Our Green Journey

Green Tourism Business Scheme:

In 2007 we became accredited members of the Visit Britain’s Green Tourism Business Scheme; a symbol of our commitment to ensure that we do our best to guarantee future generations can continue to enjoy the South West. The scheme itself provides encouragement and accreditation to businesses in the tourism industry, assisting them in helping to reduce the environmental impact of their business enterprises.

Here are some of the steps we have taken to ensure we reduce our impact on the environment:

• Recycling facilities for cardboard, paper, glass, plastic and food waste

• 100% recycled office paper

• Low energy lighting and light sensors in low use areas

• To monitor and reduce our energy use

• Use of energy efficient air conditioning and a heating system with specific controls and sensors

• We consider the environment when purchasing goods and services

• Promote green awareness to our property owners and holidaymakers

• Train and encourage our staff to ‘think green’

• Record all environmental achievements

• We send our booking confirmations online and encourage email communication

• We have a staff car share scheme

• Low CO2 energy efficient company vehicles

• Joined the ‘Cycle to work scheme’ which is part of a Government initiative that helps staff to purchase bikes in a tax efficient way

• Use energy efficient ‘flow through’ boilers for hot water

• Use A-rated kitchen appliances and energy efficient hand dryers

• Use environmentally friendly cleaning materials

• Purchase all cleaning materials through local businesses

Devon Wildlife Trust

Since 2009 we’ve been working with the Devon Wildlife Trust both as a corporate sponsor and by making a 10% contribution to them from each holiday booking made with us. This donation is then allocated to Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset Wildlife Trust in accordance with the location of the booking.

One of the main projects set to benefit from this new partnership is the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Working Wetlands, which is actively working to restore the wet Culm grassland landscape of West and North Devon. Some of the most precious and vital habitats in the country, these wetlands provide a home to an array of rare species and also act as effective carbon sinks, with wetlands internationally providing as much as 40% of the world’s carbon.

To date, our scheme has raised thousands of pounds for the regional Wildlife Trusts we support.

Gold Award 2009

In 2009 we were also very pleased to have been presented with the GOLD award from the GTBS for our commitment and environmentally friendly facilities at Farm & Cottage Holidays. The award was very well received by us all, especially as so much effort and commitment has been made to ensure that we continue to reduce our impact on our surroundings.

To this day, we continue to sustain that same commitment and aim to pass on our message of encouragement to our staff, clients and our customers. With that in mind we have also created a Visitors Charter which outlines how our holidaymakers can support the local area and environment whilst on holiday in the West Country.