New initiatives in the area include a scheme to encourage visitors to reduce their dependancy on cars and a major tree planting campaign in the north Lakes where over 10,000 indiginous alder, ash and oak trees will result in 3 new woodland areas. Click here for more details on local environmental initiatives. At Nab Cottage we have embedded systems to reduce, reuse or recycle in all areas of the school; from buying whatever we can as locally as possible, to creating works of art from ‘rubbish’. During 2009 our students were involved in clearing the invasion of Himalayan Balsam; this vigorous plant, introduced into Britain in 1839, was threatening to take over the entire river valley. In 2010 we would like to establish links with ‘fix the fells’, a local group of volunteers working to maintain the footpaths across the area.
We aim to be as environmentally aware as possible
1. We are a member of Nurture Lakeland (www.nurturelakeland.org)
2. We aim to be at least 70% organic and SUMA, the worker’s cooperative, have supplied us with most of our groceries for over 20 years
3. We offer guests a list of 22 varied ‘Things to do’, accessed either directly from the house or by public transport
4. We have laminated maps for guests use with 8 beautifully diverse walks from the front door – perfect for guests who choose not to use their cars
5. All our light bulbs are low energy
6. Our main stair/hall and sitting room carpet is pure, natural Herdwick wool and completely biodegradable
7. Our rubbish bags are biodegradable
8. Our toiletries are natural and eco-friendly
9. We have always composted and have a large vegetable garden
10. We recycle paper, cardboard, metal, glass, plastic, batteries
11. We use washable napkins instead of throwaway paper ones
12. We provide solar powered torches for walking to local pubs
13. Our laundry service is Shortridge, who have recently installed state of the art enviromentally new machinery economising on water, heat and detergents.
14. Our bread is homemade with organic flour and seeds
15. Our teas/coffees/sugar is Fairtrade and organic
16. Our paints are eco-friendly
17. We aim to replace mattresses with eco-friendly ones
18. We keep careful checks on energy consumption
19. We do not use power showers
20. We try to minimize waste
21. We support local suppliers and have friendly working relationships with all of them
