Croan Cottages

We are committed to providing high quality self catering accommodation whilst also minimising the environmental impact of all our activities. We encourage our guests to help us in providing eco-friendly holiday accommodation through their actions while staying with us.

To contribute positively to our environment we take the following actions:

- The electricity used is generated from wind and other renewable sources.

- Timers are fitted to all outdoor lighting.

- We have a policy of replacing broken or worn-out appliances with energy efficient models.

- Glass, cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard etc. is collected for recycling. All of our guests are encouraged to recycle – a charge is put on bins when recycling is not carried out.

- Appropriate kitchen waste can be composted.

- Ecological detergents and cleaning products are used in all cottages.

- Wherever possible, local, fair trade, GM free and organic products are used.

Each cottage is thoroughly insulated.

- Recycled paper is used in all of our stationery as well as for toilet tissues.

Guests can assist us implement our eco policy by turning off lights and appliances when not in use to minimise energy usage and bu turning down room heating if the cottage is too hot or if you will be away from the cottage to minimise heating oil usage.

Outside of the cottages our attempts to be environmentally responsible continue.

We compost all kitchen vegetable waste and non-woody garden waste i.e. all weeds, 'soft' cuttings, lawn cuttings, etc. We have almost 8 cubic meters of composting capacity which is a lot but is an appropriate for the size of the grounds and amount of waste vegetable matter produced. Their size and construction allows adequate heat build up to result in the destruction of weeds and their seeds - therefore reducing the need for organic herbicides. Soil is added to form good compost. This is then spread on the garden and vegetable patch and some is riddled to produce fine potting compost. This way the nutrients are returned to the ground.

We don't use horticultural peat products - the use of peat by Irish and British gardeners has resulted in the destruction of a number of bog habitats in Ireland. Wood ash from the cottage fires and our wood burning stove is used on the garden as a potassium fertilizer.

We have planted fruit trees, native deciduous hedging and other standard trees on the grounds. Existing hedgerows are being managed and replanted to ensure they continue to provide important habitat for flora and fauna.

Rain water is collected in the pond and is reused on the grounds for watering plants and veg. No insecticides or pesticides are used in the walled vegetable garden or orchard.

Suggestions on how we can improve our environmental performance are most welcome. We are proud to offer employment to members of the local community and to host visits from local groups (including school groups). We also use all local trades people. We encourage all of our guests to do their shopping from local independent retailers. Surplus produce from our gardens is given to local people and we sponsor the local Old Folks Christmas party each year as a thank you to the local community for its help to us and our guests during the year.

Our primary aim to provide quality accommodation in a pleasant rural setting. A close second to that is to try to inspire our visitors and community in to be more environmentally aware. We have developed a comprehensive eco strategy and we make all of our visitors aware of its detail. All of the restoration work carried out on the walled garden walls etc. has been done using lime mortar and traditional practices. A comprehensive hedgerow regeneration and tree planting programme is underway.