Theme

Working for nature, not against it:

In the Garden:
We have not used insecticides in the garden for the last 5 years; traps and ladybirds help us out but most of the work is done by the 23 species of birds that have found refuge at Valloires. We prefer to use organic fertilisers (e.g.: manure, leaf compost) rather than mineral fertilizers, that are known to pollute the water table. By feeding off organic material, worms aerate the soil.
We get rid of "weeds" by hand.
All our hedges are trimmed by hand.
We have one of the largest collections of vegetation in France to maintain optimal biodiversity.
We recycle all garden waste by composting.
Plant watering is kept to a minimum and is done at night most of the time.
We prefer to use European wood (oak, acacia, and pine) rather than the tropical variety.
The aim of school visits is to make pupils aware of the plant world; to respect nature you need to understand nature.

Reception area :
The restaurant offers a menu which is 80% vegetarian (fruit and vegetable production is less harmful to the environment than animal production).
Our shop sells mainly local products (to avoid long journeys by lorry).
Plastic material (such as bags or wrappers) are reduced to a minimum.
We are developing plant pots made of biodegradable wood instead of plastic.
The nursery offers a wide choice of plants which are not indigenous to the region but are fully adapted to it; this sets us apart from the “industrial” garden centres.
We prefer to communicate by Internet to reduce paper usage. Our waste is sorted.
We use gas central heating.
The business of running the Jardins de Valloires enables a staff of 43 to live and work in a rural area.

To return to the detailed description of the Jardins de Valloires