Green Matters
We at Benmore try to adopt a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to tourism.
We won the 1997 All-Ireland Environmental Endeavour Award for our Reed Bed system which filters and purifies the output of our septic tank and therefore helps to keep the lough and waterways cleaner. The gravel in the reed bed helps to oxygenate the effluent and the plants use the nutrients in it and convert it to pure water. Look at our Reed Bed Leaflet for further information. This was produced as part of our Environmental Endeavour Award, and is aimed at children, with delightful illustrations.
Since we bought Benmore at Christmas 1995 we have completed the renovation of the Georgian stable block and another barn to holiday cottages, installed the reed bed system and re-dug the lake down by the front gate which was shown on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map but had silted up. In the early days we also used goats to clear woodland which was choked with briars up to 15 feet high, and sheltered them in the first straw bale building in Fermanagh! We have planted native trees and encourage wildflowers. We use our own renewable fuel in the wood burning stoves in the cottages.
We have also tried to pursue an environmental policy in other ways by using environmentally friendly cleaning products, and using as little as possible of any chemicals. The containers are refilled where possible. We also recycle glass, aluminium and paper and encourage our guests to do so.
Can you help us by:
· Separating rubbish into the 3 bins. One for glass, the blue bin for recycling ( cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, cardboard) and the green bin for other waste.
· Leaving empty cleaning products containers in the cottage so that we can refill them.
· Noting that the washing machine in the laundry works well with very little powder and you will need less than you probably use normally.
· Being careful what you pour down the drain. The plants in our reed bed system work hard to convert the effluent to pure water, but we don’t want to kill them with too many nutrients or with chemicals!
We are always interested in your comments and suggestions on this and any other topics.
© 2006, Benmore Cottages, Churchill, Derrygonnelly, Eniskillen, Country Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, BT93 6AZ. All rights reserved.
