Green Holidays in County Durham, North Pennines, Teesdale, Environmentally Friendly Cottages

East Briscoe won the Silver Award for Sustainable Tourism at the North East England Tourism Awards 2008. We are delighted to be recognised for the work we have done to reduce our impact on the environment and enhance the estate's attractiveness to wildlife.

East Briscoe Farm Cottages Environmental Policy

Here at East Briscoe Farm Cottages we are committed to providing good quality service while actively reducing our environmental impact. To this end we offer the following:

Recycling of glass, paper, plastic and cans. Guests can use these facilities through a doorstep collection on Wednesday and Saturday
A worm bin and compost heaps for guests wishing to compost their compostable (uncooked vegetable) food waste
Using recycled paper and products
Using environmentally friendly cleaning products
Insulation in our loft spaces to increase energy efficiency
Buying locally where possible
Free loan of bikes to guests to encourage cycling
Membership of Cyclists Welcome and Walkers Welcome schemes
Rainwater collection in water butts for the garden
Using email and our website to promote East Briscoe Farm Cottages where possible

These actions to make East Briscoe more sustainable have taken place in a wider context of environmental improvement for wildlife.

Restoring the ancient woodland through fencing to prevent sheep from grazing, protecting saplings from deer and rabbits and growing on saplings for replanting.
Extensive new tree planting in pasture adjoining woodland to create new woodland areas
Planting and encouraging hedgerow species such as wild rose, nodding thistle, red and white campion and umbelliferi such as cow parsley, hogweed and pignut in the lane to the property which was previously grazed.
Establishing a meadow management plan for the meadow pasture with a local farmer who cuts it for hay.
Encouraging bird life through erecting nesting boxes and through year-round feeding at the garden bird table
Encouraging other wildlife through activities such as erecting bat boxes, planting insect-attractive plants in the garden, creating dead wood piles in the woodland and leaving dead trees standing.
Rebuilding 100m of dry stone walling and ongoing repairs to old walls
Creating and maintaining two paths through the woodland and one through the pasture and meadow
Preserving the habitat of the white-clawed crayfish and minimising disturbances

We have now joined the Green Tourism Business Scheme which provides accreditation and encouragement for tourism businesses to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. If you support our aims you can:

Recycle glass, paper, tins and plastic bottles through our doorstep recycling scheme
Switch off lights when leaving a room and turn down heaters rather than opening a window to cool a room down.
Use shops selling local produce - see your information file for more on this.
Leave the car behind sometimes and walk or cycle.
Fill in our feedback form on leaving to let us know how our environmental policies have affected your holiday.

Please ask if you would like to know more about our environmental policy or the actions we have taken.

Quality self-catering holiday cottage accommodation in Baldersdale, Teesdale, County Durham, England