Environmental Policy

Hymany Way Eco Adventures Environmental Policy

We are committed to continuance improvement of our environmental performance and minimal impact on the environment in which we exist.  We use sustainable management practices in order to minimize damage to the environment and wildlife, including employment of the principles of organic production.  These principles and methods result in practices that:

• Coexist with, rather than dominate, natural systems;
• Sustain or build soil fertility;
• Minimise pollution and damage to the environment;
• Minimize the use of non-renewable resources;
• Ensure the ethical treatment of animals;
  • Protect and enhance the farm environment with particular regard to conservation and wildlife;
  • Consider the wider social and ecological impact of agricultural systems;
  • Maintain or develop valuable existing landscape features and habitats for the protection of wildlife with particular regard to endangered species;
  • Operate in accordance with natural systems and cycles throughout all levels from the soil to plants and animals.

Because we believe in the principles of “Leave No Trace” we embrace its ethos in all of the Hymany Way eco adventures and do convey these principles to visitors.  We pledge to be a partner in conducting responsible and sustainable tourism with minimal impact on the physical, cultural and social environment of the area.  All Hymany Way tours and adventures follow a strict eco-code that involves everyone, starting from the office to our clients, the adventure staff on field and the local community.

Environmentally preferable products and services of similar quality and price to conventional counterparts will gain a purchasing preference. When the greenest option is not available, too costly, or impractical, we look at how the products are produced, as well as the environmentally and socially responsible management practices of suppliers and producers.  Favor will be given to local suppliers who offer environmentally preferable products, who work to exceed their environmental performance expectations, and who can show documentation of their supply-chain impacts.  Purchasing locally environmentally preferable products is one element in our continuing, long-range commitment to the environment, i.e. we purchase organic fruit and vegetables from local organic supplier, Beechlawn Organic Farm, and will stock local products for retail from small local food producers.   By adopting this policy, we hope to likewise engage the producers and suppliers of office products and services we use to utilize business practices that also reduce their impact on the environment. 

We support local business and community events, such as the local enterprise group endeavours to raise money, school events, school visits to the farm, as well as hosting baseball tournaments for the local teams. 

In conclusion we will endeavour to promote our policy amongst our employees, customers and suppliers to ensure that all our environmental objectives are achieved and consistent in achieving our common goal of a better environment.

Energy

New low energy bulbs are gradually replacing older outdated ones, and two velux windows have been installed on the first floor and two more are being installed to allow more natural light, thereby reducing energy use.  We have changed our energy supplier to Air Tricity, a front runner in renewable energy.  In the future a wind turbine using blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy will be installed on the farm to provide a sustainable enery system, lowering the consumption of non-fossil fuels and contributing to a cleaner environment.

Water

Our water is good potable drinking water from an artesian well, having been tested and approved is on land protected from pollutants, i.e. chemicals, drainage, animals, etc.  A rainwater harvesting system will be put in place when new gutters are installed at the Hymany Way Centre in 2012.

Waste

We recycle all cardboard, plastic, aluminium and tin cans, using a recycle service that collects all recyclable materials bi-weekly.  Biodegradable material of microbial, plant or animal origin produced on site are composted in accordance with best organic practices and returned to the soil which is essential for optimising nutrient cycles and preventing nutrient loss.  We practice “source reduction” optimising packaging and product design to use less materials, thereby producing less waste. 

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a key element of organic horticulture here on the farm which lends itself to practices such as companion planting and mulching, timing cultivations to minimise disturbance of ground nesting birds, leaving at least one metre of undisturbed field margin for wildlife conservation and the use of organically certified seeds and plant materials.  No synthetic pesticides or soluble fertilisers are used on the property in accordance with the maintenance of ecological diversity within and around cropped land.  We manage habitats such as banks, hedges, streams, areas of poor drainage, and scrub land in accordance with their wildlife value and also provide bird feeders and bird boxes.

 All soaps and cleaning agents used in the Hymany Way Centre are biodegradable and safe for aquatic life.  

Transport

The Hymany Way eco adventures encourage walking tours and the use of cycle paths rather than motor transport.  Otherwise, public transport and the use of a local bus service is encouraged and supported for all eco adventures that bring tourists for one-day visits only.

Conservation

Along the Hymany Way there are three Special Protection Areas (SPAs) the River Suck Callows, the Shannon River Callows, and the Lismany/Kylemore raised bog.  The 2008 first place Galway County Heritage Award went to Galway East Tourism Wayfinding Project and the Laurencetown Enterprise Group for its preservation of forty acres of raised bog where a one hundred metre boardwalk has recently been built, within less than a mile from The Hymany Way Centre.  We are committed to supporting conservation in these areas by initiating events, walks, school tours and projects that create awareness and involve both locals and tourists. We support Irish Peatland Conservation Council through membership as well as providing a donation box at the Centre, appropriately labelled, as a way to channel funds to bog conservation.  Books, videos, arts and crafts are all conservation promoting items that will be available to tourists at the Hymany Way Centre.