giving back
Clay brings people together, and we believe that our studio can have a positive impact beyond the things we make.
On a day-to-day level, we contribute 1% of all our revenue to help emerging technologies to permanently remove carbon. So far, you have helped us remove 12 tons for good. That’s the equivalent of 117 hours flying time in economy, or driving 26,593 miles - that’s more than the entire circumference of the Earth.
We are critically aware of the inherently extractive nature of ceramics. Our basic materials - from clay and silica to the minerals and metals that colour our glazes - ultimately come from the earth and closely connect our industry to mining and mineral extraction. These are the same wider systems of extraction that supply many of the raw materials used in our phones, batteries and other modern technologies.
Rather than ignoring that footprint, we want to understand it better. You can follow along with our forthcoming podcast, Test Tiles, which explores these questions and what exactly goes into our glazes...
We are in the process of installing solar panels to help make the kilns a little bit greener (not that it touches the sides!). You can read more about these baseline contributions below. We also are excited to be a part of projects and collaborations with local artists and communities.
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Through Stripe, which processes our online payments, 1% of our revenue is contributed to climate action. These contributions help fund emerging technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it permanently.
It means that every class, course and booking made with us online contributes a little towards developing solutions for a lower-carbon future.
We have permanently removed 12 tones over the past 3 years. This has been achieved by the amazing research done by climate scientists. Our money goes towards the following projects: Marine carbon removal; Direct air capture; Biomass carbon removal & storage; Mineralisation; Field weathering.
You can read in the link below how Frontiers uses Stripe’s climate money, what research it is funding.
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Ceramics is an energy-intensive process, and we’re conscious of the electricity required to fire our kilns. We’re working to reduce our impact where we can.
As part of this, we’re looking at solar panels to help generate some of the electricity used by the studio and our kilns, alongside other practical ways of making The Ceramic Garden a greener place to work and make.
diamond riding centre (aug/sept 2026)
Just half a mile down the road from The Ceramic Garden is The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders, a local charity providing therapeutic riding and equine activities for children and adults with disabilities and additional needs.
Horses have always been particularly close to us. Nikki has been a horse rider for most of her life and is a former volunteer at the Centre, so we were very keen to get something going.
For their Autumn Fair, their wonderful resident artist Abel Kesteven has collaborated with our Freewheeling regulars for this special collection. Whilst he usually draws from the horses in the stables, he has been catapulted into the studio to translate these drawings onto mugs. Each mug has been thrown, turned, handled and drawn upon by Abel.
The finished mugs will be available to buy at The Diamond Centre’s Autumn Fair: 27th September 11am - 4pm, which raises vital funds to help the charity continue its work.
Please do come along! There will be lots of activities and horses around! All profits from the collection will be donated to The Diamond Centre.