Homelands to generate its own electricity?

In between looking after our guests or working in the garden we are currently doing some research into Combined Heat and Power systems, or ‘Micro CHP’.

Basically this means we want to install a system that doesn’t just produce hot water and heat the house, but also generates electricity for our own use.  If we generate more than we need it will be fed back into the National Grid, for which we will get paid a Government guaranteed rate. Guaranteed for 25 years…tax free.  Currently there are generous Government-backed schemes available which offer a very good rate of return on investment.  This is because the UK Government has certain targets to meet and they are struggling to achieve those targets unless a lot more people buy-in to the principle that generating electricity at the point of use is the most efficient.

Some 70% of energy created by power stations is ‘lost’ in transit. The small home Micro systems have a far higher efficiency rate (only some 20% is lost) and therefore they are the logical answer to the required reduction in CO2 output to which the UK Government has committed itself.

Our current thinking is to install a Solar Photo Voltaic system (Solar panels on the roof that generate electricity) combined with a high efficiency boiler which has the Sterling engine fitted into it.

The interesting thing is that at the heart of these boiler systems is the 200 year old design of the Sterling Engine, which uses waste heat to converts into electricity- at a very efficient rate.

We are getting competitive quotations right now, will attend a Business Link workshop in a few weeks time to learn more, and hope to make a decision by the middle of September. More news soon!

Announcing the winner of the Eco-quiz on the 27th. June 2010

We would like to thank all guests who attended our 'Open Day' and  BBQ on Sunday the 27th. June. Some of you will remember the day because England was knocked out of the World Cup. We will remember the day as one of superb weather and a good time with locals, neighbours, family and friends old and new. We also like to thank you all for the lovely presents: Flowers, plants, wines, chocolates, cards.... sadly we lost track which present was from whom - but thank you all so much!

We were rather overwhelmed by the amount of Eco-quizzes completed and returned to us. Checking the answers has been entertaining - and sad as well. Entertaining because of some very funny answers, for example Q19: 'Recharged Batteries'. Hmm (Thank you Helen. Very funny. No, really).  Sad because of the truly heartbreaking level of general knowledge shown with regards to the issues relating to Global Warming. With one or two exceptions of course - therefore well done to the winners and runner ups!

So..let's just quickly run through the questions and answers:

Eco-quiz: ‘Open day’ Sunday the 27^th. June ‘10

Welcome to Homelands!  Please take a walk in the garden and take part in this Eco-quiz. You can win a great prize: A voucher for 1 night B&B in our best       King Size Double en-suite room, ‘Sudeley’, value £90,                                            for yourself or for you to give away to visiting friends and family.

Tips to help you complete this: Visit our website www.cotswoldsaccommodation.net and our Eco-Blog www.homelandsbedandbreakfast.blogspot.com ; walk round the garden and see for yourself; Google it; guess, cheat, or ask our resident Zoologist!

1. The purpose of the 2 wooden crates to the left near the hedge is: Compost wormery.
2. Name 2 of the varieties of tomatoes grown at Homelands: Correct answers are: Italian Plum, Losetto, Beafsteak, Shirley.
3. How many bat boxes have been placed in the trees? 3
4. Write down the registration number of the barn-owl box: 2383
5. Why is it important to leave some piles of old logs to rot? Habitat for insects, small mammals, toads.
6. Estimate the amount of tadpoles swimming in the pond: Using the scientific method of extrapolating we estimate approx. 1,500
7. The ‘conservation grade’ seed mixture used for the meadow is called: Pollen & Nectar mix
8. How many newly planted willows are still alive? 6
9. What is the purpose of the plastic around the base of the new willows?  Protection against deer and rabbits.
10. What type of fruit is grown on the second small fruit tree on the left? Cherries
11. Which hemi-parasitic plant is found in our orchard? Mistletoe
12. The damage caused to the patio is because of an important archaeological dig, exposing a so far unknown Roman Mosaic. True or False? False.
13. Guess the annual energy bill for Homelands! (Your guess is as good as ours!) Every answer was awarded 1 point.
14. Why does growing timber and using it for fire wood not contribute to Global Warming? Energy from burning timber is carbon-neutral.
15. Name the species of deer often seen drinking from our pond: Muntjac
16. Which species of pigeon has a 5-toned song? Woodpigeon.
17. Erik ‘harvests wild food’. Hmm. What are they talking about? Correct answers are any of these: Mushrooms, berries, elderflower, nuts, game, rabbits, woodpigeons, grey squirrels.
18. Why are hedges so important for wildlife? Shelter from predators, habitat, nesting, source of food.
19. How do you call chickens rescued from a commercial farmer towards the end of their intensive production life? Rescue chickens.
20.  What do you call the archaeological feature of equally sized strips of medieval farmland still visible in the garden? Ridge and Furrow.
21. Which type of insect does Nikki plan to keep? Honey bees.

