Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY
We are mindful of how our actions impact on the environment and our aim is for your experience to be as sustainable as possible.

The build
The Dôl Swynol cabin was hand built by us using locally grown timber from Douglas Fir and Larch trees.  The interior furniture and fittings are made from timber from Welsh oak and ash trees.  Anything which we have not been able to build/do ourselves during the cabin construction has been sourced when possible from a local joiner, blacksmith, plumber, electrician and heating engineer.

Energy consumption
The cabin is fully insulated and our electricity supply is on a renewable energy tariff.  The excellent insulation means that heating needs are much reduced in winter.  It has the added benefit that the interior does not overheat in the summer.   The firewood you will use is locally sourced.

Very locally produced eggs, vegetables and fruit
Chickens in the orchard (visible from the verandah) produce our eggs.  The chicken manure goes into a garden compost production system used in our extensive vegetable garden.  Eggs available to order all year and garden produce may be available during high summer.

Very local apples and apple juice
In a good year our apple trees – especially in the old orchard – produce a bountiful supply of apples which is pressed into apple juice. 

Biodiversity and wildlife
A wildflower meadow has been created around the cabin and there are lots of pollinator friendly flowers in our own garden.  We are also part of a local project to increase biodiversity in the village churchyard encouraging more wildflowers to thrive. 
Red kites can often be seen flying overhead.  If you listen carefully you will hear owls hooting at night.  Birders will enjoy looking through binoculars to identify what it present in the meadow during your visit.
Local nature reserves are run by the Welsh Wildlife Trust please  click here for information.   The closest to us are at Nanteos – you could combine a nature visit with afternoon tea – and the Rheidol Valley.   Three nature reserves are run by Ceredigion County Council in or very close to Aberystwyth.  Click here for more information.

Local suppliers
The welcome hamper will be sourced from local suppliers whenever possible.
If you visit Aberystwyth while you are here and would like to support local produce and independent suppliers try the following:
Medina - food shop with bakery and café-restaurant which also does takeaway
Ultracomida – Deli selling Welsh, Spanish and French food and drink
Rattray Butchers – local butcher selling a wide range of meat and poultry products.  This is where the sausages and bacon in our breakfast pack come from.
Aberystwyth Farmers' Market – held on the first and third Saturdays of the month

Travel
If you would like to travel by train or bus to Aberystwyth there is a taxi rank at the station.  There are plenty of walking routes on quiet lanes and footpaths from your door if you would like to be car free during your stay, although bring your food supplies with you as there are no shops within walking distance.  There is an M&S Food, a TESCO and a LIDL very close to the train station.  Remember the local gastro pub Y Ffarmers is a few minutes’ walk away.  A bus service into Aberystwyth runs through the village on Tuesdays and Thursdays – ask us for details if you would like to know more. 

Waste and recycling
We minimize waste by providing clearly labelled segregated collection bins in a deep drawer unit in the kitchen area.  In order to help us to minimize waste from your stay, all you need to do is put your used materials in the right bin and we will do the rest.

Cleaning and drainage
Eco-friendly cleaning materials for cleaning and guest use.
We are not on mains drainage and have an environmentally friendly septic tank.   This means that only water, toilet tissue and human waste should go down the loo.  Please put anything else in the bathroom bin.