Environmental

Environmental Policies

Great news - in November 2011 we won the ‘Best Sustainable Tourism Exemplar’ in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (in 2010 we were runners up).

June 2011 - we now generate our own electricity with a 5 kw Evance wind-turbine and with a wood boiler and solar panels are now burning no oil. A very long held ambition achieved at last.

There are many ways of looking at the impact modern human life has on planet Earth; Carbon footprint, sustainability, one planet living. The way western society has developed, a standard to which the rest of the world now aspires, is not sustainable unless some radical new technologies are rolled out pretty quickly. Since this cannot be relied upon we think everyone should be doing something to reduce their personnel impact on planet Earth.

Our story

We moved to Strontian in 2004 to live a simpler life, grow lots of our own food and build some houses with local wood, to live in and to let for self catering. Our ambition to create a green holiday destination got off to a bad start when the local planner dismissed our wishes for buildings clad in local larch, with the memorable phrase that such a building was ‘out of place’ in a site that was 'insufficiently wooded.'

Our approach

In the houses we try to find and use consumable and short life products that are the least damaging to the environment or that are made from recycled materials.

Outside we try to strike a balance between making our small croft productive while doing what we can to encourage biodiversity. The top field is grazed lightly from midsummer, allowing bluebells and orchids to thrive, while the bracken is kept in check by harvesting for bedding and composting. Elsewhere, native trees and berry bearing hedging have been planted, ponds created and areas set aside and allowed to be overgrown, though these areas can yield wild brambles and raspberries.

Lots of bird and bat boxes and feeders are distributed about the place and we are going into a joint venture with Kate from Acharacle, who will bring us two hives of, we are assured, very well behaved bees.

You can help us minimise our carbon foot print by maximising your recycling and composting while you are with us, use passive airers and washing lines to dry washing, rather than tumble drying, and burn local wood in your fires rather than turning up thermostats.

We can also offer lots of very local food (see food pages) so that you can turn food miles into yards and be assured of its provenance and flavour.

The Caledonian sleeper can bring you to Fort William or Glasgow and you can take a bus direct from either of these to the ‘free to foot passengers’ Corran Ferry, from there, we will pick you up free of charge. There is one bus a day to and from Fort William to half a mile from the door. Google - Caledonian Sleeper and Citylink for buses.

Bluebell Croft is also ideal for a car-free holiday once you arrive as there is masses to do without racking up many car-miles. There are lots of walks from the door and we have a few bikes and pairs of wellies available to borrow. While generally being unconvinced by the theory of carbon offsetting we believe that planting the appropriate native trees is a sound thing to do. While having been long term supporters of The Woodland Trust we recently joined Trees for Life who are particularly active in the Highlands where they have several projects dedicated to protecting (what's left) and re-establishing Caledonian Forrest - the ancient native Scots Pine Woods that once covered much of the Highlands.

We have made a commitment to reduce energy consumption and so can you "commit to saving 20%" - visit The Energy Saving Trust Commit website to make your commitment

Undeterred, we created buildings which are very well insulated and full of low energy appliances and lights, and toasty under-floor heating downstairs that renders the upstairs radiators redundant for most of the year.

We actively encourage and have facilities for, recycling paper, cardboard, glass, tins and cans, recyclable plastics and organic waste via composting. We are happy to share our enthusiasm for composting with anyone keen to discover more about the art of turning organic waste into a valuable resource. It should be remembered that un-composted organic waste goes to landfill where it breaks down to produce methane, a gas that has 20x the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide. With care, some food waste can be 'recycled' through the pigs and chickens.

The wind turbine

Situated 300 m from the houses it can’t be seen or heard but on windy days generates all our electricity. The wood boiler is now up and running (May 2011) and we are now burning no oil in the two houses - a long held ambition fulfilled. Daisy and Daffodil offer help to David installing the solar panels and now, in operation, alongside the wood boiler (June 2011).

Though not compulsory, at Bluebell Croft you can get up close to both our animals and some of the local wild ones.