We care about our environment and long-term sustainability. We are committed to making Sparrow Hall Holiday cottages as environmentally friendly as possible.
All our linen is laundered on site using eco products when possible.

We ask our guests to help us by recycling paper to the log boxes, glass and cans into the green boxes provided. Other recycling opportunities are explored as they arise

Recycled paper, envelopes and ink cartridges are used in the office. Recycled paper for toilet rolls, tissues and kitchen towels in the cottages. Email is used to communicate where possible to reduce paper consumption and freight costs.

Our cottages have combination boilers, which we hope to upgrade to fully condensing, radiators fitted with thermostats, most are double glazed and all will be by early 2010.

Most of the appliances in the cottages are A rated to minimize energy consumption. The majority of light bulbs used are energy efficient. Outdoor lighting is dusk to dawn sensors.

The Swimming pool has a Calorex heat recovery system, extracting heat from the moist air in the pool hall and using this heat to warm the pool water and the Air. The use of the pool cover is most important as evaporation is main source of rapid heat loss. The extractor fans have a 75% heat recovery heat exchanger and are motion sensitive.

Our energy and water consumption are monitored to identify opportunities to reduce consumption. Energy tariffs are reviewed on a regular basis.

Our guest information files in the cottages and on our website have local information on what to do, where to go and where to eat close to Sparrow Holiday Cottages. While we cannot completely eliminate the need to travel by car for most of our guests there are lots of ideas for “more or less” car free days. The cottages are only 7 miles from York Park and Ride. A great way to see York at its best. Enjoy a leisurely walk around Sparrow Hall Cottages by taking the bridle path (left and left out of the drive) to Acklam and enjoy the local refreshments at the local.

We are committed to a continuous improvement in environmental management to benefit us all and future generations. We would ask you to support us with this by contributing to this whilst staying at Sparrow Holiday Cottages.

• Suggested areas where contributions can be made are as follows:
• Switch off lights and TVs when not in use
• Leave old batteries out for us to collect and dispose of safely 
• Please close doors and windows when you have the need to use the heating
• Please adjust the central thermostat and heating in individual rooms to suit your requirements
• Recover the pool when not in use
• Please avoid excessive use of water
• The local council provide recycling facilities; we would ask you to use these, a box is provided outside each cottage to collect recyclable materials. We empty the box
• There are ample local shops, pubs and takeaways in Stamford Bridge only four miles away
• We would welcome any ideas that you have, that could help Sparrow Hall Holiday Cottages to be more ‘environmentally friendly’, particularly while not affecting the enjoyment of our cottages