Pembrokeshire vacation, eco barn accommodation in Wales
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
We have installed a number of eco-friendly technologies. Electricity is supplied by a 6kW Proven wind turbine and green tariff electricity. Heating is supplied by Nibe ground source heat pumps and the hot water is supplied by Viessmann solar hot water systems. The rainwater recycling system holds up to 20,000 litres of water and is used for all toilet flushing, garden watering, etc. We have also installed half flush toilets together with a biodigester waste treatment system. We use low energy lightbulbs and Ecoleaf cleaning products are throughout the barns. All our guests are encouraged to recycle - there are bins in each barn for recycling paper, cardboard, aluminium tins/cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles.
When the grounds were landscaped we created specific wildflower areas which have already starting to be well established having such rare flowers as bee orchids. A natural wildlife pond area has also been created, and this is now starting to be colonised by various species. It’s a great watering hole for the vast array of birds that visit the surrounding area. Many different birds can be seen around the eco barns, from chaffinches, blue tits and sparrows to woodpeckers, jackdaws, starlings and jays, as well as owls.
We are also blessed each spring and summer to have about 8-10 pairs of nesting swallows. There are regular sightings of buzzards, kestrels and peregrine falcons hunting over the surrounding fields and Brandy Brook valley. And don’t miss the bats. We have bird boxes up and plan to keep on creating new habitats for nesting birds. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities to interact with the wildlife in Pembrokeshire, both here at the barns and further afield.
Guests traveling to the barns are provided with information on the most sustainable travel options. We encourage visitors to make use of the excellent Pembrokeshire bus service, which includes a number of routes serving the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
We have been voted Best Sustainable Tourism Business in the Pembrokeshire Tourism awards for 2011.
Community
During the development of the eco barns we used local builders, and we continue that philosophy by using a local company from nearby Roch to clean the barns, and by encouraging all our guests to support local communities by eating and shopping locally. In the pre-arrival information, we encourage guests to use Pembrokeshire Produce Direct, an online farmers’ market to supply their pre-arrival shopping.
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