Camping and VV Bagheera +Added to my favoriteItem already present

In Bravone, on Corsica’s east coast, 1 hour from Bastia and 15 minutes from Aleria, Bagheera **** campsite and holiday village is a naturist resort perfectly integrated between forest and sea. The businesses, having been committed to an environmentally responsible approach since 2008 (when they obtained the Clé Verte (or “Green Key” label), were awarded the European Ecolabel by AFNOR Certification in France. Their efforts and their perseverance regarding respect for the environment have thus been rewarded. 

A number of actions are implemented daily with regard to waste management and recovery and to energy resource management (lighting, solar heating etc.). What other every day initiatives can be taken to promote restrained, environmentally responsible tourism?

The Bagheera estate is managed so as to have as little impact on the environment as possible. Moreover, we are integrated into the landscape in such a way that our rental accommodation is not visible from the sea. Even some of these properties have a direct view over the Mediterranean. When we are renovating our rental accommodation, we always try to use natural materials such as whitewash instead of paint and cork as a natural insulator. We don’t throw away old furniture or crockery. Instead, we donate them to charities and organisations set up to help people, and they repair them if necessary so they can be given a second lease of life. In addition, our employees get around our property “cleanly”: on foot, by bike, by electric buggy or with a hand cart and bicycles are available on site for guests to hire. Many already cycle and arrive with their bikes during their stay. Naturists are in fact on board with respecting the environment and realised their impact on nature very early on. However, we ask everyone, holiday makers and staff alike, not to waste water, cut plants or throw their cigarette butts on the ground among other things. Every little helps and small streams make big rivers. Finally, our restaurant makes sure that it controls food waste by adapting portions for example. 

You’re involved in raising awareness about responsible tourism with your customers. Can you tell us more about this?

Upon arrival we inform everyone of our environmental policy give them a welcome booklet providing practical information but also information on what behaviour we expect from them. We also tell them how to sort their waste and provide them with selective waste sorting bags while encouraging them to add to the compost stored on the site. We have put up notices in each accommodation unit to remind or teach our customers about what actions they should be taking to save energy (water, electricity). They also have the option to take part in our carpool service which is organised via a table you can sign up through at reception.

The Village de Vacances Bagheera **** is located in a natural and unspoilt space. The fauna (you’re a member of the LPO (French equivalent of the RSPB)) and flora indigenous to this natural site need a specific type of care and attention. Other than clearing the scrub by hand, what every day actions are taken to preserve this heritage?

Firstly, we protect our beach from mechanical and aggressive cleaning practices and our guests are informed about the importance of the posidonia deposits left on the sand. We never stop having to explain that this is not waste but treasure that helps us conserve a beach.... quite simply. The beach front evolves and protects itself if we let it. Then, we recover each item of green waste by returning it to nature in shredded form, thus protecting the soil from the overly quick evaporation of incredibly precious water. A compost also forms naturally, and nothing is lost. When we have to plant plants, we choose those that do not require much water and that are well suited to our ecosystem. Finally, we have introduced a number of items to help preserve and support the fauna: Insect hotels, nests and hives for solitary bees, the latter to generally encourage pollination and a shelter for hedgehogs (a protected species) who eat slugs, snails and occasionally rodents but who are hunted by foxes, wild boars and dogs. We also keep our customers well informed about protected plant and animal species. The Bagheera estate also takes part in a service exchange with a neighbouring farmer. The farmer can bring his sheep to graze on the farmland beside the holiday village, so they can feed on the grass which grows under the organic almond trees that we grow. Not only do we benefit from having the undergrowth cleared in a highly natural and efficient manner, but the goats also provide fertiliser which they spread perfectly! 

Concerning responsible purchases made for your rental accommodation units, how do you choose your products and suppliers for items such as cosmetics, foods, and maintenance? 

We are lucky to be on the seafront in the heart of an agricultural region with a wide range of producers which allows us to prioritise local suppliers. For our purchasing, generally speaking, we have always favoured local and preferably organic producers and suppliers wherever possible. We sell local essential oils produced through solar distillation and we ourselves also produce organic certified almonds harvested on our property. The vast majority of the food we serve in our restaurant is extra fresh and we believe that the distance from farm to plate should be as short as possible. Furthermore, the products we choose for the maintenance and upkeep of our rental accommodation and campsite are all highly natural: soft soap, white vinegar, bicarbonate, … We have long believed in the properties that nature can offer. The current trend whereby people are returning to healthy, chemical free cleaning products bolsters this belief and we are delighted. The world is beginning to understand the importance of doing all of these little things on a daily basis. 

A little like in the Native American legend that Pierre Rabhi, founder of the Colibri movement (Colibri means hummingbird in French), recounts: one day, the legend goes, there was a huge forest fire. All of the terrified animals watch aghast, powerless as the disaster unfolded. Only the tiny hummingbird takes action, going off to find a few drops of water with its beak to throw onto the fire. The armadillo annoyed by this fluster, says to him: “Hummingbird! Are you mad? You won’t put the fire out with those little drops of water!” And the hummingbird responds: “I know but I’m doing my bit”. 

©bagheera

©bagheera