Our sustainable practices at Rill House. Learn how we are reducing our environmental impact in South Devon.

What is sustainability? Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is not just environmentalism.

We understand the importance of sustainability and our impact on the local area, community, and environment. As such, we are committed to promoting responsible practices in all aspects of our operations.

Dog baskets

As a multiple-dog welcoming holiday home, we are often asked if we provide dog baskets to save on packing space for guests. The answer is no and the reason is we don't ask what breed or size our dog guests are and we know as dog owners that dogs like different styles of baskets so the chances are that the dogs would not like the selection, or they were too big or too small. Any dog baskets we did leave out used or otherwise would need to be washed and dried before the next guests. The environmental impact of that often unnecessary laundry does not feel appropriate.

Garden and wildlife

To support biodiversity, we sow native Devon wildflower seeds in two sections of the garden to enhance its beauty and attract more wildlife. We have added the hedgerow and bushes that would provide food for wild birds in the winter months and we chose stock fencing behind it to allow smaller mammals like hedgehogs to continue their movements as before.

Shop local

We understand the importance of supporting local independent businesses, which are an essential part of the South Devon community. We encourage our guests to support these businesses and have provided details for many of them in our online guide. We are always looking to expand this list, so please let us know if you think we have missed any.

By working together, we can ensure that our actions have a positive impact on the environment and the local community.

Supporting local small businesses

When we recently carried out substantial work at Rill we chose to work with local businesses like our fantastic building team who brought in other local firms like DC Electrical. They helped us choose the most environmentally friendly options we could, focussing on long-term quality as well as environmental features. 

Our amazing friends who run Moor to Sea Homes look after Rill for us, are a local firm that employs local individuals and we would be lost without them and all their team!

If you follow us on Facebook you will often see photos of Doug, who is the Rill House changeover supervisor. He likes to leave all the hard work to his Mum Sammie and is mainly found playing in the garden or hiding under the beds!

Recycling

Our Local Authority does not provide a recycling service for Holiday Accommodation and so we have contracted with a local business which collects all our rubbish, it is taken back to their depot and the recycling is separated and disposed of accordingly. You can find all the details here. 

Appliances

Saving energy and water are priorities, which is why we supply appliances that are energy and water-efficient and advocate for water preservation.

Hot tubs

We are so often asked if we have a hot tub or why we do not allow them to be rented at the house.

We’ve chosen not to have a hot tub, not because we don’t want one, but because caring for the wildlife around us matters more. With otters in the nearby nature reserve and seals and dolphins visiting our local beach, keeping chemicals out of their delicate ecosystems is a responsibility we take seriously.

We have often had individuals and their dogs staying but to keep our wonderful changeover team on a stable wage, we aren’t able to offer reduced occupancy rates, thanks for understanding!

I recently completed the 6 week BT Sustainability programme, delivered by Small Business Britain to help me identify the sustainable changes we can make.

I recently completed the 6 week Green Growth programme, delivered by Small Business Britain to help me identify more sustainable changes we can make. 

We’d love to welcome you to Rill House, a dog-friendly holiday cottage in South Devon! If you have any questions, just get in touch. For pricing details, click here and select “Show More” at the bottom. To check availability, click here. We only take direct bookings, so contact us today to book your unforgettable dog-friendly holiday!