Tussock & Beech Ecotours, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Our Purpose:

We aim to give:

a memorable holiday experience
the satisfaction that comes from visiting new places
the enjoyment of making new friends
learning about the natural and cultural environments of our district
encouragement in the growth of a personal conservation ethic

Our Values:

Safety - high professional standards
Service - conscientious attention to detail
Sustainability - minimal environmental impact
Spirit - our people are passionate and enthusiastic.

Our Commitment to Conservation & the Environment

keeping group size small
using fuel efficient vehicles
minimising use of vehicles
recycling, re-using, composting
creating new wildlife habitat
growing a conservation ethic
creating a sympathetic built environment
supporting community efforts to encourage appreciation of the natural environment
enjoying involvement locally

1. Lessening impact with small groups

Large numbers of people diminish the experience in a natural environment. Our approach is to keep group size small thus diminishing any negative effect on the environment and heightening our guest’s "wilderness experience",

2. Maximising energy efficiency and minimizing consumption

The two main aspects of our business – accommodation and transport – consume a lot of energy. We endeavour to minimize the energy used in both areas.

a) Transport

Green Globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Energy consumption At or above Best Practice.
Our 4WD coach is a clean-burning and fuel-efficient diesel vehicle. It is well maintained and driven using fuel-saving techniques. Driving in 4WD mode is kept to a minimum.
Our second vehicle is a modern, fuel-efficient petrol-driven vehicle. It is used when group sizes are small (2 or 3 guests).
Fuel usage and efficiency is monitored for both vehicles.
For our local travel we cycle or walk. Where we have activities in our local area we encourage our guests to do the same.
We buy in bulk and reduce the number of trips to Ashburton to no more than one per week.
The percentage of time spent in a vehicle on day trips ranges from 5 – 35%, (average 18%).

b) Accommodation

Green Globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Energy Consumption At or above Baseline* (*No recognition is given in the GG21 assessment process for living in a location with a cold winter. 2006 was the coldest for many years with the biggest snow fall and coldest temperatures for 35 years).
Green Globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Potable Water Consumption At or above Best Practice.
Our Lodge is an energy-efficient and well insulated building. It is designed to maximize energy capture during the winter, keep cool in the summer.
Heat loss in the Cottage is minimized by insulation in the ceiling, walls and under the floor and also the small building footprint and room size.
An efficient, dual-purpose clean-burning woodburner in the Lodge is fueled by wood, a renewable energy source. The wood is either sourced from our land or supplied locally by contactors clearing old-aged or wind-damaged exotic trees. The wood is dried for at least a year before burning to ensure it burns cleanly and efficiently. During the snowstorm of 2006 we were able to survive two weeks of sub-zero temperatures without mains power. The woodburner stove met the heating and food preparation demands for all of this time.
Guests are asked to keep electric heater usage in the Cottage to a minimum and also to turn heaters off when a room is not in use.
Energy efficient light bulbs are used wherever possible and replace incandescent bulbs as they expire.
Cold water washing is used where possible; guests are informed that their linen and towels will not be replaced each day (and the reason for this is explained and appreciated).
Our water system has been upgraded and is more energy efficient because: it is now serviced by one pump instead of two; the new well is at a higher elevation which means that gravity assists in water flow to the pump; the pipe between well and pump is of a wider diameter which ensures that the water flows more efficiently with less energy loss through friction.
A new oxidizing and neutralizing filter has been installed and is more energy efficient in its design and water treatment processes than the previous model.

3. Managing our waste sustainably

Green Globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Solid Waste Production At or above best practice.
Green Globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Cleaning chemicals used At or above Best Practice.
Sewage is treated in a septic tank which serves both buildings. It is cleaned out on a three-yearly cycle as determined by the waste removal company.
Grey water is diverted to a swale supporting native wetland plants.
Food waste is composted in a three-bin compost system. Compost is used in the vegetable garden and the herbaceous garden area.
Very little watering is required because of our climate and the mulching system we use. Where watering is needed in the vegetable garden during a dry summer it is applied by hand from watering cans.
Glass, metal and aluminium cans, paper, cardboard and plastics are all sorted and stored in the recycling shed. When we have a vehicle or trailer full it is taken to the Wastebusters Recycling depot in Ashburton along with non-recyclable waste. Five or six trips are required in a year.
We double side print and reduce to A5 x 2 formats where possible. We re-use paper which has been printed on only one side and wherever possible use the draft mode to reduce ink usage.
Brochures have been added to the website to reduce usage of paper brochures.
Most booking is done on-line which also reduces paper usage.

