Green Tourism
We are very pleased to have been awarded Silver in the Green Tourism Business Award Scheme. This involved being assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.
Click on the images below to zoom in for a closer look..
Care for the Environment - The use of local and sustainable materials
- Locally-sourced logs provided free for the woodburners
- Tree-planting to provide sustainable timber.
- The Woodhouse has been restored using traditional materials and techniques
- wattle and daub
- lime mortars and plasters
- Herefordshire oak
- limewashes and casein paints mixed on site with appropriate pigments.
- Wattle hurdles used in the garden
Recycling
- Guests are encouraged to recycle.
- We are developing a central point for recycling and rubbish.
- We make our own compost for use in the garden and encourage guests to do the same using the compost bins for each cottage.
Energy Saving
- Guests are encouraged to use the woodburners instead of just the central heating.
- The cottages have been recently renovated and are very well-insulated.
- We provide walking and cycling maps
Flora and Fauna
- Hundreds of native trees have been planted to encourage wildlife and provide a more attractive environment, including the rare black poplar.
- We planted two small orchards, one with very old and very local varieties of apple, and one with other fruits including the Black Warden pear shown on the Worcester coat of arms.
- Trees and shrubs planted to encourage insect and other wildlife and birds.
- Information sheets on insects, bats and birds are left in the cottages to help guests identify them.
- Bat accommodation.
- Bird feeders are provided outside each cottage so that guests are able to see birds such as woodpeckers which live in the garden.
Using Local Produce
- We won the 2007 Flavours of Herefordshire Awards Self-Catering category for providing local produce in our welcome baskets. Examples of produce are home-made bread, local butter, milk, jams (also with locally grown fruit), fruit, biscuits, crisps, eggs and chocolates.
- Our frozen meals are cooked by a local chef who sources local ingredients.
Fair Trade
- Provision of fair trade tea, coffee and sugar
Promoting Local Events
- We do our best to promote local businesses and events such as the Ledbury Poetry Festival and Three Choirs Festivals.
Green Tourism Latest News
Another glorious early Spring day, so I went and photographed these bulbs under the beautiful sycamore tree . The splash of gold made by the yellow crocuses is such a cheering sight, especially when contrasted with the purple ones with their ochre throats. The snowdrops are in full bloom and there are even signs of [...]
We have had such a beautiful day here today, with a blue sky and the sun shining, causing the yellow and purple crocuses to open, that it made me think of Spring. A popular local event well-known across the country and celebrating its 25th year is the Malvern Spring Garden Show. (Click on the picture [...]
Much Wenlock, in Shropshire, was home to Dr. William Penny Smith, seen by many as founding father of the modern Olympic Games, and is where the first Olympian Games were held in 1850. They continue to be held each July and this year will see the 124th. Events range from Archery to Tennis as well [...]
Eastnor Pottery, from whose Blog these photos are taken, run workshops for beginners and improvers at their studio on the Eastnor Castle estate, five minutes from Ledbury. Click on the photos to take you to their website. Run by ceramic artists Jon Williams and Sarah Monk , the courses can be very therapeutic and include [...]
Ramblers groups all over the country promote the joy of walking. There are four groups in Herefordshire, including Leadon Vale in the Ledbury area. This year celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the Ramblers and a number of special walks are being organised around that as well as the normal programme. Although the Ramblers are out [...]
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