Your organisation's purpose:
English Heritage is a charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England. Some are internationally famous, some are local treasures, and all are there for everyone.
There are over four hundred heritage sites across the country just waiting to be explored.
We protect an internationally-important collection of historic sites and artefacts which span six millennia, from the ancient past to the present day and include palaces, houses, hill figures, castles, abbeys, industrial sites, Roman forts and even deserted medieval villages.
What is your impact initiative:
English Heritage launched its Climate Action Plan in 2022, with a focus on setting out how it intends to become a truly environmentally sustainable organisation.
The Climate Action Plan is focused on core delivery from 2022-2025 and was developed with staff and volunteer input from every department. It lays out a holistic management approach, not just a net zero strategy, with the aim to create meaningful and sustainable change whilst embedding climate informed decision making.
At a site-based level, the team at Walmer Castle & Gardens have focussed on implementing a variety of different approaches to improve sustainability and make an impact.
The impact your initiative has had:
Our initiatives have had impacts across all aspects of day-to-day life at Walmer Castle & Gardens. Some examples are included below:
General:
- Improved buy in and engagement from all management, staff and volunteers at Walmer, becoming more sustainable has become a part of who we are and what we do. Many have been inspired to make improvements within their personal lives.
- Our holiday accommodation & buildings across the estate are powered by LED lighting other than where historic light fittings within the castle show rooms don’t allow this upgrade.
- Chemicals used across site swapped to environmentally friendly, plant based and cruelty free options.
- 3 way recycle bins installed across sire (General Waste, Glass and Recycling) as well as food waste compost bins within our break areas, cottages and kitchens.
- The only single use plastic in our food & beverage is cling film.
- Multiple recycling initiatives available on site for all volunteers and staff, crisp packets, batteries, medicine pill packets, stamps, stationary, toner ink, ink cartridges.
- Reduction of electric, gas and water usage by tracking usage and improving awareness across all teams to tighter measures to continue to reduce.
- Increased community involvement with locals, community groups etc with sustainable initiatives. Increased networking and knowledge sharing.
- All linen in holiday cottages swapped over to sustainable bedding.
Garden:
- Honeybees on site producing honey managed by a local beekeeper.
- Wildflower meadow being planted as part of the Kings Meadow project.
- Improved pathways for access throughout the site created.
- Kitchen garden producing herbs and vegetables for use in the cafes and for visitors to purchase for suggested donations.
- Water butts utilised to collect rain-water and used to water crop and green houses.
- Fuel used for gardens machinery has been swapped to HVO.
- Additional picnic benches added to the gardens, all are access friendly with wheelchair spaces and some have high back’s for additional support.
- 3 onsite compost bays, where all of our garden waste (grass cuttings, mulch and tree chips).
- Garden equipment upgraded to battery powered, where possible. Which is also lighter in weight improving welfare of tasks.
Have you observed any direct benefits to your business or organisation as a result of the initiative?
We were awarded Bronze and Silver in the 2023 Green Impact Programme awards as well as 2 special awards with one of these achieving runner up in the national awards. This work has inspired changes to everyday life, buying habits and waste management for many volunteers and staff.
We have seen a reduction in expenditure for everyday items such as storage, we now purchase strong storage boxes made from recycled materials which are extremely durable, previously plastic storage boxes wouldn’t last very long and were frequently replaced.
There has been an increased usage of site by Wellbeing freelancers to offer a wide range of wellbeing activities to our visitors and local community.
Every year, we have seen increased participation and engagement with Great Big Green Week, the Big Butterfly count and the RSPB big garden bird watch.
Have you observed any benefits to your visitors as a result of the initiative?
There has been an improvement in frequency of visits from local visitors and increased membership sales. Many people return to use produce stall, or choose our cafes to have lunch in.
Many visitors and locals support our 2nd hand book shop, either to donate their books or to frequently make purchases. We have seen the increased use of cycle parking facilities.
Our wellbeing programme has increased visitors to our site and engaged different audiences.
Our social media posts have an increased following and our posts highlighting our sustainable approaches are frequently the most engaged posts.
What category/categories does your initiative fall under?
- Encouraging public transport use
- Reducing energy use
- Food for Good – reducing food miles, local seasonal produce, plant-based & organic
- Reducing waste
- Nature positive initiatives – conserving, preserving or restoring landscapes, habitats & wildlife
- Minimising water use & water pollution
- Local job creation
- Wellbeing
- Equality and diversity
- Preserving and protecting cultural heritage
Website:
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/walmer-castle-and-gardens/
Contact Email:
