Any booked hampers or treats will be on the countertop and in the fridge, along with complimentary coffee beans from a local roastery. Kitchen basics — salt, pepper, olive oil, spices, tea, sugar — are also provided.

We offer an 'honesty bar' approach: locally reared sausages, bacon and sometimes burgers and chops are in the freezer in the hallway cupboard. Let us know if you help yourself and we'll send a PayPal link.

• Leave the place as you found it as best you can
• Check backs of doors for any items left behind
• Set the dishwasher if any dirty items remain
• Remove waste to bins on the driveway steps: General waste — large black bin | Recycling — large green bin | Food waste — smaller black caddy
• Lock the patio (leave key in the lock) and front door
• Return the front door key to the key safe

Contains: washer/dryer (user manual in folder), freezer, iron, clothes airer, cordless vacuum cleaner, spare fan and cleaning items. Please return items to the cupboard so our changeover team can find them.

Hot water comes from a tank and is pumped to the bathroom when you enter — showers and sink water warm quickly. It may take slightly longer to reach the kitchen. Tip: pop to the bathroom first to trigger the pump if you're in a hurry.

The fuse box is behind the front door in the hallway. Due to our rural location, occasional power cuts can occur (usually a tree on power lines). If this happens, call Rod: 07956 408829 or Nemia: 07966 507164.

Our utility suppliers are Western Power & Severn Trent Water — both reachable on 0800 6783 105.

Please call us immediately if there is a water leak. Master stop-cocks (H&C) are in the utility cupboard if needed before you can reach us — you will need the bathroom stool to reach them.

• First Aid Kit: Under the bathroom sink vanity unit
• NHS: Call 111 for non-emergency advice
• GP / Nurse: Blakeney Surgery, Millend, GL15 4ED — 01594 510225 (call at 8am for emergency appointments)
• Minor Injuries: Forest of Dean Community Hospital, Steam Mills Rd, Cinderford GL14 3HY
• A&E: Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Rd, GL1 3NN — or Royal Gwent Hospital if further south
• Dentist: BUPA Dental Care — 01594 845718, Lydney GL15 5RF
• Pharmacy: 33 and 41/43 Newerne St, Lydney

Smoke detectors in the main living space, hallway and second bedroom. Heat sensor in the hallway. All sensors reset by pressing the centre.

Exits: Front door (twist knob), patio doors in main living space (key always in lock), main bedroom windows (open wide), second bedroom window (opens wide).

Note: No CO2 sensor is installed as there is no gas at the property.

Towel Radiator: Press and hold the button (bottom right) for a 2-hour timer — a red pulsing light confirms it's active. For permanent use: one press = 45°C (yellow LED); two presses = 60°C (red LED); three presses = off.

Lighting: The mirror has a vanity light — press the small square button to switch on; press and hold to shift between warm and cool light. A small sensor light provides gentle illumination for night visits.

Extractor fan: Press and hold ↑ for 2–3 seconds to raise — it lights up and the fan starts automatically. Press and hold ↓ for 2–3 seconds to lower.

Bins & Recycling: Kitchen bin (larger) and recycling bin (smaller) are in the left-hand cupboard past the sink. Food waste bin hangs on the door under the sink. Accepted: cans, plastic bottles, yogurt pots, plastic trays, glass, foil, paper, cardboard, batteries.

Kids' crockery / picnic ware: In the cupboard above the oven.

Cleaning: Please leave the house tidy. Pop the dishwasher on before you go. For major spillages or breakages, please let us know. Cleaning equipment is in the utility cupboard.

Lighting: The multi-switch panel in the corridor controls overhead kitchen lights, undershelf lights, pendant lights and corner lamps. The panel left of the kitchen / right of the patio door controls overhead spotlights, shelf lights and outside patio lighting. Dimmer switches left of the window seat dim pendant and lamp bulbs. The room-divider lamp activates by touching its small metal button.

Blinds: The window seat blackout blind has a stop position just above the cushion base — remove throw cushions before closing fully, or press the central 'my' button before it reaches any cushions. The projection blind stops automatically.

Music: Turn on the amp and select CD. For Bluetooth: press and hold the BT receiver for 3 secs to turn off, then again for 3 secs to enter pairing mode (LED blinks blue/red). Pair to BluMe HD. Two devices can connect simultaneously.

Home Cinema (TV): Lower the screen, turn on the amp then the projector, and select TV on the amp. The Chromecast menu will appear — use the Nuthatch profile on Netflix & BBC iPlayer, or log into your own Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube etc.

Located on the middle level, accessed via steps. Running on hot alone will just about fill the tub before the tank is depleted. Use the long wooden 'stirrer' hanging from the screen to press in the pop-up plug and stir for even heat. Be mindful not to accidentally unplug with your foot.

Lights on the screen and steps illuminate the area at night — large grey switches to the left.

Logs, firelighters, kindling and gauntlets are provided — in the plastic storage box in the store to the rear of the gravel area outside the window seat.

To light: Make a ~20cm stack of kindling, place a twisted firelighter in the middle, lean logs against the stack, then light. Full guide here.

Sustainably grown charcoal: Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley (~3 min drive). Logs and kindling: convenience store, 6a High St, Blakeney (they also sell s'mores ingredients!). BBQ tools are in a lower kitchen drawer. Wipe down the grill with warm soapy water once cool. Scoop remaining ash into the ash can in the wood cupboard.

Nuthatch is pet-free — we do not accept dogs. You may encounter Buca, our curious cat, who sometimes tries to sneak in through the patio door — please don't encourage him.

Wild Boar have been heard in the forestry land beyond the fence — grunts and snorts are nothing to worry about. Fallow deer often gather nearby and can appear on the road at night — please drive carefully. Free-roaming sheep on Forest roads are normal — a centuries-old practice known as "commoning".

Other creatures spotted around the garden: dragonflies, grey squirrels, great-spotted woodpecker, roe deer, common lizards, slow worms, tawny owl, sparrowhawks, buzzards, blue tits, nuthatches, goldfinches, wagtails, shrews, bats and butterflies.

• Hips Social, Lydney (10 min) — burritos, salads, burgers, sweet treats
• Hips Harbourside (10 min) — toasties, coffee & cake at Lydney harbour
• The Railway Inn Tandoori (10 min) — Newnham, 01594 781580
• The Globe (12 min) — pub grub, large beer garden, Alvington
• The George in Newnham — community café, light lunches, cake & coffee
• Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell — high-end but relaxed; great for dinner or afternoon tea
• Severn & Wye (15 min) — fish restaurant, smokery & deli, Chaxhill
• Bespoke Brewery (10 min) — farm-based tap room, daytime café, evening foodie pop-ups
• The Forest Bakehouse (20 min) — great bread, pastries & coffee
• Leaf Creative (25 min) — café in a design-led garden centre; occasional supper clubs
• The Forest Brewery with 'Stuff That Tastes Good' street food, Lydney Park Estate

See the Explore page on our website for further recommendations.

Head to Mallards Pike, Soudley Ponds or Beechenhurst for Forestry England walks. Other favourites: New Fancy, Speech House Woodland, Woorgreens Nature Reserve, Spruce Ride. Most parking is free.

Within 15–30 minutes: Puzzle Wood, Symonds Yat, Old Tintern Station, Devil's Pulpit / Tintern Abbey views, Offa's Dyke, Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail.

• Puzzlewood — ancient woodland with family activities
• Perrygrove Railway Adventure — train rides and play areas (best for under 10s)
• Clearwell Caves — vast natural cave system mined for thousands of years

See our website for more in-depth recommendations for walks and things to do.