Tips To Make Your Self Catering Stay Greener

We are working to make our destination more eco-friendly, but we need your help. We can all reduce our impact on the environment by making choices. As a visitor you have a very important role to play in helping us to conserve our natural assets and become a more sustainable destination. Here are our recommended tips on how you can help:

Conserve Energy.

Reduce energy by switching off lights and closing windows if heating is on. The Energy Saving Trust provides information on what you can do at home. https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Give the Car a Rest

Leave the car behind, if only for a day. Walk, cycle or use public transport. We will happily provide you with advice. https://www.traveline.org.uk/;https://www.seat61.com; https://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Shop Local

Use local products, they give you a flavour of the area and help support local communities. We are fortunate to have some fantastic producers of food, drink and arts and crafts. Ask us about local markets or local and regional produce.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Try to avoid overly packaged goods and say no to that extra carrier bag. You can also support us in our efforts to recycle – please ask for more details.

Be Water Wise

The UK has rising costs for water treatment and flood defence so please use water wisely. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and adhere to towel policies or other water saving initiatives

https://www.water-guide.org.uk/

Respect Nature

Help us to look after the landscape and wildlife by not littering, guarding against fire and using footpaths and cycle-ways responsibly.

• Ensure you follow the Countryside Code https://www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk
• Support Green Businesses

There are thousands of businesses in the British Isles working to reduce their carbon footprint through the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Businesses are awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold for their efforts to be more sustainable. https://www.green-business.co.uk

Therefore whilst staying at the cottage please consider the following:

• Use the economy button on your dishwasher when possible
• When using the washing machine try to have a full load and use the lower 30 degree wash
• Cover your pans when you cook
• Boil only the amount of water you need
• Switch off lights, televisions and music systems when leaving the room
• Unplug appliances when not in use (including phone / ipod chargers)
• In winter, keep curtains open during the day but make sure they are drawn at dusk.
• The sun is the most readily available source of heat there is so make the most of it by opening internal doors of any room which gets more sun than the others (e.g. the lounge with that huge window) and let the warm air travel through the rooms.
• Don’t leave appliances on standby.
• Use public transport, walk or cycle rather than using the car. Understandably this is more difficult in a rural setting so at the least please share vehicles if more than one.  Please cycle hire information in the guest folder.
• Use the recycling facilities provided. We also collect stamps for the local primary school and unwanted clothes, rags, belts, bags, shoes, etc and books as a fundraiser for the school also so please let us know if there are any unwanted items you wish us to donate.