Sustainable Weddings at Hawke Barn

Something Real & Rooted

Hawke Barn is quietly redefining the countryside wedding. Here, sustainability is woven into everyday life, inclusivity is second nature, and every celebration begins with a genuine connection to the land, and gathering award recognition along the way.

Turn off the lanes near Stoodleigh and follow the mile-long, tree-lined drive into a world of sweeping views, birdsong and a peacefulness that feels increasingly rare. Thorne Farm is a real organic working farm, home to pedigree Ryeland sheep, ancient woodland, meadows, watercourses and permanent pastures where generations of the farm's forebearers lived, farmed and walked before. Katherine and Nigel Hawke bought the 250-acre estate fourteen years ago and have continued the stewardship of those who cared for the land before them. Today, the farm remains certified organic, its authentic natural beauty requiring very little embellishment. The landscape does most of the work. Yet beyond the views and rolling countryside lies something deeper. Hawke Barn is a place shaped by values as much as scenery, where care for the land sits comfortably alongside care for the people who gather here.

A Farm First, A Venue Second
Many wedding venues are now looking for ways to become more sustainable. At Hawke Barn, sustainability is simply part of everyday life.

The estate operates as a working organic farm, where no synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides touch the land. Each year, around one hundred broadleaf trees are planted to strengthen biodiversity and enrich the landscape for future generations. Renewable energy powers much of the venue through solar panels installed across the estate, while timber harvested from the farm's own woodland provides additional heat when needed. Water comes from a natural spring and boreholes on the farm, transported by a traditional hydraulic ram pump that uses no electricity at all before being purified with UV light rather than chemicals.

The same philosophy continues into every wedding celebration. Menus champion local and seasonal produce, including the farm's own organic Ryeland lamb and wild venison. Food waste is composted for the family vegetable garden, surplus unopened food is donated to Tiverton Foodbank, and administration has become as paperless as possible. Even confetti reflects the wider ethos. Couples are encouraged to choose dried flower petals, a simple decision that is kinder to wildlife and creates beautiful photographs drifting across the Devon countryside. None of this is about imposing rules or asking couples to compromise. Instead, sustainability is built quietly into the experience from the outset.

"Sustainability isn't a box you tick once," says Katherine. "We're always learning, always improving. By the time a couple books with us, much of the hard work has already happened behind the scenes."

Come As You Are
Just as the Hawkes have continued the farm's long tradition of caring for the land, they have created a venue where every couple is welcomed exactly as they are.

At Hawke Barn, inclusivity is not a policy added later. It is part of the venue's DNA. LGBTQIA+, non-binary, transgender, disabled, neurodivergent, multi-racial and interfaith couples, along with those simply choosing to celebrate in their own unique way, are not viewed as exceptions requiring accommodation. They are welcomed as a valued part of the Hawke Barn community. In practice, that means never making assumptions. It means asking couples how they would like to be addressed, using the language they use for themselves, and creating space for every story, tradition and family dynamic.

The commitment extends beyond the venue team. Every supplier who works regularly at Hawke Barn is expected to share the same values of respect, acceptance and kindness. Where those standards haven't been met, the Hawkes have chosen to part ways.

For Katy, who celebrated her wedding here, the difference was immediate. "We felt completely safe, respected and supported in a way we hadn't experienced with other venues."

At a time when many couples still worry about whether they will truly be understood, Hawke Barn offers something wonderfully simple: the freedom to be yourself.

Shortlisted, And Proud Of It
The venue's approach has not gone unnoticed. In 2026 alone, Hawke Barn secured five finalist places across two major awards programmes. The venue was shortlisted for both Inclusive Business of the Year and Sustainable Business of the Year at the Devon Chamber Business Awards. It also reached the finals of the Quirky Wedding Awards in three categories: Standout Wedding Venue of the Year, Visionary Wedding Planner of the Year, and the Sustainability Award.

For Katherine and Nigel, the recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects how the business genuinely operates. The Quirky Wedding Awards, in particular, assess businesses on authenticity, values and lived commitment rather than popularity or public voting. The shortlistings are not simply awards acknowledgements. They are recognition of principles that run through every aspect of the farm and venue, from environmental stewardship and local food sourcing to ensuring every couple feels seen, welcomed and celebrated.

Jess & Joe: Pre-Loved, Home-Grown, Wholeheartedly Theirs

Jess married Joe at Hawke Barn in July 2026, and planned a day that was big on joy and light on waste. Here's how they did it, in Jess's own words.

"As soon as we stepped out of the car at Hawke Barn, we fell in love with it. The setting was so beautiful it didn't need much dressing up. All we needed were some flowers, lights and secondhand decorations. Weddings can burn a huge hole in your wallet as well as creating a lot of waste, so we wanted to see if we could do things differently. We were far from perfect, but we tried our best."

"All my decorations came from Vinted and Facebook Marketplace,  really good condition pieces that had only been used at one or two other weddings, and I turned old pallets into our order-of-the-day signs. I grew flowers in my garden, and in the gardens of friends and family, for my bouquets and decorations, although we did buy some from a florist. My bridesmaids' dresses were from Vinted, and my wedding dress came from La Boutique in Exeter, which donates all its profits to The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation.I made our hair accessories from homegrown flowers I'd dried for my best friend's wedding a couple of years before, and I dried petals from the garden for confetti in my air fryer, which was so much quicker!"

"We skipped traditional favours that might not get used, and gave Hawke Barn bar tokens to the people closest to us to thank them for their help. Instead of flip-flops and glow sticks, I collected sticks and made ribbon wands for the children. Afterwards, I melted down my half-used taper candles to refill candle holders at home, and resold all the decorations to be used on someone else's special day."

"Hawke Barn is a stunning venue, and the memories of our beautiful wedding day will stay with us forever."

Words: Jess Hadley

hawkebarnvenue.co.uk

Photography: Leonie Marie Photography, Gavin Horrell Photography, Nick Williams Photography, Laurie B Film & Photography, Calin Ostafi Photography