Our Green Goals for 2024
At West Country Parks / Riverside Holiday Village we are committed to taking a proactive approach to help preserve the natural world for future generations to enjoy
The following Green Objectives provide an outline of how we will contribute to protecting and enhancing the environment over the next 12 months and beyond.
We have already taken huge strides to reduce our environmental impact, committing to a three-phase plan with zero carbon specialists Energy Oasis, which will see our holiday parks save a combined 58.50 tonnes of carbon per year (the equivalent of planting 2,690 trees every single year). We have also taken the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge for Nature, and this year (2023) Riverside Holiday Village was awarded a ‘Silver’ Green Tourism Award.
However, we recognise there is still lots to do and we look forward to working with our colleagues, partners and visitors as we continue our ‘green’ journey.
1. Community
1.1 Community Environmental Projects
Providing a clean and attractive destination for our visitors to enjoy not only benefits our business, it also positively impacts our local community and the wider environment.
We will implement possible sponsorship opportunities for West Country Parks / Riverside Holiday village to support local litter picking / environmental groups.
2. Waste
2.1 Single-Use Plastic
Plastic bags cause the death of an estimated 100,000 marine animals globally and studies suggest that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. Single-use plastic (like straws, coffee cups, packaging and bags) is a huge contributor of marine plastic pollution. These are all impossible or very difficult to recycle and mostly end up at sea or in landfill.
At Riverside Holiday Village, we have committed to measurably reduce our organisations plastic footprint.
With the support of Plastic Free Communities, we will;
- Avoid plastic bottles
- Avoid plastic containers
- Ditch plastic bags
- Ditch plastic cups and cutlery
- Refill soap dispensers
We will also become a recognised ‘Refill Station’, providing refills of free drinking water for visitors.
2.2 Organic Waste
As part of our ongoing waste management plan, we will investigate the feasibility of a) composting organic waste on site, or b) sending organic waste to a licensed waste contractor for commercial composting.
We will also reduce our organic waste by introducing wildlife areas where the grass is cut less frequently (see 3.1 Conservation of Wildlife and Biodiversity).
3. Biodiversity
3.1 Conservation of Wildlife and Biodiversity
Locally, nationally and globally, biodiversity is under threat from the impact of climate change and human actions. Riverside Holiday Village have committed to looking after our green areas in a sympathetic and appropriate way in order to support the increase in biodiversity.
We will;
- Implement a meadow management regime of the grassland area at the rear of the park
- Reestablish the hedgerow at the rear of the park
3.2 Habitats and Refuges for Wildlife
The extensive areas of ‘natural’ habitats at several of our holiday parks provide the ideal opportunity for us to further support native biodiversity by creating wildlife refuges and habitats for native species.
West Country Parks have committed to creating the following habitats and refuges;
- Pollinator patches, where bees, butterflies and other insects can get food
- Additional wildlife ponds
- Bird and bat boxes
- Otter Holts
4. Planet
4.1 Renewable Energy and Carbon Management
We have already taken huge strides to ensure that our business uses renewable energy across our holiday parks. Our new multi-park solar panel installation has already improved the sustainability of our business, as well as reducing our overall environmental impact.
However, we aim to take our on-site renewable generation even further. With the support of Energy Oasis, we will conduct a feasibility study into the suitability of utilising hydro and wind energy.
We look forward to updating you of our progress throughout the year. Find out more about our Green Policy.
