North Downs B&B in Kent
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We moved to the property in May 1995: a very rural and unspoilt area of the Kent Chalk North Downs. As a family we have always recycled, re-used, or made last. It saves us money, it saves environmental damage, and we we have an inbuilt dislike of throwing things away that are still useful and work. Within our business we try and carry out as many healthy environmental practices as possible. We look at what we buy; we look at the energy we use; we try to minimise our waste.
Low energy lightbulbs are used wherever feasable. Outside lights are worked on a censor basis with a time control to keep use of electricity to a minimum. Thermostatic radiator valves are used on most radiators, to save unnecessary heat. The heating system is timer controlled, and can be switched off in summer without interfearng with domestic water. Loft insulation is in place, and all windows are double glazed, and walls are dry lined with insulation board. The annexe is painted throughout with environmentally friendly paints.
Showers are used instead of baths to save on the amount of water. We use lower temperature washing settings where possible. We check regularily for dripping taps. We do have a towel agreement whereby guests are asked to save towels that they do not need to use to one side,and keep the same towel during their stay by allowing drying and re-use. We also have water barrels at various points around the property and this water is used for watering plantpots and washing steps and concrete areas.
Recycled paper is used throughout, i.e. kitchen roll, toilet roll, and printer/photocopier paper. We use chlorine-free cleaning products (i.e Ecover products) and oxygen-based products (i.e. Cif Oxy Gel). We recycle all paper, card and glass at local bottle and paper banks. Aluminium and steel cans and plastics also go to be recycled. Used guest soaps are used up in the house.
Charlie uses smokeless fuel on his Forge, and has recently changed to an environmentally friendly de-rusting agent for cleaning up metal. The workshop is heated by a wood burning stove which also heats radiators in the gallery. The wood is collected from our local woodyard's off cuts pile from their coppicing activities. This wood also goes to provide fuel for the wood burner in the house, thus saving on oil. Steel is one of the most recycled matarials around with nearly five million tonnes being recycled annually worldwide.
Garden waste is composted along with vegetable waste. The manure heap is regularily disposed of by various gardening friends. Kitchen waste and bread, etc is either composted or goes to the chickens.
Guests are encouraged to eat at one of the many local pubs and restaurants. Although we lost our post office two years ago, post office facilities are available in Doddington Village Pub on Monday pm. We also have a village garage. As far as possible we source our food from local producers or grown in our own garden. Our own home fed chickens produce free range eggs for most of the year. We also use our own home made jams. We use sausages and locally produed meat from our local butcher within Doddington. We also use in-season fruit and vegetables either locally produced or grown in our own garden. Guests are encouraged to eat at one of the many local pubs and restaurants.
We also use the internet and email wherever possible, to promote the use of environmental practices, e.g. we have a strong connection to the Faversham which promotes a green/environmental attitude to all its visitors. It also hosts pages for members of the Faversham Area Tourism association which strongly promotes green tourism and enjoying a holiday without relying totally on the car. We are served by Faversham or Teynham Railway Station where taxis are available, or alternativly guests can arrange to be picked up.
Community
Sandhurst Farm Forge is situated on the edge of two village communities ,and only six miles from our local Medieval Market Town of Faversham. As a B&B and a traditional family with growing children,we are very committed to using local producers /providers., and home produced produce Both of our children went to the local village school, and then onto our nearest secondary school. They were both members of our local youth club in Doddington. They are now all about to do their own thing , but both have a very strong sense and appreciation of all thing local.
We are surrounded by many growers and local producers of food, much of which is used to provide breakfast for my varied Bed and Breakfast guests.We grow our own raspberries for to compliment our homemade jams and use sloes out of the hedgerow.
S.W.Doughty Butchers Doddington provides us with their award winning sausages. For the last few years they have gained many awards and this year they have been awarded the Countryside Alliance Best Butcher in the Country!! They also provide apples from their orchard just further along from the Forge and turn it into the most tasty apple juice for breakfast. We use Doughties’ own free range eggs while our own chicken run is having a revamp!!Hopefuuly we will be back on our own eggs next year!
As a Forge our customers are many and varied. We also provide services for the local community, having made both Village Signs, and many of our clients are from within a five six mile radius, as well as further afield.Within the family we also have a potter , a wood turner a photographer and a Textile artist!! As you can imagine the household is totally immersed in the local countryside,and all that goes with it.
Our Guests have only to walk to either of our local villages of Newnham or Doddington to find either a bar snack or full meal both using local produce.Or if they are walking whilst with us then again Doughties do the most amazing pasties!!
Our Medieval Town of Faversham is a Fair Trade Town .It is home to Shepherd Neame Beer,it has a wonderful array of Restaurants and eateries.It also has its own privately owned and operated cinema.Many other attractions are to be found in our Faversham Area Guide. A locally produced guide,and on the faversham website.
Landscape
As a Tourism Business we belong to our local Tourism Association "Faversham Area Tourism Association." The group extends to linkthe Medieval Market Town to its surrounding Countryside.
The Forge is a source of fascination for our guests, with many of them recalling their own memories.
The “Artist Blacksmith” is a description that seems to be heard a lot recently. Well I suppose that is one category that Charlie could now be put under. Having said that he is lucky as he is an Artist Blacksmith with a tremendous amount of experience of all blacksmithing techniques, having taken over the family business at the age of16, in 1969 after his father died.
Locally we have Open Artists events which take place in October as well as the South East Open Studios in the summer. Many of the local Artists exhibit at the Creek Creative Gallery in Faversham, who also run short courses with experienced artists/sculptors. We also have local to Newnham a wood carver Bill Prickett, again who runs various carving courses. Our most important local industry is coppicing of the local chestnut, for fencing and hurdles etc. All of the offcuts are used by people who need to burn wood for heating. Our land is extremely flinty and over the years has been used mostly for fruit orchards and hops. However with the use of modern machinery farmers are able to plough more easily. As we also run a Bed and Breakfast, many of our guests come to walk. We have some beautiful walking country with several themed circular walks. Our local Syndale Valley walk has Sandhurst Farm pitched in the centre of it .A beautiful walk. The north Downs/Faversham is a very worth while visit.
Our wild life is amazing with daily sightings of buzzards soaring on the thermals.
This year we have had several hatchings of swallows.They seem at times to take over the barn and stables,and have kept my daughter company sitting in rows on the barn beams while she pots away on her wheel using our own clay found while trenching for new water pipes!! It will soon be time to fill up those bird feeders as autumn/winter approaches.Our blue tits have really benefitted from the extra feed.
