Devon self catering farmhouse and barn conversion
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Public transport is limited in this part of Devon but we do provide up to date bus timetables, telephone contact number for public transport information and details and assistance with bicycle hire, walking and route maps.
In 2010 we invested in PV panels and now generate our own electricity and feed into the national grid, if we have to buy electrity it is from a Green energy scheme, we also in invest in wind power companies. Both of our large holiday cottages have hot water provided by solar panels. We use energy efficient light bulbs throughout all properties. We supply sava plugs for use on fridge and freezers. In 2000 we planted approx 6 acres of indigenous woodland across the land, ongoing planting is carried out as appropriate in restoring hedgerows and habitat creation. Water is collected by well system and 4 large water butts and by rainwater harvesting system. All properties have showers and toilets have water hippos or half flush options. Our barn uses rainwater for toilet flushing and laundry and wildlife activity room toilets.
Guests are encouraged to turn down beds which have been used to avoid unnecessary laundry, extra pillows are stored ready for use if selected . Towels are provided if requested at extra charge – usually only used by guests from abroad, this again discourages unnecessary laundry. All laundry is washed by Ecover, Bio D or laundry balls. Laundry balls or Ecover laundry tabs are provided at all properties to encourage use by customers. Bedlinen is changed after every guest or if requested during a 2 week holiday. Spare laundry is provided at all properties. We use Ecover cleaning products or Bio D or natural lemon juice, vinegar or warm water!
There are no pesticides or artificial fertilizers or chemicals used at any properties either on land or in the garden. Our own horse and chicken manure is used on fields and in the garden. We control garden ‘pests’ by use of nematodes, indigenous ladybird lavae, encourage toads and frogs, leave our ducks to graze the veg plot throughout the winter to control slugs and snails. We have several different wildlife ponds, we have bat, owl, many different bird and insect boxes, maintain natural, ancient and newly planted woodland, rough pasture, hedgerows, we leave areas of land wild and uncut, we trim hedgerows on a 3 to 4 year rotation, we harvest hay late in order to let wild flowers set seed. This is the tip of the iceberg to the wildlife work.Since 2003 we have worked closely and continue to do so with Devon Wildlife Trust and have been awarded Gold every year since for our wildlife and conservation work.
All garden and organic waste is composted. Guests have facilities to compost via our cornstarch and compost buckets (very popular and efficient) then used on the garden. We recycle and provide guests with facilities to recycle glass, plastic, tetra pak, cans and drink tins, foil, paper and cardboard. We encourage guests to reduce, reuse and recycle and try to buy recycled goods whenever possible to complete the circle. We are also able to recycle stamps, batteries, greetings cards, printer cartridges, glasses, clothing. If it is obvious that guests have recyclable rubbish left in bin bags we get the rubber gloves on and sort rubbish for them, we send thanks to all our guests (nearly everyone) who does sort and recycle.
Our office is almost paper free: most bookings and payments are via email and telephone. All paper is reused if only one side is printed. Envelopes are reused with new address labels. All paper products are from recycled sources. We work from home and have a small low emissions vehicle for most transport use. We encourage lift sharing among friends and co-workers.
Community
As pariticipants in Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Scheme we provide free educational access visits for local interest groups, schools and colleges, facilitating learning and encouraging interest in the natural environment. Our recent visitors have included young people with professional countryside working and conservation ambitions, students with physical and learning disabilities enjoying the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, pre school children and mainstream primary school students working within the national curriculum learning science, maths, English, art and having fun at the same time and interest groups with specialist subjects and speakers on bats and other protected species. This is rewarding and valuable work and will continue alongside our community open days.
As part of our ongoing work we are closely linked to Devon Wildlife Trust and participate in volunteer days and learning opportunities to continue to improve our own knowledge and skills. This is also an ideal way to learn from others and share information.
We encourage guests to shop locally and provide details in advance of wonderful local produce and the opportunity to share the wealth and variety of sustainably farmed or organically grown or made food and crafts. We regularly visit and recommend local restaurants and always ask where their produce and supplies come from so that we can feel happy to recommend establishments to our guests.
By staying with us guests contribute to the local economy in many ways: all our regular maintenance staff and housekeepers live within 3 miles of Beer Mill, additional trades as required are within 10 miles. The ongoing wildlife habitat and hedgerow restoration provides work for up to many local workers particularly in the winter, fencing materials and other necessary equipment is all purchased locally and our latest wildlife hide to be completed 2011 will be made from local wind fall trees within 10 miles of Beer Mill. We know all of the people who work here with us as part of our team and we can confidently say they understand and share our values, particulary as most of them have been with us right from the start!
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