|
 |
 |
"This is like being in a piece of paradise, removed from the hustle and bustle to refresh our minds and be able to continue with the rat race."
W & H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
At Secret Valley Escape, every day we are reminded of the amazing beauty present in this world, and the responsibility that we hold to protect and conserve our environment and natural resources. We have taken some small steps towards reducing our impact upon the environment and fostering the natural biodiversity of our land.
Wildlife - You will meet many kangaroos, wallabies and perhaps wombats during your stay - a few who were rescued and raised by WIRES volunteers. We kindly ask that you drive slowly - particularly after dusk!
Source Local! - Whenever possible, we try to source locally and Australian made products, which benefits the local community, and also helps to reduce our carbon footprint. Most of the products in our breakfast and BBQ hampers are sourced from the Blue Mountains and Central Ranges region.
Recycling - Where possible we aim to use recyclable products. Our cottages have been lovingly built with mudbricks made on our own property, and reclaimed 100 year old turpentine wood from the Sydney Fingerwharf has been incorporated into its construction. In order to reduce the amount of waste we are adding to landfill, we are encouraging our guests to assist us in our recycling efforts, and recycling bins have been placed in each cottage, along with 'chicken donation' containers for any food scraps that our chooks will appreciate!
Water Conservation - We are dependent upon the bounty of the skies and collect fresh natural rainwater in our tanks to supply all our water requirements. We take care to minimise excess water usage and are also thankful for the cooperation of our guests in minimising water wastage. Our gardens have been planted with mostly drought tolerant australian natives.
Energy Consumption - We kindly ask for the assistance of our guests to reduce our energy consumption, and we also turn off all appliances when the cottages are not in use. In the next few of years, we will be hoping to install a combination of solar energy panels and wind turbines so that we become self sufficient in our electricity needs.
Cleaning Products - Many of the harsh chemicals that we use every day leave harmful residues in our water and soil. We are replacing many of our cleaning products with environmentally friendly alternatives which are biodegradable, phosphate free and free of surfactant.
Exotic Weed Control and Bush Regeneration - As with most rural areas, we are fighting against the invasion of exotic weeds, particularly those tenacious blackberries and scotch thistles! We have an ongoing program to control and reduce our weed population, in order to encourage regeneration of native vegetation. Our gardens are also planted with australian natives which helps to provide more food and habitat for our native wildlife.
We know there is still much to achieve, and are constantly seeking ways to improve our relationship with the natural environment. This page will continue to be updated as we institute further improvements! |
|
|
