Green Tresco

If Tresco had to be represented by any one thing, it would be its extraordinary and beautiful natural environment. For both visitors and islanders alike, Tresco's sea and landscape are the very heart of the island. 

For almost 180 years, the stewardship of the Dorrien Smith family has maintained Tresco's natural beauty and their dedication continues today. Tresco is a member of the Higher Level Stewardship Agreement with Natural England, which is an agro-environmental scheme open to rural landowners. This involves the care and maintenance of Tresco's Sites of Special Scientific Importance (The Great Pool, Castle Downs and the banks from Appletree to Blockhouse.)

For further information about Tresco's land management please click here.

Tresco Farm

Recycling

At two and a half miles long by a mile wide, Tresco is a small island. The thoughtful and sustainable management of Tresco's waste and rubbish is incredibly important in maintaining our natural environment. Extensive waste separation is undertaken and Tresco Island has a full-time employee who is dedicated to the collection, sorting and disposal of waste material. 

Waste bins on Tresco, both in public areas and for individual cottages, are colour coded:

Blue is for all our glass. The glass is put through a crushing machine which breaks it up into small pieces. This is then used as aggregate for a number of building operations, such as road construction and repairs.

Green is for all our food waste. The food waste is currently deposited in specially constructed concrete silos. Here the food waste is allowed to break down before being safely disposed of.  

Red is for all our metal waste. After separating any copper,all our metal waste is crushed into large blocks and shipped off to the mainland for scrap.

Yellow is for plastic and polystyrene waste. These two are separated. The plastic is compressed, packaged and shipped to St Mary's, where it is disposed of. Polystyrene is shipped to the mainland. 

Power Usage and Heat. 

Attempts to minimise fossil fuel power usage are being incorporated into new developments. Our most recent project, The Sea Garden Cottages at the Island Hotel, exemplifies Tresco's committment to the environment. The cottages' water and underfloor heating systems are run by air source heat pumps. These pumps operate like a reverse fridge. Energy is taken from the air and then heated. 

Amazingly, the air can provide 75% of the energy required to heat one of our new cottages. The system now in place also cuts our carbon emissions.

As well as the Sea Garden Cottages, both the indoor and outdoor pools use heat exchangers to reduce energy consumption and solar panels have been incorporated into the Flying Boat Club restaurant.  

Good insulation is an important part of a green approach to heating cottages. All of our new cottages are designed to minimise heat loss through insulation and an insulation upgrade of all our traditional cottages was completed this year. Richard Hobbs, Cottage Services Manager, is delighted with the achievements of his team and remarked that the difference made by the new insulation was " startlingly noticeable". 

Water Supply

The water supply for the island is from local wells and bore holes.  To raise awareness of use, the majority of supplies to the business and residential premises are paid for on a metered basis.

Transport

There are no cars on the island.  Tractors and a small fleet of vans and golf buggies serve the business transport needs.  The Estate is currently trialing its first electric vehicle.  Bicycle and foot are the encouraged means of getting around the island.