Sustainability

We are committed to improving our impact on the environment.

Our environmental management system for St Michael’s Mount, St Aubyn Estates Holiday Cottages and Trevarthian Farms has achieved Level 4 Green Dragon accreditation demonstrating continual environmental improvement.

As well as active conservation and land management, this means reducing carbon use and implementing sustainability practices across St Aubyn Estates. We do this in conjunction with a number of partners and local stakeholders.

St Michael’s Mount – championing sustainability

  • Our waste is sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility saving over 3kg of CO2 emissions per bin collected.
  • All waste is sorted into different material types, including plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, metal and timber
  • 42% of all our waste is recycled and up to 600 litres of waste a week is composted. 100% of residential recyclable waste is baled for re-use in the circular economy
  • We have removed all plastic bags from our retail outlets and significantly reduced our use of plastic packaged products
  • As a member of ‘Plastic-free’ Marazion since 2018, we have significantly reduced the use of plastic across across our hospitality outlets

The St Aubyn Estates sustainability policy can be found here

Marazion Marsh – maintaining biodiversity

Containing the largest reed-bed in Cornwall, Marazion Marsh is vital to the environmental health of the area. Home to more than 250 bird, 500 plants, 500 different insects, and 18 types of mammal species, it is a particularly important wintering site for bitterns and it is a regular stopover for the globally threatened aquatic warbler. The marsh is managed by the RSPB in partnership with the Estate.

Porthgwarra – return of the chough

Porthgwarra, the most south-westerly valley in Cornwall, has always been home to rare birds and plants, recently seeing the re-introduction of the Cornish Chough after a 150-year absence. Managed cattle grazing diversifies the soil and plants grown, helping restore chough-friendly habitats with new chicks now being born in the area.  

Stonechats, meadow pipits and skylarks dwell in the heather, while rock pipits, jackdaws and ravens enjoy improved habitats around the cliffs.