We take our responsibilities to customers, to food producers and to the environment very seriously, but are always on the lookout to see where we can do more.

Making our food healthy… We are naturally committed to the good health of our customers:

• All cakes and pastries are made with vegetable fat.
• Low-fat spread is available as an alternative to butter.
• Our milk is semi-skimmed.
• We aim to provide nutritious, delicious and tempting salads.
• We use an absolute minimum of salt in our cooking, if at all.
• Salad dressing made with olive oil is available as an alternative to mayonnaise and salad cream.
• We do our best to source as much organic food as is feasible.
• Our children’s menu is made up of proper, nutritious food, and no junk!

Supporting local producers… Wherever we can, we provide locally sourced food, including:

• Fruit and vegetables from Farmaround in Richmond, which supplies organic produce from growers as close as possible.
• Fresh bread made from organic flour at Threaplands Farm Bakery near Cracoe.
• Beef from Bolton Park Farm on the Duke of Devonshire’s estate in Wharfedale.
• Lamb from Scale Hill Farm at Rylstone.
• Gammon and ham from Bolton Park Farm on the Duke of Devonshire’s estate in Wharfedale.
• Wild rabbit from the Kilnsey Park Estate in Wharfedale.
• Sausages and other meats through Jackson’s Butchers in Cracoe.
• Milk from local farms in Wharfedale or organic farms in West Yorkshire.
• Yorkshire cheeses from producers in or just outside the Dales, including the Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes.
• Preserves from Raydale Preserves at Stalling Busk near Semer Water, or home-made at West Winds.
• Fresh produce from our cottage garden – including herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, lettuce, radishes, onions and rhubarb – as available.
• Damsons from the Lythe Valley in South Lakeland and gooseberries from Grassington, as available.
• Free-range eggs from Church Farm at Hubberholme in Wharfedale.

Paying Third World farmers a fair price… Wherever we can, we use Fairtrade products, including:

• Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and baking ingredients.

Looking after our shared environment for tomorrow… We are committed to doing all we can to respect, protect and enhance the environment both locally and elsewhere:

• Our electricity is provided by Good Energy, sourced 100 per cent from a basket of renewable sources, including solar, wind and hydro.
• Our loft spaces are well insulated.
• We reduce energy consumption as much as possible through careful use. We use low-energy lightbulbs and do not have a dishwasher, tumble-drier or external ‘patio’ heaters.
• Our tearoom is heated with a log fire in cold weather, using locally sourced ‘carbon neutral’ wood.
• We buy as much as possible from home, using existing delivery networks.
• We source recycled materials wherever feasible, including toilet paper!
• We aim to source food produced as locally as possible. We grow some ourselves.
• We do our best to use organic food wherever feasible.
• We use only tuna and other fish that have been responsibly caught from sustainable fisheries.
• We recycle as much as possible of our rubbish, including paper, card, cans and glass.
• We compost all waste vegetable and plant matter for use in our cottage garden.
• We collect waste water and rainwater for use in our cottage garden.
• We do not use damaging chemicals in the house or in the garden. Cleaning and washing products are supplied by Ecover.
• We promote public transport, walking and cycling. We can give bus times and advise on interesting walking routes. If you produce your bus ticket, you will be eligible for the Dales Bus Discount in the tearooms.
• We keep our own car use to a minimum; we have pledged not to fly; we ourselves enjoy fantastic holidays within the UK, supporting Britain’s own tourist industry; and we donate to a number of environmental charities, including the Soil Association and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Logo, pictures and text copyright West Winds Yorkshire Tearooms 2005-2008. All rights reserved.

All pictures by West Winds Yorkshire Tearooms unless otherwise stated. Wildlife and farming pictures not necessarily taken at Buckden.

Special thanks to Sarah Pearson, Charlotte Beaumont, Tiffany Briggs and the Briggs family, Robyn Holden, Maxine and Peter Bancroft, Graham Howe and all the photographers who have kindly contributed pictures.