Our Green Story

Summer-Meadow-Harelaw
Green Tourism Silver Award Logo
Bluebells on the spring meadow at Harelaw
One of the numerous apple trees here at Harelaw

We are constantly trying to improve what we do to reduce our impact on the environment. Here's what we are doing currently for our guests and the planet

Spring meadow at Harelaw
Tawny Owl Hoolits in one of our boxes
Cowslips on the meadow
Swallow collecting nesting materials from our green garage roof

Heating

Our central heating and most of the hot water is still by an oil boiler. Though this is not great we try to offset the impact our fuel has on the environment, such as planting trees, flowers putting up bird boxes etc or when we are not doing anything significant here we pay for carbon offset - the company we purchase our oil from works with Carbon Footprint Limited and the money we pay goes to environmental projects. The central heating is run and controlled from the main house and we encourage guests to top up heat using our new defra approved log burning stove. Our wood either comes from Harelaw itself or is very locally sourced.

Electricity

Our electricity was being supplied by Neon Reef which was a mostly renewable energy provider but the company went into liquidation at the beginning of the energy crisis and our supply was taken over by British Gas who's supply is 48% renewable. We also have an airsource heat pump which reduces the electricity we use. We have added to our action plan that once the energy supply has calmed down we intend to move back to a green supplier again. We are also seeking advise as to the best renewable technology for our situation here at Harelaw.
Our appliance in the cottage and the main house are mostly up to date and energy efficient but as upgrades are required we will replace with up to date efficient models.
Most of our lighting is either low energy or LED and we are replacing with LED. We have signs in the house to switch lights off when not in use, particularly outside lights. We are on the edge of Northumberland National Park which is a Dark Skies Park and we try to preserve this darkness where possible for our wildlife and star gazing by our guests.

Flower border in the allotment
Faith In Nature Toiletries in Hoolit
One of our colourful recycled plastic benches
Who Gives A Crap recycled toilet paper at Hoolit

Waste

We minimise our waste wherever possible and re-use, recycle and compost most of the rest. We encourage our guests to do the same. Hoolit has recycling and composting containers for guest use. Guest can recycle glass and plastic bottles, card, paper, cans, and plastic packaging, foil and Tetrapak and biodegradable food waste. We line our waste bins with compostable liners and compost these along with all biodegradable waste on site. The resulting compost is used on the allotment. We always use reusable shopping bags and provide our guests with these.
We provide guests with environmentally friendly cleaning and washing products and use these ourselves during cleaning and laundry for the cottage and personally. We wash at low temperatures (Max 40 degrees) and line dry. We do have a tumble dryer which is an efficient heat pump model but is rarely used. Guests have access to a rotary line dryer. We buy our cleaning and laundry products in bulk and refill containers. We provide guests with recycled toilet roll (who gives a crap) and kitchen towel. We also provide guests with toiletries by Faith in Nature, which are also purchased in bulk and refilled. The black bin liners we use are made from recycled farm plastics.
Many of the soft furnishings such as cushion inners, pillows and duvets are made from recycled bottles and all replacements will be made from recycled. Our outdoor table and chairs and benches are all colourful and made recycled plastic from the UK. They are made by TDP in Derbyshire.

Chemicals and Water

We provide guests with environmentally friendly cleaning and washing products and use these ourselves during cleaning and laundry for the cottage and personally. We wash at low temperatures (Max 40 degrees) and line dry. We do have a tumble dryer which is an efficient heat pump model but is rarely used. Guests have access to a rotary line dryer. We buy our cleaning and laundry products in bulk and refill containers. We provide guests with recycled toilet roll (who gives a crap) and kitchen towel. We also provide guests with toiletries by Faith in Nature, which are also purchased in bulk and refilled. The black bin liners we use are made from recycled farm plastics.
We have our own water supply which is filtered and then (in the kitchen) treated by UV light for drinking water. We have five water butts to capture rainwater for plant and garden watering.

