Hotels Taking Steps Towards Sustainability in Felindre

Embodying a commitment to sustainability, The Old Vicarage prioritizes eco-friendly operations with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. Compliance with environmental legislation and approved codes of practice is a given, but the establishment goes further by actively monitoring and reducing energy, water, and other resource usage. Pollution, emissions, and waste are continually reduced, and risks associated with environmental and social issues are kept to a minimum. There's a conscious effort to participate in sustainable business practices and support other businesses in doing the same. Moreover, the local and wider community are encouraged and assisted in sustainable practices. A key aspect of their strategy includes a continuously reviewed action plan for further improving environmental and social performance.

Visitors to The Old Vicarage also have a role to play in the establishment's sustainability efforts, thanks to the Responsible Visitor Charter. This initiative encourages guests to conserve energy, use local transportation or active travel methods like walking or cycling, shop locally, and recycle. There's an emphasis on respecting nature, whether by using footpaths responsibly or not leaving litter. On-site, the inn operates with a 100% green electricity supply, energy-saving light bulbs, an environmentally friendly wood pellet boiler for heating, and wireless thermostats in public areas. An impressive recycling program is in place, which extends to food waste that is either fed into a local biomass digester to generate electricity or composted for use in the kitchen garden. The Old Vicarage is also exploring a carbon-offset scheme, making it a model for sustainable operations in the hospitality industry.

Situated in the picturesque locale of Herefordshire, the Riverside Inn, Aymestrey, serves as a shining beacon of sustainable tourism. The establishment showcases the unspoiled and historic region's local characteristics with an exceptional commitment to environmental consciousness and sustainability. A considerable portion of the food and drinks served at the Inn is produced on-site in the kitchen garden, orchard, and small holding, thus significantly reducing food miles. Goods not produced on-site are sourced from local, small-scale, artisan producers, lending support to the local community and economy. A testament to their commitment to the environment is their use of Slow Food Ark of Taste ingredients, MSC certified fish, organic meats, and a robust variety of plant-based dishes. The wine list prominently features ethical, organic, small-scale producers, with special emphasis on lower food-mile English wines.

In addition to their eco-friendly sourcing policies, the Riverside Inn, Aymestrey also showcases laudable waste reduction initiatives. They've significantly minimized waste by reusing transport crates, composting, and banning single-use plastics. Conscious choices extend to their suppliers, like Hundred House Coffee and Nobel Isle, both renowned for their eco-friendly practices. In an endeavor to become carbon-neutral, the Riverside Inn promotes green practices like tree and hedge planting, staff car sharing, and offering free electric vehicle charging stations for guests. Moreover, they've shown a strong commitment to preserving local wildlife and ecology. The grounds boast native wildflowers, heritage fruit trees, and homemade bird boxes. In order to extend their environmental efforts, the Inn offers guests the option to make a voluntary carbon-neutral donation, which is then used to support green projects throughout Herefordshire.