Uroczysko Siedmiu Stawów Luxury Hotel & SPA by L’Occitane has been designed as a luxurious and at the same time ecological place of rest and regeneration of power for demanding Guests.
The Hotel together with its entire surroundings is located on the area covered by nature protection within the Union programme ‘Natura 2000’. The objective of this programme is preservation of specific types of natural habitats and species which are considered as valuable and endangered on European scale.
FLORA AND FAUNA
On the area around Uroczysko Siedmiu Stawów Luxury Hotel & SPA by L’Occitane, the elm-ash forests and the alder-ash forests in the water valleys and around ponds, with monument-sized trees, have been considered as particularly valuable in the flora. It is distinguished by the butterfly fauna with colias myrmidone. This area is important for protection of two species of bats and among other mammals, it is also a place of numerous presence of loir. The main ornithological values of the area is an abundant team of forest birds as well as of a couple of water birds considered as rare and endangered.
ECOLOGICAL INVESTMENTS
Therefore, upon proceeding to renovation and adaptation of the castle to the new function, it was the priority to reduce the impact of the effects of this project on the environment as much as possible. To achieve it, three investments having a positive impact on natural environment were implemented: a heat pump, a biological sewage treatment plant and a grey water system.
Heat pump
Heat pump is a solution that uses geothermal properties of the soil surrounding Uroczysko to heat the hotel interiors and its water. This solution has been selected because heat pumps gain up to 80% of the heat energy from the environment, while achieving 500% efficiency (5kWh of heat energy from 1kWh of electricity). Usable water in the system may be heated up to 65°C, which ensures full comfort of use. Most importantly, however, thanks to its operation without the emission of harmful substances, the solution based on a heat pump ensures a significantly reduction of the environment burden, including zero CO2 emissions in the hotel complex.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
In order to minimise the environmental impact, it has been decided that a biological wastewater treatment plant would be constructed at Uroczysko. The plant uses a technology that results in biological decomposition of organic pollutants which use microorganisms forming deposited biomass. This is a method of submerged biological wastewater beds that are blown out with compressed air and mounted on special grills in concrete tanks. This solution virtually eliminates the risk of washing out biologically active sludge from the chamber, and ensures control of the processes inside the tanks. Furthermore, it is characterised by a small amount of secondary sludge and low demand for area, with the concurrent very high efficiency of removal of organic impurities and complete nitrification
GREYWATER SYSTEM
Statistically, water consumption in a 4-star hotel in Europe ranges from 120 to 780 litres per person per day. Meanwhile, only 0.3% of water resources on earth are available to us in the form of rivers and lakes. Currently, 450 million people suffer from water scarcity; it is estimated that in 2025, this problem will involve 37% of people on earth.
Comparing these facts, you can see how important it is to use water in an economical manner. Respecting available water resources, a greywater system has been installed at Uroczysko. It stores rainwater in an underground tank; after filtering, the water supplies a separate system for flushing toilets. Water used for flushing toilets (an average of about 7 litres every time we visit the toilet) is about 50% of the daily demand for water, meaning that flushing toilets is one of the most water-consuming operations. The water stored in tanks is also used as service water. Thanks to the greywater system, we avoid using potable water resources on operations that do not require these resources.
Electric car charger
At Uroczysko Siedmiu Stawów we support sustainable travel. We provide our guests with a fast, two-station electric car charger, thanks to which charging the vehicle becomes convenient and hassle-free - even during a short stay. This is another step towards ecology, which allows us to take care of the beauty of the surrounding nature and inspire a more conscious lifestyle.
HERBARIUM
The benefits of fresh herbs from your garden can never be over-emphasised; they comprise a collection of tastes and aromas, and in the flowering season attract dozens of colourful butterflies. Herbs are a great addition to all kinds of dishes, ensuring their unique taste and aromas. We gladly use them at Uroczysko: the freshest organically grown herbs from the Herbarium go directly onto guests’ plates.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
The taste of home-grown vegetables remains in our memory for a long time, and the satisfaction of harvesting the crops compensates for the effort put into their care. Since 2017, 65 hectares of arable land around Uroczysko have gained the ecological status: this means that the vegetables and fruits on our guests’ plates are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilisers. They feature high quality and are full of vitamins; green beans, courgettes, kale, beetroot, cucumbers and pumpkins are among the ingredients of the exquisite dishes served at the hotel’s restaurant. Visit us soon and enjoy the food!
Second tree life program
The project, promoted by WWF, was developed in order to save Białowieża Primeval Forest, but every piece of forest in Poland, also the one next to Uroczysko, covered by Natura 2000 actions is affected by it. In the project, the main idea is the smallest interference of human in the nature possible, so that the forest may regulate its accumulation of carbon and nitrogen as well as store a proper quantity of water itself. Collapsed rotten trees are also a natural masking area e.g. for spotted salamander. Standing dead trees are also a favourite place for nests of owls, which 3 species of are found on our area.
Bees garden at flower meadow
An insect hotel for the insects which are often considered as noxious is located on the area of our Hotel. At Uroczysko, we perceive them as useful creatures - a part of our ecosystem. They feed us by fertilising plants, allowing for development of fruit and also defending us against other pests.
Honey from locals apiary
At present, people more and more talk about bees and the need to protect them as well as do something in this field. At Uroczysko Siedmiu Stawów, we have created a hotel for the bees, thanks to which we contribute to protection of this species while our Guests may every day taste honey from local bee yards located on Natura 2000 area.
Ponds
In the nearby Park Uroczyska Siedmiu Stawów - in our area there are 7 ponds, which are currently in the process of restoring their irrigation. Some of them are stocked naturally and remain without further human interference, in order to enrich the ecosystem with some species of fish.
Orchard with old types of apple trees
In Uroczysko we have planted over 70 trees of different species of fruit trees, which in the future are to be a place protecting old varieties of trees in care of the surrounding Natura 2000 Area.
Fruit from the orchard is used in the Kitchen. This is our proposal to get to know the tradition and taste of Polish fruit growing, following the example of a manor garden where you will be able to literally taste history.
