i – Trelowarren, Helston, Cornwall
The Vyvyan family has been resident at the Trelowarren Estate for over six centuries. Keen to re-establish the estate as a self-sufficient community with a healthy work force, the present owner, Sir Ferrers, has tirelessly brought it back to life with ecologically sound timeshare properties. His feudal approach to the rejuvenation of the estate is all about longevity and the future of the land beyond his lifetime using techniques of the past to achieve this.

ii – The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell, London
Fashionable Clerkenwell is home to a fashionable hotel, the Zetter. Leaving the latest trends aside, the Zetter has been doing well at greening its business. The hotel is in a converted warehouse and uses FSC-certified timber from sustainable sources. It is independent of mains water as the supply comes from deep below the ground via the hotel’s own pump and borehole. There is individually controlled air-conditioning in all 59 rooms of the hotel and the public areas but what makes this special is that it is retrieved from the borehole too.

iii – Old Chapel Forge, Chichester, West Sussex
If sleeping in a converted chapel isn’t enlightening enough, then staying in one of the UK’s greenest B&Bs is bound to get you thinking. Old Chapel Forge has acquired countless awards and green celebrity status for its dedication to reducing the impact of every aspect of its business. There’s solar panelling to heat the water along with measures like grey water recycling and providing food produced by local farmers. All waste wood ends up in the wood burner and junk mail becomes fire lighters.

iv – Moss Grove Organic Hotel, Grasmere, Cumbria
An opportunity for renovation and a passion for organics led to the rebirth of this green hotel in the heart of the Lake District. The owners of Moss Grove have taken care to restore the hotel in a sustainable way and their uncompromising level of quality and exceptional taste make this a hotel to remember. The stunning beds, almost sculptures in themselves, are made from reclaimed timbers or come from sustainable sources. Just about every feature is thought through with both the customer and the environment in mind.

v – The Straw Bale Cabin, Howden, East Yorkshire
The first little pig from the Three Little Pigs story gave straw a bad name for home building. If only he knew about its super insulating properties that make it one of the best and cheapest materials around. All it needs is some lime rendering and eco-plasterboard to keep the big bad wolf out. While there are few wolves stalking the farmyards of East Yorkshire, the straw bale cabin was built to withstand the elements and offer guests a stay a little out of the ordinary. Even during the chilly nights, the cabin needs no heating as its temperature stays about 10 degrees above the outside temperature.