Fullards Farm Green Policy

We seek to live a responsible lifestyle in order to reduce our impact on the environment and to extend the same values to the way we run the B&B, without compromising our guest's experience.

We have been assessed by the Green Business Tourism Scheme and are currently awaiting the results of the accreditation process which is based on 150 grading criteria. This is an ongoing process with goals of legal compliance, pollution prevention and continual environmental improvement. Below is a brief alphabetical summary of what we are currently doing.

Buildings

• increased the insulation in the loft and attic spaces
• used thermally efficient K glass when replacing windows and doors at the end of their life
• during the 2010 renovation of the farmhouse bathroom a blender system was incorporated onto the bath hot water tap to regulate the hot water
• local tradespeople and companies are used for property maintenance and materials

Energy Usage

• buy our electricity through the OVO green energy scheme
• use energy efficient light bulbs where possible and recycle used bulbs
• use an OWL energy monitor to review electricity consumption and act on those areas where we can further reduce energy consumption
• keep the farmhouse oil fired boiler regularly serviced to ensure optimum efficiency
• the electric boiler in the Swallows is an A rated boiler which is 99.8% efficient
• radiators have been fitted with thermostatic valves to enable room by room temperature control
• heating itself is time controlled and managed according to weather conditions and occupancy levels
• firewood for the log burner comes straight from the farm
• new electrical appliances are selected for their energy efficiency
• use rechargeable batteries as and when other batteries reach the end of their useful life

Fairtrade

• we provide Fairtrade teas, coffees and hot chocolate
• wherever possible our replacement policy for bedding is to replace with Fairtrade cotton products

Housekeeping

• use biodegradable Ecover cleaning products and E-Cloths to reduce the amount of potentially harmful chemicals entering the local water supply
• on energy saving, water consumption and pollution grounds it is our policy that for guests staying more than one night that the bedlinen and towels are changed weekly
• all bedlinen and towels are dried in front of the Aga or in the garden on a rotary drier

Landscape Management

Please see the Farm page for more details of our environmental activities on the farm.

OS maps, a Woodhurst walks leaflet and other East Anglian walks booklets are either included within the welcome folders or available to borrow from the bookshelf in the entrance hall should you wish to get your boots on and enjoy the local scenery.

Local Community

Both Neil and Annabel are very active within the village, Neil is treasurer to the Church, Annabel is secretary to the Village Hall Committee and a committee member for the Natural Woodhurst Group. We host the Woodhurst Feast Week cream teas event and help set up and run various other events within Feast Week followed by the Harvest Supper raffle of promises and a pensioners lunch at Christmas 2010 in the village hall.

Produce

• we grow as many of our own fruit and vegetables as possible, make our own bread using locally grown and processed flour, make our own jams, jellies and chutneys using homegrown and locally “scrumped” fruit and have been growing on our own lamb
• evening meal menus are changed to reflect seasonal availability of produce
• where possible breakfast ingredients are sourced direct from local producer suppliers, our breakfast menus detail the origins of our breakfast items, the majority of which are from the immediate vicinity of Woodhurst and surrounding villages. The use of a pre-order breakfast menu both ensures timely delivery of your cooked breakfast and reduces kitchen waste.
• we are pleased to still have a traditional milkman delivering recycled glass bottles, Barry has been delivering our milk for many years.
• bottled water (for those that prefer this to tap water) is supplied by Iceni and extracted from the south Cambridgeshire hills.

Recycling

• we recycle newspapers, magazines, cardboard, paper, envelopes, plastic wrapping, drinks cans, food tins, glass and plastic bottles, lightbulbs, shoes and clothes, batteries, water filters, printer cartridges, green and kitchen waste
• garden waste is composted for our own use
• we use recycled computer paper and Nouvelle recycled toilet paper
• a local Freegle scheme is used for items which we no longer make use of but which still have some life left in them which others can enjoy – most recently a pair of tractor tyres unearthed in the undergrowth in the pig paddock
• to save paper the majority of our correspondence with guests and suppliers is completed via email, including the farm VAT returns and DEFRA submissions

Transport

Unfortunately there is very little public transport serving Woodhurst but bus timetables can be provided upon request. Nearby St Ives does have an efficient bus service to Cambridge and Huntingdon including the recently opened Cambridge Park & Ride/Guided Busway. There is a mainline train service at Huntingdon (East Coast Mainline) which runs to London Kings Cross and Peterborough. An up to date timetable can be supplied upon request or can be accessed at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Secure bike storage can be provided.

Toiletries

We are pleased to stock handmade soaps, an SLS free combined shower gel and shampoo and a body lotion which are made for us by Sarah of The Good Soap Company based on the Fens at March (18 miles away). Sarah makes all her soaps in small batches in her home and uses fine quality vegetable oils scented with pure essential oils, she does not use preservatives, colourings or synthetic fragrances or chemicals. The shower gel and body lotion are supplied in large pump dispensers to save on packaging waste.

Water

Our mains water supply is metered and we ensure that we review the readings to assess whether any further savings can be effected. We have sought to reduce water consumption through our linen policy and the installation of water conserving dual flush systems on the WC cisterns in the new bathrooms. Roof water is collected in water butts for garden watering.

FULLARDS FARM RESPONSIBLE GUEST CHARTER

We are working to make our home and business as environmentally friendly as we are able to but you can also help. You can reduce your impact on the environment by making choices both whilst you are staying as our guests and also at your own home. Here are some ways that you can help:

Conserving Energy

Reduce energy usage by switching off lights and closing windows if the heating is on. The Energy Saving Trust provides information and advice on what you can do at home.

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 can provide information on this, particularly for travelling into Cambridge on the new St Ives to Cambridge Guided Busway www.thebusway.info

www.sustrans.org.uk

Shop Local

Use local produce - it is amazing what you can find on your own doorstep. Try a farmers market or your nearest farm shop, ours is in the neighbouring village - www.johnsonsofoldhurst.co.uk

www.local-farmers-markets.co.uk

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Reduce consumption – e.g. save water by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Reuse- e.g. reuse our/your water bottles.
• Recycle - we use our local Freecycle or Freegle scheme for things we no longer use or have room for.

Respect Nature and our/your Surroundings

We, like most farmers, put a lot of time in looking after our farm, footpaths and local area. Please bin your rubbish and use foothpaths and bridleways responsibly. You can see what we are up to on our blog on our website at Fullards Farm Blog

Support Green Businesses

There are thousands of businesses comprising places to stay and visitor attractions in the UK working to reduce their carbon footprint through the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Businesses are assessed and accredited with Bronze, Silver or Gold awards for their efforts to be more sustainable more information is available from Green Business