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How do we deliver an environmentally responsible holiday destination?

Recycle, reuse and reduce

We provide separate bins for recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and cans for guests staying in our yurts and holiday cottages as well as being part of our waste management in the farm shop and farmhouse. In the office we use recycled office paper and use e-mail to communicate with our customers and suppliers wherever possible.

Water conservation

The toilets in the yurt barn have a low flush option and the showers a low-flow water setting. In the future, we would like to put in a grey water harvesting system for flushing the toilets. We are establishing an irrigation system for the market garden that uses water as efficiently as possible.

Energy

We are planning to invest in green technologies to become more self sufficient for our energy requirements. In 2012 we are planning to install a Biomass boiler to service the heating and hot water requirements for the main farmhouse and holiday cottages, fuelling it with wood sourced from the farm’s woodland. We are also in the process of installing a small 6kw Proven 11 wind turbine that will generate sufficient power to supply the electricity and contribute towards the heating requirement for the farmhouse, holiday cottages and yurt barn.

The lighting in the yurt facilities barn, cottages and farmhouse are all low energy with movement sensors for lights in public areas.

Organic farm management

We are in the process of converting the farm to organic with the guidance of the Soil Association. It takes two years to convert the farm and during this time the land must be managed to organic standards. This includes managing the land without the use of pesticides and herbicides, rearing livestock to the highest welfare standards using organic feed and without reliance on routine treatments, and protecting and enhancing the farm environment with particular regard to conservation and wildlife so we effectively coexist with rather than dominate natural systems. This requires attentive livestock husbandry and careful land management with particular regard to soil fertility. We use green manures, composted manure from our horses and poultry, and have plans in place for effective crop rotation and livestock grazing.

Respecting and encouraging wildlife

A sensitive approach to hedge cutting and replacement is taken, and we carefully manage the woodland that runs along the west boundary of the farm to encourage wildlife. We try to only clean one side of a ditch at a time, leaving somewhere for the animals and birds undisturbed. As recommended by the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, we provide strips of grass beside all hedges. This not only provides a corridor for wildlife and a haven for insects, but the grass strips will be mowed short regularly during the summer and are available for guests to walk round the farm.

Other green initiatives

We use environmentally cleaning products such as Ecover or Bio
We supply organic cotton linens in the yurts and holiday cottages
The hand soaps supplied in the yurt barn and holiday cottages are organic
Any wood furniture and decking will be from FSC Certified sources
The appliances used in the farmhouse, farm shop, holiday cottages and yurt barn are regularly reviewed on energy performance.