This year 2010 we have planted over 50 poplar trees and given over a hectacre of land to Sunflowers to create biodiesel.

24/02/2009 Second Section of Offset Wood Planted Click here to see more

Like many people we are extremely concerned about the protection of the environment.

This year and every year we are asking guests to help reduce their carbon footprint by planting trees, which will over time absorb your carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved in 2 ways

1 - A donation to Les Cygnes will plant trees on our land to help create a wooded area to help erase the carbon usage in travelling to and staying in our gites.

A medium sized car with an average return journey of 1200 miles will be 1 tree.*

Each return flight to France will be 1 tree*

* The cost of the tree can be added to your holiday cost or donated when you arrive at Les Cygnes.

We will only plant trees indigenous to our area like, chestnut, oak, lime etc.

A tree will cost 10 euros and will be planted on our land. Each tree will be labelled with the name of the person or family that donated it and covered by a sapling protector.

*Calculated using information provided by the DEFRA website - click here for the document.

2 - A donation to a charity involved in helping to erase carbon footprints.

• erasemyfootprint

• mycarbondebt

• puretrust

At Les Cygnes we are taking steps to help reduce our impact on our surroundings and create a more environmentally friendly future.

At Les Cygnes we help by:

• Recycling all recyclable materials.

• By all our food from local sources, organic if possible - but I'd rather buy from sources close to us rather than buy organic beans from Kenya!

• Use biological or natural cleaning products where possible.

• Compost all organic waste.

• We have planted over 250 local shrubs to help negate our carbon footprint.

• Heat our properties with wood taken from sustainable sources.

• Have insulated to better than recommended levels, this ensures heat retention during winter months (reducing the need for heating) and ensures a cooler environment during summer months, reducing the need for air conditioning.

• Double glazed all our windows and doors.

• Recuperate rainwater and have installed a 12,000 litre tank for gardening use.

• Use low voltage light bulbs wherever possible and use A rated white goods in our kitchens.

• Installed a saltwater pool system which minimises the use of harsh and harmful chemicals

• Are investigating the use of alternative energy sources, wind, solar, geothermal.

• We are committed to becoming as energy self sufficient as possible.

Nick Furse

erasemyfootprint.com

EcoHolidaying.co.uk: This site provides a reference point for those tourists who are concerned for the environment and local communities offering extensive advice.

ecofriendlytourist.com - The user-friendly guide to green holidays. Packed with ideas and information on where to go, how to get there and things to do while you're away. Plus a growing guide to eco-friendly accommodation in the UK.

greennetlinks