Green Tourism
Birchill Cottages is a family run business. We enjoy living here in such beautiful surroundings. We understand the importance of preserving and maintaining both this, our immediate environment and the wider global environment for the enjoyment of future generations.Our aim is to make Birchill Cottages as environmentally friendly as possible.
- We ask our guests to help us by re-cycling plastic bottles, glass, cans, cardboard, Tetra packs, magazines, foil and newspapers.
- We encourage the composting of uncooked waste.
- We provide our guests with environmentally friendly cleaning products and toiletries as well as recycled toilet paper and kitchen roll. We use recycled stationery for correspondence and try to use email as an alternative method of communication wherever possible.
- We harvest rainwater for use in the gardens.
- Most of our cottages have efficient combi boilers. All have radiators fitted with thermostats, double glazing and low-flush systems.
- Low energy lighting has been installed wherever appropriate and where it has been safe to do so.
- We try to buy local goods and services wherever possible and we encourage our guests to do the same. Welcome hampers are available – all of the produce provided is bought/ produced locally.
- We use organic fruit and vegetables and encourage our guests to do the same via a link on our website to Riverford. We use fair trade products in our cottages.
- The folders in our cottages contain information on where to go, where to eat and what to do in the immediate locality. We provide OS maps and details of cycle hire on the Tarka trail which is very close to Birchill Cottages. Many of our guests enjoy days out without needing the use of their car.
We very much hope that our visitors will share our aim to make Birchill Cottages as environmentally friendly as possible and ask of them the following:
- Please reduce, reuse and recycle those items of packaging etc that are listed.
- Eat locally and buy locally – see our suggestions
- Try walking or cycling or use public transport as an alternative to using your car.
- Help us to reduce light pollution and conserve energy by switching off unused lights and by remembering to switch off at the wall.
- If you want to air the house, please turn the heating off first.
- Help us to reduce water consumption by using just the water you need e.g. please don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth!
- Follow the countryside code – shut gates after you, take your litter home and respect all plants and animals that you come across.
- We are beginning to compile records of flora and fauna in our woods and striving to enhance the experience of walking within them and we have started a programme of tree planting. We are looking forward to opening our new visitor’s centre where guests will have the opportunity to find out about the flora and fauna of our immediate environment and that of the local area. We will also be able to extend our resources offering information about car free days out.
- We aim to replace fridges and freezers and other appliances when necessary with energy efficient alternatives.
- Most of our cottages already have combi boilers, but where there is a need to replace the other boilers we will choose energy efficient alternatives.
Revised Spring 2010
