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.
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.
Croissants are made in Staveley. 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 reuse and recycle our paper, glass, plastic and tins; we also have compost bins for our compostable 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 recycled
Used postage stamps go to the local brownie pack who collects them for a local children’s hospice.
We have replaced 90% 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.
We have joined the opt out scheme for fundraising for the Partnership reaching Gold Supporter status in the 1st 18 months. our total contributions to date raised by our guests is £2607.00, 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, PSA at school and on the Production team for local
fundraising Pantomime.
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.
