The Exeter leisure park Crealy wants to be carbon neutral by the end of 2010 and is holding Planting Parties on alternate Thursdays until the February half-term to create a Bluebell Wood and a Tree Nursery with loads of trees.
Crealy was award silver in the Green Tourism Business Scheme and is looking to win gold next year, what with all the trees it’s planning on planting.
Angela Wright, Crealy’s owner, told the PRSD: “We decided that Crealy should become carbon neutral, as a forward thinking proactive business decision.
“We subsequently discovered that in any one year the huge majority of our guests, anywhere between 75-95 per cent, say that becoming a carbon – neutral business is important to them. Our undertaking to create a front-of-mind, high-quality, environmentally friendly holiday resort for local leisure trips and domestic holidays also offers positive local financial support, with over £2m annually redistributed locally.”
Coo!
So, what are Angela’s tips on going green? Use a consulting company, involve your staff and customers, recognise the challenges, but commit none the less, and realise that you’ve got to stay profitable while changing the business model for future carbon reduction.
There’s also been a push on waste, water usage, recycling, local produce and energy reduction, with new attraction briefs amended to include lifetime operating costs including energy annual kilowatt-hours and carbon productions, and looking to bring biodegradable burger box to market; corn-starch replacing plastic bowls and wooden instead of plastic cutlery.
• Know any other enviro-tourist attractions? Comments below, please.
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