Deal B&B guest house in Kent, England
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We minimise waste by recycling all wood into the wood burner, which heats our sitting room, rainwater off the terraces and roofs is collected into the 5000 gall underground tank, which we use for watering the garden. We compost all paper tissues, flowers cuttings, weeds and vegetable waste, which is used as a soil improver. Excess vegetables are made into soups. Plastic, glass, tins and paper are recycled. Plastic water bottles are used as mini cloches, for individual plants. Milk containers are made into plant labels. Urine is recycled into compost accelerator. We use ecological laundry balls and use fluff balls for the towels.
To offset carbon we have planted 50 young trees in the garden. We recycle unwanted items through charity shops and send cartridges and stamps to charity. Excess soft fruit is made into compotes or frozen. We use printer paper, kitchen and toilet rolls made from recycled paper. We do not use plastic bags for shopping and always take our own "bags for life". We recycle our extensive video collection by transferring onto DVD for guest use free of any charge.
We reduce energy consumption by minimising car journeys and shopping for neighbouring senior citizens, working from home and by using low energy light bulbs where possible. We do batch cooking and freezing in portions and bake our own bread and scones. TVs and DVD players are never left on standby and all unnecessary lights are switched off. We do not use flat screen TVs because they are higher in energy use. We have showers in all ensuite rooms. We place water savers in the toilet cisterns. We use ecological cleaning products such as vinegar and water. We use animal manure as garden fertiliser.
The B&B was awarded first in the Best B&B in the whole of the South East in the Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2008. This Deal B&B is featured in The Guardian Bed & Breakfast Directory 2008 and in 2007 it was voted by the "Independent" as 1 of the 50 Best British B&Bs.
Community
Our main charities are the Hospice and the Macmillan Nurses, which we support through the National Gardens Scheme. Our garden has raised funds for the Hospice and been accepted by the NGS as worthy of opening to the public, to raise funds for the Macmillan Nurses, which we hope to do in 2013. Working in the garden to achieve the standard required by the scheme plus the B&B takes up most of our free time.
We provide maps of local towns with charity shops marked thereon and details of special offers for the ferry to France. We support local butchers, free-range poultry farmers, farmers markets, plant nurseries and farm shops. We have amassed a considerable amount of information re local restaurants and dining clubs. Places of interest and local walks, plus local events and activities such as museums, steam trains and free concerts or plane and balloon flights over the “White Cliffs of Dover” We are not on the local bus route, but do provide a collect and deliver service to the train and National Bus. We are on Routes 1 & 2 of the National cycle network.
We use local tradesmen for maintenace. We carryout the majority of the work in the garden ourselves. We do not employ any staff. We use the local butcher for dry cured bacon and sausages using meat from local farm animals, We use home grown tomatoes, potatoes for home made hash browns, flowers, fruit and vegetables. Others we buy in the farm shops or farmers market. We use the local fishmonger and game supplier.
Landscape
Ken has lived in the area for most of his life and thoroughly enjoys relating its history over the centuries. Sandra has lived in the area for over 40 years. We offer 2 cycles for guest use free of charge. We provide maps and walking/cycling guides and routes plus details of local events and places of interest. Guests are free to enjoy the garden and some have even volunteered to assist us, and/or left with gifts of plants for their own garden. We are members of the Local Golf Club and are happy to arrange a round with a club member or assist with the planning of a days touring of the local sights both on and off the usual tourist routes.
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