Sustainability at Dark Sky Collection

Heidi Davies
Jul 23
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Published 23rd July '25 | By Heidi Davies

At Dark Sky Collection, sustainability isn’t a side note, it’s at the heart of everything we do. Across our 300-acre fourth-generation farm and 13 holiday properties in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, we’re committed to farming, building, and hosting responsibly.

From energy innovation to soil health, every decision we make supports the land, local communities, and future generations.

Renewable Energy: Powering Farm and Stays Sustainably

We are investing in solar panels to run EV Chargers on site and our homes

Over the past five years, we’ve invested more than £300,000 into renewable energy infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower our emissions:

120kW of solar PV across our buildings, generating enough clean energy to power around 30 homes
70kW of battery storage to make use of solar power, even after dark
6 air source heat pumps (7.5kW each) powering our hot tubs, cutting heating energy use by over 40% per booking
3 ground source heat pumps, producing up to 28kW each, using 9 deep boreholes
Solar thermal systems in Oak Barn, Poplar Tree, and Beech Tree Eco Lodge, heating water without fossil fuels
6 EV charging stations to support guests with electric vehicles and reduce travel emissions

These systems work together to eliminate tens of tonnes of CO₂ annually, making your stay part of a cleaner, smarter energy future.

Soil, Grass & Carbon Capture

Crai Valley with Views over Bedlwyncoch Farm and Fan Gyhirych

Our greatest ally in tackling climate change? The soil beneath your feet.

Through regenerative farming, we harness natural processes to store carbon and build resilience:

300 acres of permanent pasture and rotational grazing managed with low-impact methods
150 tonnes of carbon sequestered in the last two years, that’s 0.5 tonnes per acre
28,000 feet (8.5 km) of hedgerows managed on a careful 2–3 year trim cycle, each kilometre can sequester up to 3 tonnes of CO₂ per year
7 hectares of new woodland planted; boosting biodiversity, preventing floods, and locking away carbon long-term

Water, Wildlife & River Health

We’ve taken big steps to protect local waterways and support wildlife habitats:

Restoring sections of the River Crai, helping achieve the highest salmon smolt counts in the Usk Catchment Area three years running
Planting and fencing riparian buffer zones to prevent erosion and support aquatic life
Maintaining careful livestock stocking rates to support natural water filtration and nutrient cycling

helping achieve the highest salmon smolt counts in the Usk Catchment Area three years running

Our approach protects one of Wales’ most vital natural resources, clean, flowing water.

Responsible Livestock, Naturally Raised

We’ve grown our sheep flock by 30% in the last year, without adding to our environmental footprint:

We use Tefrom, Aberfield and pedigree breeds known for easy lambing and excellent grass conversion
Our lamb and beef are supplied directly to Waitrose as part of their organic range, and are regularly audited for high welfare and environmental standards

Future Plans: Clean Energy & Community Power

One of Six EV Chargers across our three sites

We’re not standing still. We’re actively exploring:

A community-owned energy project to benefit neighbouring farms and homes
Further expansion of EV infrastructure to support low-carbon rural tourism
On-site wind energy generation in partnership with local planners and the National Park

Education, Leadership & Collaboration

Our farm is also a place to learn and lead:

We host sustainability training events for organisations like Tesco, Amazon, Aviva, and the Agricultural Law Society
We work with universities, NGOs, and food supply chains to share knowledge and test new ideas
We recently welcomed UNESCO World Leaders studying river restoration and salmon recovery, based on our work here

Experience It First-Hand

When the weather and workload allow, we offer tractor and trailer tours for guests. These are a chance to:

Learn how the Ice Age shaped our valley
See regenerative farming in action
Understand where your food comes from, and why it matters

Why It Matters

When you stay with us, you’re not just booking a holiday, you’re supporting:

A farm working to restore soils, water, and biodiversity
A sustainable food system with low emissions and high welfare
A model of farming built on collaboration and care

Thank you for being part of the story. Your stay helps us continue farming in a way that respects nature, supports local communities, and protects this extraordinary landscape for the future.