Working in harmony with nature.
Neil has lived and operated his workshop on smallholdings in Wales for the past decade. During this time, he has embraced permaculture principles and organic “no dig” methods to create thriving ecosystems. As Neil puts it, “We work to create an ecosystem with all levels of planting providing food, reducing our carbon footprint, and improving sustainability. This way of life is not new for me, it’s an evolution. I have been planting trees wherever I have lived, as I learn to work with nature and understand how life in our ecosystem thrives.”
His new workshop in Pembrokeshire, a joint venture, has further enabled him to enhance his environmental sustainability efforts. He has implemented systemic changes, such as utilizing locally generated wind and solar power, using verified green electricity from the grid, transitioning equipment to electric where possible, optimizing propane usage, capturing rainwater, reusing materials, and managing waste. The mantra "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is central to his practice.
Neil continues to plant trees, with over 1,200 trees established on the new smallholding to create hedges, shelterbelts, and a new orchard while still growing food. This approach builds natural offsets through changes in lifestyle and work practices, always aiming to improve biodiversity.
Neil says, “This balance of thinking and practice is echoed in how I create my work—in harmony with the nature of the glass and our environment. While the glass industry as a whole is learning how to be more sustainable, the ease of recycling glass is only a small part of that story. You can follow our progress here.”
