"My daughter Annie introduced me to `Green Things` when she was a student at Bristol University. Since then the initial spark of interest has mushroomed into a tremendous enthusiasm and desire to be as environmentally friendly as possible. It’s important that we all try to do our bit to support the environment that supports us."

Mrs. Hazel Harward, owner of Greenacres B & B

 Set in lovely rural countryside, with far reaching views of surrounding hills, Greenacres Bed & Breakfast is situated in tranquil Glenalmond, a few miles west of Perth. The house is secluded, quiet, comfortable and elegantly furnished, with all accommodation provided on the ground floor. Greenacres is surrounded by a sheltered one acre garden, which is a sanctuary for birds, and includes an organic vegetable garden, hens providing free range eggs, decorative fantail pigeons, and two water features one of which is a large wildlife pond (full size swimming pool conversion). The business has featured in Scotland’s Garden Scheme, and is a plant collectors' paradise, winning the Gardens of Perthshire 2000 Award for an Environmentally Green Garden. Greenacres is the only B&B in Perthshire to have achieved a Gold Award in the VisitScotland Green Tourism Business Scheme.

 Composting is a high priority at Greenacres. Garden and household waste is composted in two large slatted wood containers. At any time one container is `resting` and one is in use on a daily basis. In spring each year the `resting` one is emptied onto the vegetable garden raised beds. Leaves are also a valuable source of nutrients and these are collected each year in November, bagged and piled until rotted (this takes 2/3years!) after which the mulch is put onto the flowerbeds. All the clean paper, bottles and cans are segregated and taken to the local Perth & Kinross Council recycling facility. Envelopes are used for scrap paper or reuse by post. Recycled kitchen paper and O2 bleach are bought locally.

Half of Greenacres's lighting is provided using low-energy light bulbs. Exterior lights are fitted with a timer control. The business has three fridges and freezers and all are fitted with motor controllers or Savaplugs. These special plugs modify the current drawn down by the fridge motor at times when there is a low load on the motor. This improves efficiency and saves between 10%-20% on running costs. The plugs cost about £20 each but pay for themselves after 2-3 years service.

Timers are used to control the level of heating with thermostatic controls on the radiators; windows are double-glazed which helps to retain heat in the rooms.

Four solar heating panels were installed on a south facing roof in the 1970's. These provide domestic hot water, supplemented by an oil fired system.

Towel agreement cards placed in each bedroom to encourage guests to think about how often they require fresh towels. The multilingual cards were printed by the local area tourist board and "offer visitors the opportunity to support Perthshire's environmental goals" without compromising standards of comfort.

Greenacres's green credentials are given prominence on an attractive advertising flyer. The website is equally descriptive and as well as underlining the environmental commitment of the business, there are links to a number of websites including the following: Green Tourism Business Scheme; Perthshire Gardens Collection, Perthshire Tourist Board. RSPB and National Trust for Scotland . Greenacres is one of only 56 businesses featured in the Organic Holidays Directory - a listing of businesses who are committed to using organic produce as widely as possible depending on availability. A listing in the B&B Guide for Garden Lovers 2003 is another source of business. Greenacres works closely with Perthshire Tourist Board and benefited from exposure in the German press following a `green tourism` press trip in autumn 2003.

Guests benefit from extensive and up to date information on places of interest in the Perthshire area and further afield. Of particular note is the information provided on gardens, walks and the Big Tree Country project, highlighting the outstanding woodland heritage and sites in Perthshire.

Hazel is happy to chat to guests about the environmental measures she is taking at Greenacres and says that " people quite often gasp at how green and full my little patch is!"

 Greenacres supports Fair Trade products - tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Breakfasts feature Tesco organic milk, mushrooms and tomatoes (when available). Scottish bacon and sausages are used, the latter sometimes produced from Highland Cattle farmed by the owner's son. The local farm shop is another source of excellent fresh produce and guests are treated to strawberries and raspberries, from the garden, when in season.

The garden at Greenacres is brimming with great places for birds to nest - shrubs, hedges and thick ivy on perimeter walls. The breakfast room looks out onto the main bird area with fantail pigeons and several wild bird feeders. Regular visitors include finches, tits, robins and… the occasional sparrowhawk.

Guests are encouraged to enjoy the garden at any time and refreshments are served in the garden too in good weather.

In November 2000 the full size swimming pool to the south of the house was transformed into a wildlife pond with marginal planting. Spare tyres stuffed with rotted turf from a local farm were used to form an island in `the deep end` (Vital statistics: 300+ tyres and 20 tonnes of rotted turf were used). Planting of the island followed in the spring. Around the edges of the pool bread delivery trays were tied together and weighted with rocks. These were then lowered into strategic places, covered with rotted turf and planted.

Lilies were planted within the pool using old cracked dustbins filled with rocks and turf to ensure correct planting height. Aerating plants were dropped in with strips of lead. The wildlife pond is a central feature in the garden much loved by guests and bathing birds.

For further information, please contact:

Mrs. Hazel Harward
Greenacres
Chapelhill
Logiealmond
Perth PH1 3TQ

Tel: 01738 880 302
Fax: 01738 880 416
Email: hazel@bedandbreakfast-perthshire.co.uk
Web:www.bedandbreakfast-perthshire.co.uk

Case study added on 02 December 2003

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