One of our Jackdaw pairs in their nest box
Upcycled table and chairs in Hoolit
Buster and Freddy, two of our chickens
Chilli harvest from the polytunnel

Homegrown and Upcycled

We have an allotment here at Harelaw and provide our guests with seasonal fruit and veg when available. We have numerous fruit trees, particularly apple and give guests different varieties to try during the season. We also provide free range eggs from our chickens. Any chicken waste and eggshell go back to be composted and are used on the allotment to grow food.
Furniture added to the cottage is mostly reused and upcycled to a high standard by myself. I also have a small business 'Upcycled at Harelaw' where I upcycle textiles and small items of furniture into attractive and colourful homeware.

Biodiversity

The Harelaw estate in which Hoolit is situated is a wildlife Oasis. It is managed by myself and my partner Mike who is an ecologist with a wealth of natural history knowledge. Harelaw used to be a mostly Elm wood but this was devastated by Dutch Elm. Over the last thirty years it has been planted and managed into two acres of mostly wildlife gardens. There are native hedges around the whole property including a scrumping hedge along the top of the road. The hedges are laid by Mike to maintain thickness and vigour. There are mature Oaks, woodland, ponds, meadow and a burn. There are ample natural nesting sites in all the various habitats but these are complimented by numerous bird boxes. There is an owl box in Hoolit Cottage. Bird box cameras enable guests to see the inside of nests and the process from egg laying to hatching and fledging. Over the last few years we have had bird box cameras on Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Swallow, Starling and Spotted Flycatcher nests. We also have trail cameras and have captured hedgehogs, Hare, Deer, Badgers and foxes on these. Guests can use the trail camera and binoculars on request. We have several bird feeding stations around the garden, one outside Hoolit Cottage. We complimentary feed the birds all year round. The bird feeders are very popular with guests. We take part in the big bird watches and record all our findings.

Banburgh Castle
Plant-Sale to raise funds for a bird box camera for Yetholm Primary School
Summer meadow at Harelaw
Some of the maps and guides available at Hoolit

Community

We shop locally where possible and promote local businesses, local pubs, butcher, shop, Post Office and pop up café to our guests.
We try to engage with the local community of Town and Kirk Yetholm where possible. We have provided plant stalls (with plants grown here at Harelaw) for several events over the last few years. The first year we ran a plant sale to raise money for Yeholm Primary School to purchase a bird box camera of their own. The other plant stalls evolved into plant and produce stall at two Oktoberfests in Town Yetholm. Other members of the community and local businesses also donated plants and produce to these. We have also donated pumpkins to the school for the last couple of years for carving competitions at the Oktoberfests.
I have also volunteered in the local community shop for six months and will be volunteering for the Northumberland Hedgehog rescue Trust this year. Myself and daughter have also upcycled items to raise money for the trust as well.

Travel

When travelling to the shops we always multi-task, recycling, post office, garage, animal feed etc. Sadly though, there is no public transport to or from Harelaw. The nearest bus service is from Kirk Yetholm, the Number 81A to Kelso three times a day. So you will need your car but can make the best of every journey by planning your day trips to some of the amazing places close by.
Many of our guests bring their own bikes and we have safe places to store them. If you don’t have your own bikes there are places you can hire them from. Borders E Bike Hire (in Coldstream only 6 miles away) will deliver and collect your bikes for free. You can also hire bikes in Ford Village and on the Coast at Amble’s Pedal Power Cycle Hire or at Berwick Cycles. There are numerous cycle routes. See links.
We don’t yet have an EV charging point on site, but there are charging points in Coldstream, Wooler and Kelso. You can use our post code TD12 4QP to search on Zero Carbon World and Zap Map to find the nearest points.
There are walks directly from the property and numerous walks a short drive away. We are only a few miles away from the end of the Pennine Way at Kirk Yetholm and St Cuthberts Way also crosses there. There are lots of walk routes, guides and maps available in the cottage for guest use.