Green Initiatives
Building Works
• Green Oak, used, has been sourced, sawn & delivered by John Gregory.
• Timber used for doors, frames, stairs and first floor is reclaimed timber from local mill.
• Renovation and conversion work all uses local craftsmen & family members.
• Hanging rails in rooms have been created using the old boskins (partitions from the cow barns).
• Hanging rails have been created from garden forks.
• Lights have been converted from the former cows’ water bowls.
• Marble in the Homestead is recycled from the old fish shop in Macclesfield.
• Dry stonewalling uses stone from the farm & family labour to build.
• Homestead pitch pine staircase is recycled from local church.
• Paint used is Farrow & Ball as they are environmentally preferable, low odour and exceed all European environmental legislation standards. They have minimal or low volatile organic compounds without ammonia or formaldehyde.
Energy consumption and recording
• The recording of electricity usage and analysis.
• Water is drawn from our own farm borehole not from any mains water supply.
• Towel/linen agreement in rooms & cottage.
• Log burners in use.
• Septic tank forms an environmental circle.
• New toilets feature dual flush facilities.
The use of local business services
• Printing work for stationary undertaken by local printer in Bollington.
• Art works by our own resident artist, Mike Moore.
• All work is for decoration & sale.
• Local veg box details sent to guests prior to arrival.
• Comprehensive guide to area in Welcome Browser.
• Local shopping service available prior to arrival
• Harrop Fold home reared beef available to purchase by guests.
• Finest local produce available seasonally for guests to purchase.
• Homemade cakes (made using Harrop Fold free range eggs) and jams available for purchase by guests.
• Cookery courses, Cookery Demos and Dinners available within Harrop Fold Farm with family professional Chef.
• Art courses available within Harrop Fold Farm with family professional Artist.
• Logs may be purchased from local sustainable woodland.
• Kindling wood may be purchased from the farmhouse (or collected in the fields free of charge!)
• Good communications with local businesses.
• Local restaurants & pubs recommended to guests.
• Local taxi company recommended to guests.
Employment
• Local skilled labour used in renovation and conversion of barn.
• Creation of part-time and full-time permanent local jobs.
Cleaning Products
• The provision of environmental cleaning products in Mellow Brook Cottage.
• The provision of recycled toilet & kitchen roll in Mellow Brook Cottage.
• The use of environmental cleaning products throughout Homestead.
Foods
• Use of homemade or home produced/reared produce whenever possible and when not, local or organic produce used.
• Herbs grown in our herb garden.
• Food miles of huge importance to us as well as supporting local businesses
• Fair-trade produce offered.
Landscaping and Conservation
• Architectural interest in traditional courtyard – cloistered farmhouse with traditional barns.
• Architectural & natural features around the farm which have been discovered whilst conversion and renovation work undertaken. Eg Stone troughs and ornamental stones.
• Traditional drystone walling carried out around farm and cottage using family labour.
• Bird boxes fixed to walls.
• Use of chemicals for weed control is minimal.
• Considerable new planting of trees and shrubs.
• Sensitive use of building materials and features to retain the spirit of 17th Century farm. E.g. stone roofs & stone walls.
• An ongoing programme of the introduction of flowers and shrubs to attract birds and insects.
• Roman road runs through the property, cross section available to peruse.
Visitor Information
• Collection service from Macclesfield railway station usually available.
• Wild Flower Circular walk featuring Harrop Fold Farm available to purchase with payment will going to the local Bridge End Centre (registered Charity). Rainow Parish Walks Map available to purchase, payment going to the local Parish Council.
• Local walk and other local history books available.
• Information on local bus routes & trains.
• Information on local cycle routes for visitors with bikes and nearest cycle hire for those without bikes.
• Hugely informative hosts with ideas for days out.
• A list of the restaurants/shops etc in Welcome Browser.
• Food Trail written by the family available to guests.
• Literary Trail written by the family available to guests.
• Green Days Out suggestions with local guide in Welcome Browser
Re-Cycling
• Glass, tins, plastics, paper and cardboard recycled with re-cycle bins provided.
• Compost bins provided.
• Grass cuttings composted.
• Prunings from the site added to compost.
• Leaves collected in the autumn and composted.
• Wood ashes from log burners mixed into compost.
• Recycled toilet roll with recyclable packaging in Mellow Brook Cottage.
• Recycled kitchen roll in Mellow Brook Cottage.
• Recycled stationary used in the office.
• Paper recycled in the office.
• Molton Brown toiletries offered to guests. Molton Brown's iconic bottle is fully recyclable.
Sustainability
• To provide all year round accommodation.
• Contributing substantially to local economy.
• ‘Leave the car behind’ reward scheme as part of our visitor payback scheme.
Awards and memberships
• 2008 – Mellow Brook Cottage at Harrop Fold Farm – Winner of Self-Catering Holiday of the Year – VCC
• 2007 – Painting at Harrop Fold Farm – Winner of Tourism Experience of the Year – VCC
• 2006 – Harrop Fold Farm – Winner of Bed & Breakfast of the Year – VCC.
• 2006 – Harrop Fold Farm – Highly Commended Bed & Breakfast of the Year – NWDA
• Harrop Fold has been assessed under the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), it was awarded the Bronze level, but has worked hard and hopes to improve on this at the next grading.
• Harrop Fold is a member of Peaks & Plains Tourism Association. Member of staff is an Executive Committee Member.
• Harrop Fold is a member of Visit Chester & Cheshire.
• Harrop Fold is a member of Stay on a Cheshire Farm accommodation group. Member of staff is currently Chairman.
• Harrop Fold is a member of FarmstayUK. Member of staff is currently North West England’s Chairman.
Wildlife
• House martins nest under the eaves of the farmhouse and in the archway of Mellow Brook Cottage
• Swallows nesting in the barns
• Lapwings circle the land nesting at a neighbouring farm
• Curlews ditto
• Bats under the eaves of the barns
• Gold finches nesting in the ivy on the house and the barns.
• Blue tits nesting the stonewalls of the barns.
• Blackbirds nesting in the garden
• Robins ditto
• Wrens nesting in the cowsheds
• Harrop Fold’s domesticated Fan tailed pigeons nest above the hen house.
• Free range hens and a cockerel
• Resident Peacocks
• Several badger setts within 100 yds of the house
• Foxes trot through the land and live in the wood
• Deer from Lyme Park visit regularly
• Buzzards nest nearby and overfly regularly
• Sparrow hawks seen hunting the land
• Pheasant including a Golden Pheasant
• Red legged Partridge nesting by driveway
• Trout in Harrop Brook…and therefore the heron visits regularly!
Natural Life
• Harrop Fold Farm is laid down to permanent pasture grassland.
• Harrop Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
• Waterfall in Mellow Brook.
• Old traditional trees carefully maintained including Quince tree for Elizabethan flavour.
Find Us
Harrop Fold Farm
Macclesfield Road
Rainow
Macclesfield
SK10 5UU
T: 01625 560085
E: stay@harropfoldfarm.co.uk