Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
We have just purchased and are installing our first composting toilet. All cleaning products used on site are bought in concentrated form and diluted when used into sprays and are all eco friendly cleaning products used in recycled or recyclable plastic containers. This cuts down on packaging and means very little is thrown away. We use biodegradable supplies where possible ie recycled lavatory paper, biodegradable black bin liners and use a supplier who collects and recycles the cardboard packaging.
Due to the Local Authority¹s agents not being able to collect recycled waste from businesses at present we are unable to offer recycling facilities. In our visitor information packs we ask visitors to recycle and advising them where their nearest recycling points are. In the office we are able to do much more and recycle paper; print emails, where absolutely necessary, on the reverse of used paper; recycle printer ink cartridges and toner cartridges; recycle cardboard via local authority collections. The office itself is recycled being an abandoned caravan, restored and fitted out to provide an office. Where practicable we compost on site but as yet have not sourced an efficient and eco friendly method of using mostly grass trimmings. The Warden and Assistant Warden not only recycle personally but also compost.
When our tipi poles are worn we leave them on the ground to rot down and provide food and cover for insects. We have a deliberate policy of encouraging wildlife on site and consider that rather than setting aside an area for wildlife the whole valley is dedicated to the natural world and certain areas are set aside for humans and their vehicles. We have a deliberate policy of encouraging wildlife on site and consider that rather than setting aside an area for wildlife the whole valley is dedicated to the natural world and certain areas are set aside for humans and their vehicles.
We encourage and sustain our native wildlife by delaying cutting and strimming until flowering, seed forming and seeding are optimum, pollarding tress where possible rather than cutting them down to allow light in, leaving fallen trees or pollarding trimmings to rot where possible to provide shelter and food for insects etc. We leave areas of certain plants such as nettles deliberately unstrimmed or cropped as they provide feeding and nesting sites for wildlife. We deliberately strim or cut round other specific species of plant and tree for the same reason. We have installed bat and bird boxes to encourage and sustain certain species.
We employ 6 local people on a permanent part time basis. We host community events for local groups such as the Brownies, local churches (retreats), primary school, etc and have special rates for group bookings by charities. All stamps are saved and passed to the local primary school who use them to raise funds for guide dogs for the disabled. We use supplies and services sourced locally wherever possible. We provide a visitor info pack which contains information on local goods, services, attractions. We sponsor local events such as the parish calendar and we donate short break holidays as prizes for charity raffles, fund raising etc.
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!
