Sustainability on the farm - supporting our local environment
We’re signed up to the Sustainable Farming Initiative and actively promote and encourage a real appreciation of environmental sustainability at Higher Trevinnick:
Environmentally friendly
- The farm’s water comes from a bore hole up behind the farmhouse or is pumped by water wheel from our own natural spring at the bottom of the valley, both sources certificated and approved for consumption by South West Water and Cornwall Council, and tested every year
- Fox Den generates its own electricity from solar panels affixed discretely to its south-facing roof
- Both cottages are well insulated and fully double glazed to minimise heat loss
- We use low energy bulbs throughout the cottages and in as many of the farm buildings and outdoor lights as possible
- We use local contractors and suppliers – for example, our carpets are cleaned by a local eco-friendly family business, and our corn and straw sourced from neighbouring farmers
Recycling facilities and keeping green
- Our recycling system includes collecting bottles, cans, plastic and paper/cardboard in clearly marked bags and bins, with guests encouraged to use this facility
- We operate a recycling policy for all the farm waste and reuse traditional Cornish materials on the farm wherever possible – even the pigsty has a Delabole slate roof and the garage is slate-clad using remnants from around the farm
*Where possible we minimise single-use plastic and, for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, our daughter volunteered for Surfers Against Sewage doing regular litter picks on the local beaches and farm lanes – it’s become addictive and we’ve all continued this whilst walking the dog
- All plastic silage wrap is safely stored and delivered to a local recycling contractor who we pay to dispose of it in the most ethical manner
Locally sourced produce
- Our cottage welcome packs contain locally-sourced Cornish products and, subject to availability, we have packs of our delicious own-produced Cornish pork sausages available for purchase in various flavours
- Ex-commercial hens enjoying their new life on our farm are prolific layers of fresh eggs for our guests
- We guide our guests to attractions and eating establishments where we know they’ll receive a great Cornish welcome and a real taste of Cornwall, and we proactively share our guests’ recommendations of places to visit – even guests who’ve been visiting for 20 years or more can still find authentic new experiences near by
Educational interactive farm holidays
- We appreciate the educational aspect of our interactive farm holidays and encourage our guests to foster an appreciation of countryside and conservation issues, lifecycles and animal care – it’s so rewarding when the children get back in touch to tell us they have used their farm holiday experience as the basis of a school project!
- Everyone leaves feeling that they’ve truly been a ‘champion farmer’!
Eco farming and bee keeping
- We farm in a small yet environmentally conscious way with recent concentration on tree planting and hedgerow conservation bearing results with a proliferation of wild flowers and wildlife – we have resident woodpeckers, owls and nesting buzzards in our ancient woodland
- We minimise our use of fertiliser and therefore muck spreading keeps Farmer James busy every Spring, emptying out the cow barns from where they’ve over-wintered and recycling their muck and straw back onto the field
- Each summer we make our own small bale hay and large bale silage to keep the animals going through the winter months
- Given the well-documented decline in the bee population, Farmer James has bee hives discretely located on the farm
