The truth is, going on holiday is rarely environmentally sound. Just by flying out of the country your personal contribution to global warming goes way up. A return trip across the Atlantic is roughly equivalent to a year’s motoring. Stay in the UK and you are already picking up the greenie points. But travelling responsibly is not simply a case of reducing pollution. Minimising environmental damage, supporting local economies and being sensitive to cultural differences is as relevant to a trip through the English countryside as a visit to a Costa Rican rainforest.
These concepts needn’t be complex; it’s simple to start travelling responsibly within the U.K. With rural communities being depleted by urban migration, spending your money at locally owned businesses strengthens their economy and provides people with a reason to stay rather than leave. So shop locally for self-catering holidays, don’t stock up at the supermarket and haul it all with you. In the same way that many wildlife parks in Africa need the support of tourists to survive, English nature reserves also depend on tourist expenditure. Traffic jams in the city are bad enough but gridlock in the countryside somehow seems even worse. Reduce pollution and congestion, take local transport once you get there, ride a bike or walk. English rural communities have strong cultural identities, different from yet no less valid than modern urban attitudes. Be respectful of these cultures. Talk to people in the pub. Buy them a beer rather than sniggering at their accents. You might be given local knowledge that can really improve your stay.
Travelling responsibly in England doesn’t just mean changing your attitude, there is a growing array of responsible travel offerings to tap into. During the Foot and Mouth Crisis it came as a surprise for many to learn that this country had a vibrant rural tourism industry; rural tourism in England is estimated to be worth £14 billion per annum. With vast tracts of the countryside in virtual or actual quarantine the estimated damage to the domestic holiday market exceeded the economic impact to agriculture. The growth of responsible tourism practices in the UK has partly come about as a reaction to Foot and Mouth. Small tourism businesses have realised the advantage of supporting each other. They have also realised the obvious; that people come to see the countryside and it is in their economic interest to preserve that countryside.
As a result, whether it’s for a day out, a weekend break or an annual family fortnight, there are now many hotels, restaurants, activities and attractions across England with well-developed responsible tourism policies and practices. At one end of the scale you can relax responsibly at a rural boutique hotel that serves gourmet organic meals made from local produce. Or if you want more tangible proof that you are a responsible traveller you can get dirt under your fingernails on a working conservation holiday.
Several regions of England have developed integrated responsible tourism policies. They encourage local businesses to operate more responsibly, promote public transport geared towards tourist routes, implement recycling schemes and support conservation programs. Cumbria Tourist Board and the Lake District National Park Authority are working on a scheme called “Car Free, Care Free’ to reduce traffic congestion in the Lake District. By co-operating with local transport companies they have provided bus services connecting boat trips on the lakes with towns and beauty spots. One of their partners, “Mountian Goat” also runs half and full day tours in mini-buses equipped with cycle racks designed to get people out of cars and big coaches and onto the network of bike trails.
Other local businesses have developed their own schemes as a result of the increased awareness of responsible tourism in the area. Derwentwater Hotel adds a voluntary £1.00 levy to guest bills which goes towards maintaining an important local pathway. The hotel has also introduced new habitats to its sixteen acres of grounds in order to attract wildlife and plants. The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership operates a similar eco-tax where visitors are asked to contribute between £1 – £10 towards local conservation projects. So far they have raised half a million pounds in donations through170 accredited businesses. As well as the donation scheme the Partnership publishes a holiday guide with a list of to shops, accommodation and activities in the area that comply with responsible tourism criteria.
In Lancashire companies have been given advice on how to operate more responsibly and grants to help achieve it. In return they are awarded a “Green Lantern” standard and promoted to visitors as responsible tourism business. South East Cornwall has a similar scheme where businesses recognised as being responsible receive a “Green Acorn” award. The logo is displayed on the Tourism Authority’s literature and web site so visitors can easily identify them. South Hams in Devon runs a green business club where small businesses club together to share responsible tourism information and share bulk buying discounts for green products such as detergent. A recent survey carried out by Visit, a European green tourism accreditation organisation, revealed that companies in the South Hams Green Tourism Business scheme use less energy and water per guest night than any of the other European schemes. Their businesses are rated gold, silver or bronze according to their level of responsible practice.
One of their gold award winners is Beeson Farm Holiday Cottages; a collection of 5 self-catering units in Victorian barns refurbished using traditional techniques and building materials. Beeson employ a recycling policy, use energy efficient appliances and have established a nature reserve. They also provide visitors with information packs about local walks, public transport and the wildlife that can be found in the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As the accommodation is self-catering, the farm sells it’s own organic fruit and vegetables and other local produce.
If self-catering isn’t for you then Strattons Hotel in Swaffham, Norfolk may be a more attractive option. This family owned converted Queen Ann Villa has won several awards for the quality of its service and its dedication to pursing responsible travel practices. They run a comprehensive recycling scheme and their menu includes locally produced seasonal organic food. All eggs come from their own free-range chickens that are fed on the organic waste from the kitchen. The hens then do their bit by producing manure that fertilises the trees in the orchard. Strattons also tries to educate their guests about responsible practices by explaining why they employ their policies and how effective they are. They found that putting miniature cosmetics bottles in the bathroom was not environmentally sound as most were thrown out half full. Now they use dispensers with notes to guests explaining that the change is not a drop in standards but a reduction in landfill.
Towing a caravan may not mean economical motoring, but the Caravan Club claims it is responsible tourism once you arrive. They conducted research that showed families on caravan holidays spend on average £25 per family per day with local businesses, that amounts to over £82 million spent in England’s rural economies. The Club has also employed ecologists to carry out biodiversity audits of caravan parks to identify what animals, birds and plants are present and how these and other local species can be encouraged.
If relaxation is not in your travel plans then try a working holiday. The British Trust for conservation Volunteers runs holidays across the country on projects like dry stone walling, pathway maintenance and habitat management of conservation areas. As the name suggests, World-Wide Opportunities on Organic farms, offers working holidays where in return for your labour on organic farms, small holdings or gardens you get free organic meals, accommodation and the chance to learn how organic food is produced.
Whatever your requirements for a holiday in England, with the simple things you can do yourself and the growing range of tailored breaks available, there is little excuse not to travel responsibly.
