Commitment to the Environment

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Commitment to the Environment

We are very aware of the importance of minimizing our impact as a business on the environment.  This is done in many ways. We are very grateful for the help given by our guests who feel the same way.  Any suggestions and ideas for improvements are always appreciated.

Energy

Solar lights, timed sensor lights and a timed heater are installed to guarantee minimal non-renewable energy is consumed. Elsewhere LED light bulbs are used instead of traditional element bulbs throughout the site. LED bulbs use a fraction of the energy spent by traditional element bulbs. Solar electricity is produced by our solar panels and stored in a 10 kWh battery storage system. . Guests can kindly help by turning off any electrical switches after use please.

Waste

We segregate our waste to reduce the amount going into landfill and to recycle where possible. Raw vegetable waste along with plain cardboard, tea bags and coffee grounds etc, is added to the compost heap. This is then used to nourish the land.  We reduce the use of plastics. Compostable waste bags are used or non plastic bin liners are rinsed and air dried.

Soap and cleaning products are plant based .  Dispensers are re-filled from bulk containers to reduce our plastic waste. A ‘no single use plastics’ policy  in force. 

Conservation

Whilst maintaining the grounds and footpaths for your ease of use, we leave areas of natural habitat. You will see the sides of footpaths uncut, patches of nettles and rotting wood piles. These offer habitats and food sources for birds, bees and bugs and enhance biodiversity.

Non-commercial bee hives are situated at the south end of the little wood. Part of the wood is being managed as a re-wilding project. Guests are welcome to walk the path through and enjoy it for themselves. There is an abundance of willow (salix) which enjoys the damp soils at the northern end of the wood. Willow, we are assured, is 2^nd only to Oak in its life supporting benefits.

New hedges and trees have been planted around the site and in the woodland. This program has been ongoing for several years. New native hedges have been planted on the southern, western and northern boundary of the site. Extensions and infilling is carried out each winter. Jubilee Wood was created in 2022 to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth’s II Platinum Jubilee year. It has been expanded since. Small group plantings of hazel, crab apple, bird cherry, goat willow, elderberry and alder have been completed in the wood. Heritage fruit trees have been planted ‘in field’ . These complement the cherry and crab apple trees already established on the eastern boundary.

Screening, whenever possible, is made from natural products. For example, our home-grown willow. Signage is made from waste wood off-cuts which we heat engrave, rather than buying in manufactured materials.

We have been praised by the Norfolk Rivers Trust for our ‘Great work’ clearing the invasive Himalayan balsam from our watercourse. This is part of an ongoing project. Its aim is to protect native species from being squeezed out along the River Wensum and its catchment areas. (Our watercourse runs into the River Blackwater which feeds into the River Wensum). We have now identified several native species in our watercourse. They include yellow flag iris, watercress, wild mint, rosebay willowherb, and hoary mullein.

Eco-tourism

We support local business. The Huddle guests enjoy welcome ‘goodies’ selected from the large range of food and drink produced in Norfolk. These are sourced within 30 miles of us. Stock for our small ‘Not for Profit’ shop on the site is all produced locally.

We also support the local community and businesses in many ways by promoting their services to our guests on sites. Local cultural events and traditional activities are advertised to our guests online and on site notice boards. National charities are supported via our ‘Not-for-profit’ shop which sells only locally sourced and produced goods.

Sustainability Policy Statement

We are committed to a sustainable future. It is our policy to seek continual improvement throughout our business operations to lessen our impact on the environment. We strive to conserve energy, water and other natural resources, reduce waste generation, recycle and reduce our use of toxic materials. It is our aim to enhance the social, economic and environmental well-being of our community.