Bosinver and the Environment

In April 2008 we were assessed by the nationally recognised Green Tourism Business Scheme. It is a most through inspection to assess the Environmental Impact of the business and we were examined on over 120 measures for qualification for the scheme. We were awarded Gold, the highest accolade and we are very proud of our achievement.

Coast Member

We at Bosinver Farm Cottages are passionate about our environment. We love living in Cornwall and are very aware of the fragile balance of this beautiful environment and the demands people make on it. We continue to try to protect it and to implement steps in which we continuously endeavour to reduce our impact. We have produced our own green 'mission statement' which we will endeavour to achieve over the next two years. To read it click here.

We have joined the Green Tourism Business Scheme and are currently awaiting our inspection. We will be assessed on approximately 120 measures to assess the impact our business has on the environment. To find out what is involved please go to their website www.greenbusiness.co.uk

We are also members of the Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (COAST). They are an invaluable and inspirational source of help, resources and advice to us and their website www.cstn.org.uk E-mail: info@coastproject.co.uk Tel: 01872 562 057 has many interesting topics and advice for visitors to Cornwall.

We want to welcome you here to share the beauty of Cornwall's countryside and coastline and ask that you also try to help us keep Cornwall special by helping in the following ways

5 STEPS TO BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE VISITOR

Wherever we go and whatever we do, we have some impact and on the environment. By making positive choices during your visit, you can help to look after Cornwall and this special area ensuring that it retains its character for your next visit.

	1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle In Cornwall we take our recycling very seriously, as we hope you do at home! Say no to packaging where possible. You will find recycling banks in most main car parks across the area. At Bosinver we work hard to recycle all we can. Please help us by making use of the recycling system in your accommodation.
	2. Reduce traffic: walk, cycle or use public transport Walking and cycling are great ways to see the area without adding to traffic. Use public transport if you need to travel to your start point, but try exploring near to where you are staying. We can point you in the direction of some great walks that start from Bosinver - there are some fantastic places to see right on your doorstep!
	3. Stay Local, Eat Local, Buy Local, See Local Support local producers and services - this way your visit has a real benefit to the communities of Cornwall. Visit Farmers Markets, farm shops, village stores, pubs and cafes. Much of our distinctive culture is evident in the hundreds of community events that happen throughout the year and are well worth supporting.
	4. Demand more sustainable practices Ask your accommodation provider what steps they are taking to encourage responsible tourism. If you have an idea on how we might improve our practices at Bosinver, then why not share it with us?
	5. Follow the Countryside Code The Countryside Code reminds visitors to protect plants and animals; take litter away; leave gates and property as you find them; keep dogs under close control; consider other people and users when visiting the countryside.

This area is one of our passions. We were brought up in the farming community and from our past experiences we have a great desire to protect the environment. Wherever we can, we encourage our guests to observe the way we do things at Bosinver. Firstly We love our wild flower meadows and organic stewardship. When we bought Bosinver in 1998 the previous owners had managed the farm organically as we do and as a result the meadows are rich in wildflowers and wildlife. There are ancient hedgerows, providing wildlife corridors for many small creatures, which in turn provide food for the barn owls, buzzards, sparrow hawks, badgers, foxes and weasels who live here alongside us. To help our guests to enjoy the wildlife and environment here, we have informative and well-placed interpretation boards around the site, illustrating the local flora/flora which is around to be discovered.

We have a zero land fill aim and encourage (some say badger) our guests to observe our rules. We ask for all rubbish to be separated and disposed of in the correct way in our recycling bins and also provide a composter. Some or our guests actually enjoy the challenge of having no rubbish for disposal at the end of the week! As an added bonus, we work with our local authority as a collection point for recycling for the local playgroup and all monies raised from this initiative help to swell their funds.

We do not provide a washing machine in our cottages (except Pentree, which has its own disposal facility) . we have a high quality central laundry facility. The reason for this is that biological chemicals running into the cottage's waste systems would upset the organic processes.

We have switched to low energy light bulbs wherever possible and also all our cleaning products are low phosphate and we use reusable ecloths to minimise our use of chemicals at all.

As Bosinver caters very well for babies and toddlers we have as a by product, a problem with the large numbers of disposable nappies we receive to go to landfill each week. As a result we have linked up with Anita Hunt at www.homefromhomebabyhire.co.uk. She is a local mum with 3 children and has put together a range of baby equipment, including washable and biodegradable nappies, strollers and backpacks, which you can pre order and have delivered to your cottage, free of charge before you arrive. We have seen many of our guests arrive with tiny tots in cars bursting at the seams with masses of baby equipment and no room to move, so this facility should be a godsend!

We have also installed many water butts around the site to collect water for plant watering. Bosinver has a large area of gardens and to keep them looking nice all year round there is a large demand for water.

Another environmental initiative is the promotion of local public transport. Wherever we can we encourage our visitors to leave their cars on-site and use the many alternatives - or indeed to leave the car at home and come all the way by public transport.

Bus and ferry timetables are provided and we have put together ideas for car-free days out. This year some of our guests arrive by bike, having brought them of the train to St Austell and cycling here (only 10 minutes ride). They had a great time cycling from Bosinver and as Pat is a keen cyclist she was able to supply them with routes to make the most of their visits.

We were finalists in the original Green Tourism 2003 Cornwall Tourist Board Awards and are at present awaiting our inspection for the Green Tourism Business Scheme to formalise our credentials.

Help us to Keep Cornwall Green