Yes, you’ve guessed it - one of my New Year’s resolutions is to write a regular Ecocabin newsletter and here is the first. In part, it takes the form of a review of 2005 but it also looks forward to the year ahead.
This time last year it is hard to believe that Ecocabin looked like this!
It all seems like a distant nightmare now, but these pictures were taken just before Christmas 2004. Inside it was an empty shell with no floors (you could see the ground between the planks we walked on!) and outside there was a lot of mud.
My first booking was for Easter and the person who arrived I consider my guardian angel. What good fortune (and thanks to Defra’s publicity machine) that the first visitor was a travel writer (they remain anonymous until their departure) from The Times! When Lee Karen Stow’s article came out on 16th April I was inundated with bookings and the period of worrying, ‘What have I done – I’ve spent all our money!’ thankfully passed.
The weather in summer 2005 couldn’t have been better. It was beautifully sunny and relatively dry and I think very few guests had unforgiving rainy days. The wildflowers sown in October and April proved spectacular. I had a wonderful run of weeklong bookings through the height of Summer that enabled me to get away on short camping trips, go on bike rides and really enjoy the summer myself.
Early autumn saw us treating the outside of the cabin with boiled linseed oil and chopping all the wild flowers down. Thanks to all those that helped. I managed to collect a lot of seeds – Corncockle, Toadflax, Scabious, Mallow and Yellow Rattle amongst others. Late autumn and I had a holiday. Martha and I visited Ireland and the highlight of the trip was meeting Eamonn Looby (my Irish counterpart) who has built Ecobooley on his farm, providing environmentally responsible self-catering – sounds like a good idea? Have a look at his website www.ecobooley.com. I would love someone to attempt a two centred holiday arriving at Ecocabin with bicycles; travelling by train from Bucknell to Swansea; catching the overnight ferry to Cork and then making their way to Ecobooley. It would take a little planning but is anyone up for the challenge? (John!) As an incentive, I will give the first person to do so a 50% discount on their Ecocabin accommodation - the only condition is that they write an article about their experience for the website!
Winter and the cold weather arrives. I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of winter visitors. Ecocabin is a very different experience in the winter but I do hope it is proving to be a cosy cold weather retreat.
Ecocabin had its first Christmas and New Year guests. I hope they enjoyed the beautiful tree lights from the Art in Heaven Gallery near Hereford.
The wood pellet stove is the heart of Ecocabin and has been very well received by visitors. However, one problem I have faced with the use of technology in the cabin is that it is quite difficult to explain how to use without actually having spent a week living there myself! Up until now the stove has been used simply as a manual ON/OFF appliance but I am becoming more confident as I have had a chance to experiment with the timer programme. It has worried me that, as the weather has become very cold, those who are used to central heating at home may find it a little chilly when they get up in the morning. So, hopefully those of you visiting over the next few winter months will experience the stove switching itself on at 5am so you can enjoy a cosy breakfast!
Special Offers - anyone who stayed at the cabin in 2005 and is thinking of visiting this year can do so at last years’ tariff (minimum of £25 saving per week – Alan, I haven’t forgotten you!). If you are considering booking a fortnight at the cabin the second week has a discount of 20%. I have found that most couples who book tend to have friends or relatives to stay for part of the week, so until now I have not offered a single occupancy discount. However, for those of you who intend to use only one bedroom it is only fair that you receive a discount of 10%. To benefit from any of these special offers just mention them when checking availability.
So what does 2006 hold for Ecocabin? Well, first job is a little bit of maintenance. Keith the lime plasterer is coming the last week in January to attend to a few cracks that have appeared as the building dries out – although we have been very surprised by how few there are.
After a wonderful year of publicity and unexpected awards for Ecocabin I will continue to try to interest magazines in features – let me know your favourite publications! But, do not worry about over popularity – I have no plans for another cabin and I guarantee there will never be an ‘ecocabin park’ or anything similar while I am here! The garden is seeing some growth this year with the planting of many more wildflower bubs, plants and trees. I have always wanted Ecocabin to be an interactive project and if you have any thoughts or if you want to add something to the cabin do put your ideas to me, please.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has stayed at Ecocabin. Give yourselves a big pat on the back because it is you who have made Ecocabin a successful venture. Together we will make green mainstream!
Best wishes for 2006 from Kate!
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