Sustainability

This is a real biggie for us at Tom’s Cottage.

Our commitment to using local companies is paramount to our ethos. From suppliers to staffing and working in tandem with other local businesses, we prefer whenever possible to ‘keep it in the parish’ (or at least in the district).

It’s a win:win – it creates work for locals (to be able to continue living here) and we receive a fabulous service. Plus, of course, it reduces the equivalent of food-miles: so the planet isn’t soaking up unnecessary emissions.

Guest contribution

We wholeheartedly encourage guests to embrace the locality – from farmshops to activities. Not only does this enhance the Tom’s Cottage experience (encountering the real Cornwall) but also supports the area’s micro-businesses. A real boost to that feel-good vibe, all round.

Sustainability indoors is vital to us as this is where minimising our environmental impact is going to have greatest affect on our carbon footprint. We’d like Tom’s Cottage to have retained its character in another 200 years time, and its curtilage to have even better environmental credentials than today.

With a highly efficient boiler, white goods and light bulbs, optimum depth of roof insulation and double glazing fitted in about 70% of windows; we’ve introduced a replacement policy of ‘efficient and ethical while in keeping’, with the single-glazing apertures being prioritised.

While our electricity supplier has a zero-carbon policy we continue to periodically review opportunities to provide Tom’s Cottage’s own renewal power supply; although this is made tricky by the current EPC scoring system which doesn’t cater for period houses’ improvements without removing character features.

The water supply is currently mains-fed in the interests of guaranteed quality and supply, although self-sufficiency with this utility is an area also under review from time to time. With its own private (modern) septic tank system, Tom’s Cottage waste is responsibly dealt with.

We ask guests to divide domestic rubbish into ‘recyclables’ and ‘general waste’ with designated bins, which are then collected by a licensed operative who recycles-the-recyclables and sends the remainder as fuel to power-producing incineration.

Wherever at all possible, Tom’s Cottage is stocked with environmentally friendly products – from cleaning materials to loo paper. This is not only a green purchasing option; it also gives the good bugs freedom to do their job in ‘digesting’ waste in the septic tank. We have a use-up policy on opened items, such as liquid soap; and buy in bulk to refill bottles.    

Guest contribution

A brief ‘green guide for guests’ is provided in Tom’s Cottage’s guest information folder, to encourage mindful use of utilities without restricting enjoyment of the premises.

With our land-based heritage and a lifetime’s residency at Tom’s Cottage, the garden is particularly important to us. We strive to retain and enhance its character and encourage a rich diversity of native species.

We are now embarking on actively managing the established cottage garden to encourage wildlife, and have introduced bird and bee boxes, and are introducing a small no-mow area: with a meandering path for alternating habitats.

Composted grass cuttings are used to replenish borders and we’re prioritising perennials, especially native species; and are sowing clumps of wildflowers.

Guest contribution

Enjoy! Sit on a seat and take it all in or enjoy family games outdoors, go on a bug-hunt or relax on the patio and see what passes by – Tom’s Cottage garden is all about relishing the surroundings.

We are grateful to guests that leave the environment as they find it - with particular emphasis on binning any waste and leaving flowers in-situ for the pollinators.  

As the property is surrounded by countryside, we have a zero policy on the use of sky lanterns or fireworks (due to the various hazards these cause to wildlife and the wider environment). We are also mindful of light and noise pollution for similar reasons, and genuinely hope guests will be able to mark any special occasions in ways that reflect the ambience of Tom’s Cottage.

We relish the slower pace at Tom’s Cottage, and its throw-back feel to a bygone time. This does come at the cost of rural public transport though, with the nearest train station 15 miles away and negligible bus services within walking distance. The nearest bus terminal is in our local town of Wadebridge (7 miles away).

Arriving by car is the practical answer for most guests, but once here there are several ‘going nowhere’ opportunities for walkers and cyclists. We’ve put together our own Tom’s Cottage Doorstep Walks and Doorstep Bike Rides so days out don’t have to mean a car journey.

The front patio naturally lends itself to outdoor leisure time, with other seating areas dotted about and lawned areas for games. The bar-b-q area and front patio both comfortably seat a full compliment of guests for alfresco dining. Combined, we endeavour to provide guests with the facility to enjoy down-time ‘at home’.

Guest contribution

If bringing bicycles (and surfboards or kayaks/paddle-boards) and would like use of an adjoining outhouse as storage space, please let us know at booking so we can ensure the area is available during your stay.

Consider prioritising some of our Extra Special, Enchanting Enhancers and Exploration Extraordinaire suggestions in Tom’s Cottage Specialities – these not only truly reflect the locality (for a real taste of Tom’s Country) but also reduce guest car-time/miles.        

Car share where practical. If some of the party are joining-in at Tom’s Cottage for just part of the stay, consider them travelling by train or bus and collecting from/dropping at the above mentioned stations (or organise a taxi).

