Environmental Policy For Elder Grove & Stones Throw

In an idle moment during spring 2004 we (Paul and Vicky) decided we should be more environmentally friendly at Elder Grove.

This lead us to joining the Tourism Partnership that helps preserve the Lake District we love so much one course and some consultation later we put some simple steps in Green awareness into practice. Later the same year we achieved green accreditation. Over the last 2 years we have continued improve our green policies and have since gone on to achieve the Cumbria Business Environmental Network (Cben) Bronze award in October 2006 and 2007. During the summer of 2007 we have worked for and gained a gold award from GTBS (Green Tourism Business Scheme) achieving a rating of 88%, being one of the first bed and breakfasts in Ambleside, The Lake District & The North West of England to achieve this prestigious award. During 2008 we achieved Cben Gold. In the Autumn of 2009 with the new GTBS criteria we achieved a Silver award

In the dinning room our jams and marmalade are homemade. Bacon, Sausage and Bread (except our homemade loaf) are produced in the village with ingredients sourced with in Cumbria. Bees from Ambleside help produce the honey bought from a beekeeper from Kendal and our Butter is handmade on a farm near Carlisle all helping reduce our "food miles". We have been looking at reducing our food waste and have changed the menu to offer smaller portions, we feed unused toast to the birds, and compost all the old tea bags.

We reuse and recycle our paper, glass, plastic, card and tins; we also have compost bins for our compostable waste recyling up to 70 % of our waste.

We have maps and timetables to encourage you to walk and use public transport. Our situation is ideal for walking from the house or jumping onto the local bus service and leaving you car behind for the day.

All our used printer cartridges are sent to Tommys the baby charity to be recycled

Used postage stamps go to the local brownie pack who collects them for a local children’s hospice.

We have replaced 95% of the most used lights to low energy bulbs

Our office stationary is recycled or made from sustainable forests as well as facial and toilet tissue, and kitchen hand roll.

In the Laundry we wash on low temps with laundry balls and agitating balls minimising soaps and conditioners into the water.

Switching off lights when they are not needed and TV’s turned off as we clean rooms (not left on stand by) and un plugging phone & camera chargers, when not required.

Towels we ask guest to leave towels on the heated towel rails and we change the towels at our discretion, daily if required.

Where possible we use commercial 'green' cleaning products, this is an ever changing and sourcing area of work.

We have joined the opt out scheme for fundraising for the Partnership reaching Gold Supporter status. Our total contributions to date raised by our guests is £4635.00, Thank you.

Maybe you could helps us maintain and improve our environmental goals

On the way out in the evening and morning, turn off bedroom lights and TV’s leaving paper and card in the basket on the first landing all helps and any loose change in the partnership collecting box!!

Outside of Elder Grove we sponsor Ambleside United junior football clubs under 8 side, joint sponsors of the children’s races at Ambleside Sports. We commit time to Guiding, the football club, Sports committee and cricket club.

Our latest achievement is obtaining silver and gold awards from C BEN, for our own going work in monitoring and maintaining our business environment management scheme.

2009 has been busy as we have been nominated as finalist in Cumbria Tourism sustainable business of the year award and winners of the Tourism and conservation partnerships "most commitment to sustainability" we have  retained our C Ben awards, and continue working with CGBF and also a group making Ambleside a 'green' town

updated February 2010

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