Green Credentials

Darwin Forest is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Enjoy the sense of freedom and wellbeing you gain from a walk in the forest, watch the kids or grandkids laugh and play in the great outdoors or simply sit and listen to the birds sing. Protecting the natural environment is important to us and that is why we are proud to have achieved the following Environmental Accreditations. 

David Bellamy Conservation Award

We pride ourselves on complimenting the natural beauty of the Peak District and for over 20 years, we have been awarded Gold in the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme in recognition of our measures to protect and enhance the natural environment. The assessors look at the steps parks are taking to: 

• Manage their land as a haven for wildlife
• Reduce their use of energy, water and other resources
• Reduce, reuse and recycle the waste they produce
• Support their local communities

This year we have signed up to complete their 'Home Sweet Home' Challenge.

Green Key Accreditation

Green Key is an international eco-label for tourism facilities. Since 1994, Green Key has been a leading standard of excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. The Green Key programme is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In England it is managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Green Key provides a well-proven framework for an establishment to work with its environmental management on sustainability issues, including awareness raising. The high environmental standards expected of these establishments are maintained through rigorous documentation and frequent on-site audits. Green Key is eligible for hotels, hostels, small  accommodations, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants, and attractions. For guests, a Green Key shows that the establishment is committed to reducing the environment impact of their stay. The Green Key  programme is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 addressed by the United Nations.

Find out more at www.greenkeyengland.co.uk

Our Green Pledge - Working towards a sustainable future

At Darwin Forest we feel a close connection to our surroundings; this includes the natural environment, our local communities and the people we work alongside. Our Green Pledge demonstrates how we are working towards a brighter, cleaner future and demonstrates our commitment to offering unforgettable natural holidays with a positive impact on the environment. We aim to: 

Reduce Plastics
We are committed to reducing plastic and all single use plastics will be phased out by 2022. We will not sell any plastic water bottles onsite and will provide water refill stations. We will ensure that all takeaway cartons are made from environmentally friendly materials.

Climate
The effects of pollution and global warming on the earth are increasing rapidly and to make a positive contribution we have committed to being climate neutral by 2030.

Community
We will give back to the local community through supporting local charities, food banks and encouraging staff to volunteer.

Education
We will appoint an ‘Environmental Ambassador’ to take ownership of all environmental tasks and provide training to staff. We will actively promote our environmental initiatives and provide information to our guests.

Energy
We will look to introduce more renewable sources onsite and now use a supplier that provides electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. We will also only LED lighting by 2025.

Nature
We will create and enhance our conservation projects including tree planting, wild flower meadows, nature areas and wildlife habitats. We will continue to work closely with the David Bellamy Award scheme and focus on their Honey Bee Pledge.

Local
We will ensure that 60% of our spend is within the local area and we will promote local businesses, activities and events. We will ensure that products are ethically sourced, suppliers are vetted for modern slavery and that we minimise food miles.

Transport
We will ensure that 50% of all our vehicles used on park are electric by 2025 and 100% by 2030. We will install electric charging points and encouraging guests and staff to use electric vehicles, public transport or car share where possible.

Waste
We are committed to reducing our waste and taking a lead on responsible recycling. We will provide recycling facilities and where mixed waste recycling is present, we will provide education to guests and staff on the forward journey of those products.

Water
We will promote and implement water efficiency programmes to guests and staff and introduce water reduction measures to reduce average water usage per unit by 10%. We will use water from our bore hole or from rainwater where appropriate.