• Upcycling has been a given with countryfolk for generations – we’re experts in repurposing! From envelopes the postman delivers that become filing folders to hinges on an outhouse door: we reuse wherever appropriate.

Business operations

• Our suppliers of professional services have credentials in line with our own ethos, from our insurance provider’s Responsible Business policy (which includes protecting rural lives & livelihoods, building a healthy community, caring for the environment & doing business the right way); to our letting agent that started out as a Cornish company and has both green and community policies, as well as encouraging property owners to ‘go greener’.
• Office hours are generally kept within daylight hours to maximise use of power that is produced by a small solar system
• Office supplies are as ethically sourced as possible – with recycled paper, printer cartridges returned for recycling and a print-only-when-necessary policy (and double-sided then).
• Fixtures and fittings are locally sourced: from white goods supplied by the local company in town 7 miles away to carpets (supplied and laid) by a local firm under 4 miles distant.
• Local tradesmen and materials are used for maintenance: from the carpenter 3 fields away to surfacing stone for the entrance lane sourced 3½ miles away.
• Gardening and odd-jobs are kept in-house wherever possible, with the caretaker living within a 3-minute walk.

Guest consumables

• Welcome tray cakes are sourced from the local farm shop and tea/coffee are either Fairtrade or a Cornish brand.
• Jute shopping bags are provided for guest use, which can double up as picnic or beach bags
• Bin liners are recycled or meet other reduced-impact criteria

Business structure

We’re a small family business that diversified into self-catering holidays - triggered by a set of circumstances. We concentrate on just the one accommodation unit as its location is where our expertise lies. This preserves the essence of Tom’s Cottage while providing a unique guest experience.

We reside nearby (as our family has for generations) so have a connection with the immediate surroundings and a continued understanding of the locality. Coupled with a dedication to good hospitality, we endeavour to provide memorable holidays while contributing to the local economy which we are part of.

Tom’s Cottage is absolutely delighted to have received a Silver Award from Green Tourism, awarded on 29th July 2024.

With no previous certified benchmark (as this was our first assessment), we really couldn’t be happier; and are thrilled that Tom’s Cottage is now environmentally accredited. With Green Tourism membership comes the benefit of their resources, which we intend drawing on to further strengthen Tom’s Cottage sustainability.

Our highlights

Green Tourism also helped us to highlight our sustainability strengths. These included:

Experiences - we’re pretty excited about this one as it was our top scorer at 100%, and Tom’s Cottage is all about guest experience!
Feedback: ‘Outstanding knowledge of local area and how to enjoy it responsibly, excellent information on website.’

Biodiversity – this made us really happy too, scoring 90% in an area that we’re truly passionate about. It’s our land-based heritage that makes us tick.
Feedback: ‘Excellent commitment to promoting, protecting and preserving biodiversity on and off site.’

Chemicals – 88% was a satisfying mark here as (even if we say it ourselves) we are blisteringly hot on this topic!
Feedback: ‘Tom’s Cottage Cornwall have shown that they have a great knowledge of products and procedures that are kind to the planet.’

Other top scoring areas included Destination (83%) ‘A good example of how a business can encourage customers to be greener’ and Awareness (82%) ‘The team at Tom’s Cottage have shown an excellent knowledge and awareness of all aspects of sustainability throughout’.

What achieving our Green Tourism award means

We are supported in our sustainability practices, and in our improvement journey by the world-leading sustainability accreditation partner, Green Tourism.

Achieving a Green Tourism award means that our sustainability practices have been assessed and verified by a credible partner. It shows that we have an ongoing commitment:

• to sustainability standards and practices
• to work responsibly, ethically, and sustainably
• to contribute to our community
• to reduce our impact on the environment, and
• to be accessible and inclusive to all visitors and staff.

Green Tourism has assessed our business against 15 sustainability criteria grouped under the pillars of People, Places and Planet. These consider the social, economic, and environmental actions we undertake, providing a holistic assessment of our sustainability performance.

What do the Green Tourism gradings mean?

Green Tourism provides an overall grading of Gold, Silver, or Bronze depending on the overall score achieved across the comprehensive criteria.

• Bronze: Typically, an entry-level business, who are in the early stages of its green journey but has shown great commitment to making its business work more sustainably and is currently implementing a range of measures related to the 15 goals across all three pillars of People, Places and Planet.
• Silver: Typically, a business that falls under this category can demonstrate good practice across our three pillars of People, Places and Planet, but has an action plan of best practice improvements that will enhance the sustainability practices within the business.
• Gold: A business that achieves the highest standards of sustainability has a strong and broad environmental ethos and can provide excellent examples of best practice throughout the majority of the three pillars of People, Places and Planet. It has made significant changes to its working practices and continues to review and maintain them.

Of those businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry that put themselves forward for Green Tourism’s third-party verification, around ⅓rd achieve bronze, ⅓rd silver, and ⅓rd gold.