We Care, and this is Why
Mazzard Farm and the Environment
STOP PRESS: MAZZARD FARM WINS GOLD IN 2023 SOUTH WEST TOURISM AWARDS! We’re fortunate to call this special part of the country home and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it too. We want to keep it a special place and help you enjoy the best of it what it has to offer. That’s why, from the start, we’ve tried to create a holiday experience for you that has the best possible impact on the local area and community, and the wider environment. Most of what we have put in place is pretty much invisible, so in many ways, a Mazzard Farm holiday will not feel that different from one where maybe the environmental impact hasn't been looked at. We have done that on purpose, as why should an environmentally positive holiday be any different from a regular holiday? You are on holiday and most likely just want to have a great time. Here are some of things we’ve done and ways in which you can choose to join in.
What we've put in place
Our heating (incl. hot water) is generated through a Biomass Heating Boiler, Solar PV panels provide a significant percentage of our electricity, the buildings are optimally insulated, we use wood from our own forest for the wood burners, and all materials used for the conversion of the cottages pass high-level environmental standards. Recognition for this has come through a highly respectable ‘B’ rating at our cottages Energy Performance Certificates.
What we do
Full recycling facilities are available on site, and we can offer you a wide selection of local foods. Not only does the latter reduce food miles, they also taste much better than what you usually get in the shops. The soaps we provide are made on-site by Jacqueline. And they aren’t just locally made and environmentally sound, they also smell absolutely gorgeous (many people buy them to take home!).
Where we can source the produce we need locally we will, and we obviously always look for the most sustainable options available.
Use the Sun to Charge your car!
Not only do we offer EV charging on site, but with our EV charger connected to Solar Panels, use the 'ECO' setting and the charger only uses 'surplus' solar power, i.e. any home generated power not used at that moment in time. So clever!
The Community we're in
A huge factor in being a sustainable business is that you do all you can to work with, and stimulate the local community and economy. Amongst the things we do are apple juicing sessions with the local school, brownies and guides, we sit on various local bodies (such as the local Business Forum and Food Festival), and do what we can to help promote a healthy (in every sense of the word) local environment. We have co-organised many a beach clean at Sidmouth beach (with Keep Britain Tidy).
What we encourage
Many people like having a supermarket delivery before they arrive at Mazzard Farm. We fully understand that, but do suggest that when it comes to food and drink, you leave some (lots of?) room for the gorgeous local produce that is available, in Ottery St. Mary itself, as well as in the wider area. After all, what is more fun than – when on holiday in a new area – spending an hour so at the start of your break browsing in the local butchers, fish mongers, bakers, fruit & veg shop and wine merchant and picking up some fantastic locally sourced (and very high quality!) produce? Want a truly local delivery before you arrive? Check the link under 'Contact' and see the wealth of options on offer.
Nature & Wildlife
We are truly fortunate in that we have 17 acres of beautiful land surround us; an orchard, gardens, play areas, woodland and horse paddocks. In much of it we let nature 'get on with it', but we actively try and enhance things too. For example, each year we plant 100's of new tree sapplings (British native species) to replace trees taken out due to ash die-back as well as storm damage, we have our own 'in-house' ornithologist looking after dozens of bird breeding boxes, and much much more. Needless to say we don't use any pesticides or fertilisers....
Stay in the area
Through our home-produced ‘Guide to East Devon’, we help people keeping down their mileage significantly whilst at Mazzard Farm, as it highlights just how much there is to do in the immediate area around us.
Furthermore, there are many opportunities for walking and cycling in the area, with some routes starting right from the farm. And we are just a few miles away from Sustrans regional cycle way 52, and a proposed new national cycle route (2) runs right through Ottery St Mary. The South West Coast Path is just 15 minutes away.
We have been recognised for our sustainability efforts many times, with key recognition being our ‘Winner of Winner’ and ‘Sustainable Tourism’ Awards at the highly prestigious 2010 Devon Tourism Awards, meaning we were rated the most sustainable tourism business in the Devon! We repeated this in 2023, plus winning Gold for the whole South West of England too!
Purpose built
There is a lot of talk about holidaymakers in tourism hotspots contributing to the housing crisis, as the properties they stay in have been withdrawn from the regular housing market (aka '2nd homes'). A very fair point, however please rest assured that Mazzard Farm's 6 cottages are purpose-built farm conversions, where the only planning consent was ever going to be on 'people staying short term on holiday'.