Aiming Green

Introduction

Our environmental policy...

We arrived at Wheeldon Trees Farm in March 2007.  Our main reason for moving to the Peak District was to escape the city and the urban life in which we had spent all our previous 94 combined years; we wanted to establish a home and business where we could put into practice some of our ideas for living and working with a minimal impact on the environment! 
 
We want our guests to enjoy a fantastic holiday here with us in the Peak District National Park, and we also want to look after our environment.  We think that increasing numbers of you will be looking for a holiday with a difference and we want to provide it.
 
In July 2008, we were awarded the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark.  This recognizes businesses that have adopted good environmental practices and contribute to the support and conservation of the Peak District National Park.
 
In August 2008, we were delighted to be awarded the Silver Award for the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The GTBS is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK, with over 1400 members.  Businesses opting to join are assessed against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.  We are now working towards the Gold standard.
 
Here are some of the things that we are already doing:
 

Waste/Recycling

  • We recycle glass, paper, tins, cardboard, milk/fruit juice cartons and plastic
  • We provide our guests with a separate container in which to place all kitchen waste.  The contents are ‘fed’ to our on-site green cone food waste digesters or put in the cardboard recycling bin (for compost)
  • We supply our guests with recycled toilet paper, kitchen paper, silver foil and tissues for use during their stay
  • Wherever possible, we use email and telephone, rather than paper
  • We use refillable printer ink cartridges
  • We recycle chicken and dog feed bags to store transport cans for recycling
  • We advertise items which we no longer need on our local ‘Freecycle’ website

Energy

  • We have installed a ground source heat pump.  This clever machine converts stored solar energy in the ground to provide central heating and hot water and only uses a small amount of electricity to power the pump.  No need for gas or oil !
  • We have replaced all external cottage doors and frames with specially designed draught proof closings to reduce heat loss
  • We have installed under-floor heating in the ground floors of all our cottages and fitted radiators on the first floor with thermostatic valves
  • We have overhauled (and replaced, where necessary) our windows and doors to reduce drafts and heat loss to a minimum. 
  • Curtains over external doors help to further reduce drafts and heat loss
  • We have invested heavily in insulating the solid stone walls of our cottages with rigid insulation boards behind plasterboard lining
  • We have added extra insulation in the loft spaces
  • We have installed low energy lighting throughout
  • Wherever possible, we have fitted minimum ‘A’  rated appliances to reduce energy consumption
  • We make as much use as possible of the sun and wind to dry our laundry
  • We buy our electricity from Ecotricity – although not the cheapest, we like the fact that they are investing heavily in renewable energy sources
  • We monitor electricity usage to help identify potential savings
  • We are investigating the installation of a wind turbine to further lessen our dependence on non-renewable energy sources

Water

  • Toilets in all our cottages are dual-flush
  • Our shower heads are water-saving ‘Eco’Camels’, which reduce consumption without affecting quality of flow!
  • All bathroom and kitchen taps are fitted with aerators that reduce water flow to 3.5 liters per minute
  • All baths are fitted with over-bath showers as a water saving alternative
  • We collect rainwater from our roofs in butts for watering the garden and containers in the courtyard

Purchasing

  • Where possible, we prefer to repair or re-use rather than purchase
  • We give preference to purchasing products and services that are :
  • Produced locally and contribute to the conservation of The Peak District
  • Produced locally
  • Supplied locally
  • Supplied in bulk to reduce packaging waste
  • Recycled alternatives
  • Environmentally friendly alternatives
 

Transport

  • We offer a discount for those guests who choose to arrive by public transport or by bike, and can arrange collection from nearby train and bus stations
  • We refund our guests the cost of local bus journeys during their stay
  • We provide on-site cycle hire courtesy of our friends at Peak Pursuits
  • We provide secure bicycle storage for guests wishing to bring their own bikes
  • We have produced a series of self-guided walks from the door with instructions and maps
  • We provide extensive guest information on local walks, cycle hire and local transport
  • We drive a hybrid Toyota Prius !