1.  AND THE WINNERS ARE..........

In 3rd. Place: Mr Ed Reilly with 14 points
Runner-up: MT Green with 17 points
But in 1st. Place: Maggie Richards with 19 points!

Many congratulations Maggie - we will post you a voucher you can use for family or friends...or for a romantic night away from home for you and Ian!

Wild Orchids in the Homelands garden!

Thanks to a visiting friend, we were alerted to the presence of wild orchids in our wild flower meadow. Thank you Simon!
It took some time to identify them - we now think we have got it right, and they are 'Common Spotted Orchids'.
Wild orchids are a very good 'indicator species' - my son Richard will write a little more about what that means  soon.
Hereby some pictures, taken on Monday the 28th. June 2010.

Mature willows, wildlife and some new little ones

Trees play a critical role in many aspects of our environment but they are especially important to wildlife attracting many different species to them. At Homelands we have a few mature willows in our garden - they provide food for many different types of insects which then attract birds, mammals and amphibians too who will feed on the insects. Willows are also important for providing shelter and a place for birds and some small mammals to build nests in. If willows have been pollarded they develop their characteristic but unnatural shape we all know – a thick stem, a knot, and lots of small branches sprouting from the knot. Pollarding is the process to cut off the branches at approx 6 feet high every few years.

To attract wildlife to our trees we have to do some pruning. We try to keep hold of any dead wood or twigs as they play a vital role in creating a wildlife habitat for invertebrates and amphibians. Certain lichens, mosses and fungi also rely on wood which is decaying too. Instead of getting rid of any logs, we build several small piles out of it which will attract insects. Even a dead tree stump can be a home to many insects, small mammals and even a woodpecker! The logs can also be used in a shady place to create a habitat which could include ferns, primroses and other shade-loving plants which, in turn, will attract even more wildlife.

As you can see from the picture  one our willows offers plenty of opportunities for birds to nest – in fact it may even attract barn owls, if they prefer an ‘old’ and natural home above our new owl box!

We have recently planted some 14 new little willows in the boggy area of our garden – at least 6 appear to have rooted well and are now showing plenty of new growth. To start  new willow simply cut off a branch and push it deep into the ground!

£300,000 funding for Cleeve Common conservation project

I was delighted to hear the news that £300,000 of funding has been secured for a project on Cleeve Common, which is the largest common in Gloucestershire. The funding is secured by Gloucestershire FWAG (The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group), Gloucestershire Natural England and the Cleeve Common Board of Conservators - to install a water supply to allow long term grazing management with cattle.

A couple of years ago I worked for FWAG – and I know from experience how difficult it is to put these projects together and to raise the funds. Well done Gloucestershire FWAG!

http://www.fwag.org.uk

When you look out of the window of our breakfast room and KS Double en-suite guest room 'Prestbury' you can just see Cleeve Common to the right- approx 1.5 Miles from here and a 1,000 feet climb. A lovely walk (approx. 45 min. to reach the top of Cleeve Hill) to undertake before breakfast!

Wild flower and meadow pictures

Pollen and nectar

We have recently sawn 2 Kg of mixed seeds 'conservation grade' of a so called 'pollen and nectar' mix. Pollen and nectar mixtures provide flowering plants throughout spring and summer to supply food for insects such as butterflies and bumblebees. Some insects, such as bumblebees, are vital pollinators of crops and wild flowers. Bumblebees have declined as suitable plants, such as red clover, have become scarcer in the countryside.
These, and other insects, benefit from sowing flower-rich mixtures. Hoverflies are especially attracted to flowering plants and will lay eggs wherever there is an abundance of aphids for their larvae to feed on, thus helping to reduce numbers of these pests in nearby crops. The general increase in insects attracted to these mixtures also provides food for birds.