-source heat pumps on the property supplying energy for the buildings.
Supporting Local Suppliers
Middlewick Eco Supply Chain
How we spend our money can affect the planet. Every decision we make here at Middlewick is carefully considered, from the cleaning products we use in the cottages, to the produce we buy for the Farm Shop, to the beauty ranges used in our Spa.
We are passionate about the local pound, and keeping money in the local community means so much to us here at Middlewick. We use local tradespeople and local suppliers as much as we can.
Much of the food we have in our cafe and farm shop comes from within 12 miles of us here in Wick. Our specials feature foraged ingredients including edible flowers and fruit from our own gardens. Even our café t-shirts are sustainably sourced!
Electric Cars
Green Travel
Middlewick can be reached by public transport. The 376 bus from the centre of Bristol drops off at the end of our Lane, just a short walk to us. Berry’s Coaches from London depart and arrive in the centre of Glastonbury, a short walk or taxi journey to us here.
By train, you can travel to Castle Cary and then take a short taxi ride to us.
We welcome all cars but are especially pleased to have our visitors in Electric Cars. We have been encouraging our guests to use electric since 2018 when we installed 2 of the first Electric Vehicle charging points.
Our Facilities at The Middlewick
Swimming
Pool
On-site heated swimming pool
The Spa
Treatments
Luxurious spa treatments
High-Speed
Wi-Fi
In all accommodation
EV Charging Points
Recharge your car whilst you recharge
Gardens & Paddocks
Surround yourself in nature
Dog & Family Friendly
Bring the whole family