Keeping Balmillig Green

At Balmillig we understand that the high quality of our local natural and man made environments is fundamental to the success of tourism businesses like ours. We know how much our customers appreciate the beauty of our countryside and wildlife as well as the outstanding character of Helensburgh's urban design, buildings and gardens. We therefore attempt to run our business in a manner which reduces as far as reasonably possible any adverse impact on these features and as participants in Scotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme, we are regularly audited for our environmental friendliness. As members of local conservation organisation, The Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, we are proud to be founding participants in their 'Our Park' tourism/conservation partnership scheme which is aimed at raising finance for much needed conservation projects in the National Park. Below we describe some of the other green measures we have taken in the past, together with the ongoing policies and actions which we continue to apply today:

Balmillig House is easy on the environment in lots of ways

Building a new house in the midst of a conservation area, it was important to us, our neighbours and local authority planners that Balmilligs's scale, setting, cottage style design, Victorian chimney pot and recycled slate roof were features accurately reflecting the surrounding leafy "garden city" environment for which Helensburgh is famous. However the house's 19th century exterior appearance belies its thoroughly modern origins, for this is a building designed to the latest energy efficiency standards. Compact, well insulated and orientated to maximise solar gain, the house is always cosy, even in the depths of winter. A key feature of the design is the large conservatory, which not only provides a delightfully relaxing space for guests, but also enhances solar gain for the building as a whole and supports an array of 5 solar water heating panels; so when the sun shines, (which can be surprisingly often!) guests can have oodles of hot water without worrying too much about adding to global warming. We estimate that from April to September the panels deliver around one half of our hot water needs and on sunny days in May, June or July the water regularly reaches temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees! The small town central location of the house is good for the environment too. Both of the town's rail stations are but a short walk away, as are all the shops and restaurants - so no need to take the car, which you can leave safely parked off street in Balmillig's car park, a feature much appreciated by our guests as well as our neighbours.

Housekeeping

'A+' rated fridges and washing machines help to save energy, as does our 30 degrees C laundry policy. We also ask guests to re - use towels and we use low environmental impact cleaning products.

Recycling and waste management

We do our best to recycle all glass, paper, metal, plastic, batteries and printer cartridges and by providing bedroom waste bins with separate sections, we encourage guests to do their bit too . All compostable household and garden waste goes into 2 large compost bays behind the greenhouse and these provide an excellent source of organic matter for potting and planting. So successful are these measures that very little goes into the local authority's land fill refuse bin (half a bin bag full, weight about 2 kilos, is a typical weekly amount).

The Garden

Since the house was built in 2001, we have worked hard to develop and improve the garden. The planting scheme includes native species chosen to improve wild life habitat and food sources. A bird feeder outside the conservatory is popular with the squirrels as well as human and avian guests. Piles of brushwood provide wildlife sanctuaries and frogs and hedgehogs are fairly regular visitors. We have also provided nesting boxes, but so far nothing to report. Bats roost and swallows nest in the old house next door and you are sure to see these if you come in summer. Early last winter, our rowan and holly berries proved very attractive to flocks of migrant waxwings who hung around for about a week until the berries were all gone. We have just installed two bat roosts, plans for the future include a pond and in the conservatory, for the real enthusiast, there is a natural history diary where you can record your observations and pass on any information you think might be useful to other wild types!

Doing our bit in the community

We are active members of Helensburgh and District Access Forum and the Helensburgh Tree ConservationTrust, the former doing a great deal of useful work around the town and in the surrounding area in terms of footpath development and improving public access to the countryside, while the latter looks after Helensburgh's unique and outstanding collection of street trees. As accommodation and guiding service providors, access to and conservation of our beautiful countryside is of great importance to us. Consequently we support the work of National Park 'watchdog', Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and John sits on the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Access Forum and he chairs Argyll and Bute's Local Access Forum . John also chairs the Board of Stramash, a charitable social enterprise which specialises in the delivery of top quality outdoor learning activities and adventure courses and holidays. We try to do our bit nationally too by contributing to a range of bodies such as The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland and Butterfly Conservation.

Guests doing their bit

We encourage guests to be as green as possible by following the Balmillig Guest Environmental Charter. Click here to find out more.

Public transport.

Using public transport is the green way to travel. We make this easy for our guests by providing a comprehensive range of information and timetables and this year we are introducing special reductions for guests who travel by train or bus (let us know in advance if you are travelling this way and we can arrange to collect you from the station). We also advise guests about itineraries they can follow using public transport. As leading members of Lomond and Clyde Tourist Association, we have recently been involved in working in partnership with other tourism operators and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park in the development of '4Bs', a sustainable transport initiative which links train and loch cruise timetables with a bike trailer bus to help walkers and cyclists gain access to the West Loch Lomond area without putting more pressure on the already busy road system. By directing visitors to less frequented, but still very attractive spots such as Glen Fruin and Helensburgh, 4Bs also helps to reduce pressure on some of Loch Lomond's busier tourism 'honey pots'. If 4Bs is a success it is ultimately hoped the service can be extended to the East Loch Lomond area too. 4Bs refers to 'Buses, bikes, boats and boots'. Click here to find out more. (During winter the website may be under construction)

On yer bike and help conserve the environment!

Bikes are a great way to get around our beautfiul area and we have a range of modern machines available for you to use. All we ask in return is that you make a donation to one of a number of local bodies which work to enhance and preserve the environment.

Walking is still the best!

Knowledgeable about the area and keen walkers ourselves, we are always ready to advise guests about good walking routes, the all important weather and the best locations for spotting wildlife. We also operate Lomondguides which hosts a programme of regular guided walks in the area as well as providing private guiding services for individuals and small parties.

This young non paying guest helped provide some welcome slug control last year.

The Michaelmas Daisies provide late season fuel for Red Admirals

We fitted new bat boxes under the eaves of the garage this year

Our newly constructed insulated composting bays

Piles of brushwood provide cover for birds and insects as well as shelter for hibernating hedgehogs