4. Creating new wildlife habitat

Green Globe Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Resource Conservation At or above Best Practice.
Over the past 10 years we have planted thousands of native plants, all of locally sourced seed stock to ensure genetic purity. This has created small examples of local wetland, scrubland, and tussock and bush communities. It has also provided protection to the few surviving specimens of the original vegetation that have survived to the present day, such as the 3 to 4 hundred year old kahikatea.
Native bird habitat enhancement. An important aspect of the plantings has been to select species that are “bird-friendly” i.e. providing nesting habitat and food sources. Regular observation and periodic monitoring indicate an increase in variety of species and number of birds that is very encouraging for us and supports the selection of species that have been planted. Native birds that have been observed in the grounds include piwakawaka/fantail, miromiro/greywarbler, titipounamu/rifleman, keruru/bush pigeon, karearea/NZ Falcon, kahu/Australian harrier hawk, tahou/silvereye, korimako/bellbird. Many birds (including korimako/bellbird) are now observed nesting in the native plantings.
We are now entering a successional planting stage where canopy species are being introduced under the cover provided by the first-planted pioneer species such as kanuka.

5. Growing a conservation ethic

· There are three elements to conservation education: learning about conservation; experiencing the environment and conservation; doing something about conservation. Our ecotours include all three elements.

· Our guide is knowledgeable about native fauna and flora, the landscape, geology, conservation and cultural history.

· Guests are encouraged to learn some important field skills: species identification; minimal impact on the environment; discreet bird observation techniques; removal of weed species.

· Guests are also encouraged to be active in conservation when they return home and encouraged to be effective advocates for the environment.

6. Creating a sympathetic built environment

Ross Cottage, the main accommodation for guests, has been restored from its previously derelict state. It is a Category 2 classified historic building (NZ Historic Places Registration Number 5121).
Mountain Beech Lodge has been sympathetically designed to be compatible with Ross Cottage and positioned to blend in with the environment.
Natural and local materials have been used wherever possible in landscaping: rhyolite & greywacke river gravel is used in the drive ways; pathway and driveways borders are lined with flat rhyolite boulders; compost bins and raised vegetable beds are macrocarpa wood;

7. Supporting community efforts to encourage appreciation of the natural environment

· Warren is an active committee member and deputy chairperson of the Ashburton branch of Forest & Bird. He participates in wilding weeding days at Lake Heron, annual bird surveys in the Ashburton Lakes and is active in the advocacy work that the branch carries out, particularly as it relates to the High Country.

· Green globe 21 Benchmarked Assessment (2007) for Social commitment At or above Best Practice.

· Warren is a capable nature photographer, particularly in nature photography. And is often asked to speak to groups on the natural history of the alps and high country. He is also asked to judge photographic competitions.

· Tussock & Beech makes a significant contribution to the work of the Mt Somers Walkways Society. Warren has been secretary for over 10 years and participates in the Society’s activities which over the past few years have included track work, hut construction voluntary guiding.

· Tussock & Beech gives financial support to the Mt Somers Walkways Society, and donates to the Maurice White Trust (Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula).

· Tussock & Beech are also members of: Ornithological Society of New Zealand; New Zealand Historic Places Trust; New Zealand Plant Conservation Network; Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi; Canterbury Botanical Society.

8. Enjoying involvement locally

Marita and Warren are actively involved in the local community.
Marita is a member of the Mayfield Presbyterian Church Parish Council.
Warren is Chairman of the Staveley Historical & Geological Centre Management Committee, having set up its historical display. He is also a member of the Staveley Hall Committee.
Both of them are members of the Mt Somers & High Country Promotions Association - Warren is Immediate Past Chairman.