RIBBONWOOD RETREAT B & B ACCOMMODATION
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Sustainable Tourism


At Ribbonwood Retreat, nestled in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are more than just an accommodation business.

We are steadfast allies of UNESCO's mission to preserve our vibrant heritage for generations to come, aligning ourselves with sustainable tourism practices and honoring the Tiaki Promise. Our collective efforts aim to enhance both your stay and the overall well-being of Glacier Country, ultimately contributing positively to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Our commitment to sustainability is evident through our broad spectrum of green initiatives.
We take conscious steps to minimise our carbon footprint, including planting five hundred trees on our property and engaging in active carbon reduction and offsetting. In addition, we participate in environmental community projects as volunteers and reduce our rubbish and reuse when possible.

​We believe in harnessing the potential of our land to its fullest extent.
​This includes creating our own soap in-house, growing food, and sourcing resources locally as much as possible, not just for us, but for our guests as well. Our efforts have also resulted in a thriving habitat for birds, making our retreat a haven for nature lovers.

Join us at Ribbonwood Retreat, where we pave the way for a sustainable future while offering an unforgettable experience amidst the stunning beauty of Franz Josef Glacier on New Zealand's West Coast. For every booking, we will give $1 towards the Ōkārito Planting Project. 

Ribbonwood Retreats Environmental Sustainability Initiatives


Julie & Jo are Tweety Trappers

​Our own trapping initiative Tweety Trappers, targets rats and stoats. The spread of rats throughout New Zealand has had a devastating impact on our native species. This is because, many birds are ground dwellers, often living near wetlands or in damp lowland bush, introduced predators such as rats and stoats threaten these animals living, roosting or nesting near the ground. They consume birds’ eggs and nestlings, native insects and lizards, and without human intervention, would lead to the decline and eventual extinction of our native wildlife. We record all our findings on Trap NZ a collective data base of all projects like this. 

Putting new bait in the trap
Tweety Trapper
Firewood stack at Ribbonwood
Utilising firewood from trees we grow on the property

Energy


​We choose to work with an electricity supplier who uses hydro electric power stations, the nearest being only 15 km away. An energy efficient heat pump is in the cottage. Heating in the house is from a modern solid fuel stove utilising firewood from trees grown on the property. 

Under the cottage there is a high level of insulation with a vapour barrier over the ground. In the house, fibreglass insulation is between the wooden joists, combined with another layer over the top to eliminate thermal bridging, or heat escaping. We use energy-saving light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances.

Volunteer Work

​We enjoy working with Glacier Valley Eco Tours who run a community trapping project at Lake Matheson named Project Earlybird. This was was set up to combat predators and to protect our birds and invertebrates. The project takes care of the recently released Rowi kiwi, as we work towards a Predator Free 2050 goal of sustainability in New Zealand.

We make ourselves available for community clean ups, Gorsebusters and were involved in the Fox Rubbish clean up.

Putting new bait in the trap
Checking the traps
Jo making soap
Jo making our calendula soap

Reduce and Recycle


​We separate waste as much as possible by sorting paper, glass, aluminium and tin cans to be recycled at our local waste station.

Green material is also separated and composted for use in our garden. We make our own soap and provide guest shampoo and conditioner in convenient pump bottles that reduce the waste of small plastic bottles and packaging.

​We audit our suppliers making sure they align with our sustainability ethos and we prioritise products that are handcrafted in New Zealand and organic.

Carbon Reduction

​We measured our carbon footprint over the last 3 years through the Toitu Emissions Calculator and offset this with a donation to Trees That Count.
​
Ribbonwood Retreat selected Trees that Count because they help make an impact on climate change and improve our environment. Our donation was focused on planting long term native forests on degraded farmland in North Canterbury. We valued our carbon at $50 a ton and purchased credits by donating the equivalent amount.
Toitu calculator measuring our carbon emissions at Ribbonwood
Toitu Calculator for Ribbonwood
Kea named Avis ribbonwood Retreat sponsor
Avis

Conservation in Action

 
​Ribbonwood Retreat are sponsors for Avis, the Kea you see in this photo. Citizen science is very powerful and we feel we have had a small stake in the success of the Kea programme.  
We invite you to read our blog about this experience.

Here is a link to Avis's profile.

Ribbonwood Retreat have purchased credits with Trees that Count to offset their carbon. We
are also avid back country hikers, and donate to the Backcountry Trust. 

Carbon Reduction - Biochar

We use hazelnut pruning's to make biochar and dig it into our land. Biochar is an eco-friendly type of charcoal that you dig into the soil to improve its health. 

​
​
Jo making biochar in a bathtub
Jo in action making biochar
Ribbonwood scaffolding during building
The roof goes on - building Ribbonwood

Sustainable Design


​Ribbonwood Retreat was designed with sustainability in mind.

W
e used timber framing to conserve energy, with insulation in the walls and the ceiling and double-glazed windows to maximise passive solar heat. 

We used natural materials where-ever possible.




Hazelnut Orchard

As a child Jonathan's family had mixed nuts as a Christmas treat and his favourite was hazelnuts because he found the larger nuts were difficult to crack!

Upon purchasing our land at Franz Josef 20 tears ago, he was pleased to learn that hazelnuts suited the poor silty soils here.

​Over the years we have planted nearly 100 trees of five different varieties to enhance pollination.

​
Ribbonwood Retreat hazelnut orchard
Ribbonwood Retreat hazelnut orchard
Julie in the bean patch at Ribbonwood Retreat
Julie trying to keep on top of the beans

Our Edible Garden


​We have a large garden and tunnel house, producing vegetables and berries for our guests. In the large, walk-in berry house we grow strawberries, raspberries and blue berries, especially for our guests breakfasts. Raised and covered garden beds provide a variety of seasonal produce including spinach and silver beet. 
​
All green waste is composted with leaves and grass clippings  and layered onto the beds to enhance soil fertility and drainage.


We love living in Glacier Country, surrounded with fabulous views of the snow capped mountains, glaciers and rainforest. We get much joy out of watching the trees and shrubs we plant mature, provide food and a habitat for so many birds. Last spring we were rewarded with fledgling bellbirds and fantails, whose parent birds nested in our trees.

​We always look forward to sharing this eco-haven with our guests and can't wait to see you soon.
Planting over 300 trees we have attracted profuse birdlife into our garden
Time to reflect on the future as we climb our local mountain,Alex Knob
Our tunnel house at Ribbonwood Retreat
Hazelnut orchard at Ribbonwood Retreat
View of the garden and cottage Ribbonwood Retreat
Tui on a branch Ribbonwood Retreat
Picture
The ancient Ribbonwood that inspired our name and plantings
Our Location
​Corner Greens Road and State Highway 6
Franz Josef Glacier
+64 3 7520072
​

stay@ribbonwood.net.nz

Your Hosts
Sustainability
Tiaki
The Waiho Suite
​
The Cottage
Garden to Plate
Adventure
Blog
​Contact
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Committed to Sustainable Tourism
Trees that Count Native Tree Supporter
Ribbonwood-Retreat-TIA - Member
Ribbonwood Retreat supports Tiaki Promise
Picture
Picture
Bed and Breakfast Association Ribbonwood Retreat
We are proudly a quality assessed Bed and Breakfast
Website design by Ribbonwood Retreat 2019​
  • Home
  • Your Hosts
    • About
    • Sustainability
    • Tiaki
  • Our Suites
    • Overview
    • The Waiho Suite
    • The Cottage
  • Breakfast
    • Garden To Your Plate
  • Activities
    • Our Top Picks
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Tours
    • Birds >
      • Bird List
  • Blog
  • Book
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy