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We buy all our food locally, and source as much as possible from very local producers – for example, farm eggs, local yoghurt and honey – or grown and make our own; all bread is home-made using local organic flour and we use as much garden produce as possible. We are members of the Teme Valley environmental group, (allied to the Wasteless Society) which is trying to seek a sustainable future for the Teme Valley, and also of Local to Ludlow, which advocates the support of local farming and producers.
By buying locally, we aim to sustain the traditional farming of the Teme Valley and associated communities. We also aim to support organic growers and small local producers via the local twice-monthly Farmer’s Market, whose businesses are not big enough to sustain premises. We also advertise with local information centres and use local IT services wherever possible. We use a local window cleaner and all our tradespeople are very local.
We wash at 30 °C, and although we have a tumble drier, it is used only when drying clothes outside is not an option. We also use low impact cleaning products throughout the accommodation. We recycle and encourage our guest to recycle glass, paper, plastics, aluminium, and food waste via our 3 compost bins or our wormery. All our light bulbs are low-energy. Our electric showers have energy-saving options, which helps us both conserve water and minimise power use.
Wildlife is encouraged into the garden via the small pond and the meadow area. The pond is home to frogs and newts as well as insects including dragonflies. The meadow is not cut until late summer when all seeds have dropped, and when most small nesting creatures have grown. We are also surrounded by farmland which has never been intensively chemically treated. This part of Wales is noted for its wildflowers and birdlife, and we encourage birds to feed and nest in the garden to help us with pest control.
We support local groups and organisations which help to sustain the local community. For example, one of us is the treasurer of the local village hall, another is on the committee for the local garden club. Both are members of the Offa’s Dyke association to promote local sustainable tourism. Marilyn set up, co-produces and edits the local community newsletter to help link and inform our isolated communities. Every guest room has a full guide which includes local places to visit, including craftspeople, artisan food producers and artists. The folder also contains information on our aims for sustainability and the means by which we seek to achieve them. Information on farmer’s markets and local festivals is also included.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
