Planting trees to offset our carbon footprint | Travel that doesn’t cost the world.
If you’ve travelled with us before, you’ll know that our carbon contribution scheme supports projects within our Lake District home. This is because we like to donate our time and energy as well as making a financial contribution towards the cost of tree saplings.
The generous contributions that have come from our travellers over the years has been invaluable. Alongside organisations like The Woodland Trust, we have planted hundreds of tree saplings across Cumbria.
2024 – An apple Orchard in Thornthwaite
In 2024 we contributed towards a new orchard in Thornthwaite in the Lake District. The new orchard aims to combine tree planting & carbon offset with preserving and promoting heritage fruit varieties, which have become at risk of extinction. By planting traditional apple varieties, we hope to safeguard their unique flavours, nutritional profiles, and cultural significance for future generations.
Supporting Tree Planting Since 2015
Since 2015, we’ve planted 10,000 broadleaf trees and hedgerow bushes in Cumbria in conjunction with the Woodland Trust and other local organisations.. They are planted within small and large schemes and are managed properly so that they become big trees in the future.
As well as capturing carbon, our trees have many more benefits :
BIODIVERSITY
The UK now has the lowest woodland cover (apart from Ireland) in Europe at about 12% of our land area and only a small proportion of that is really old woodland of the highest value for wildlife — what is called “ancient woodland”, effectively our own rain forest. Woodlands are our most biodiverse habitats supporting many species of birds, bees, insects, beetles, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa. Big old trees provide roosts and homes for wildlife and are essential for housing much of our wildlife.
HABITAT VALUE
Woodland next to water also provides habitat value for fish and the insects and invertebrates living in streams and rivers. Leaves falling into mountain streams provide food for the smaller insects and invertebrates that go on to feed fish and streamside roots and branches provide security for fish fry to hide from predators.
So planting new forests is a really good thing for our wildlife. But there are also other really important things that trees and woods do for us:
WATER QUALITY & TEMPERATURE
Fencing off land next to rivers and planting trees reduces the amount of pollution getting into the water. Trees providing shade over rivers moderate temperatures which can increase rapidly in summer to levels which can kill fish.
Your contribution to the scheme
When you book a holiday with us you’ll be given the option to contribute £10pp (for short haul) and £20pp (for long haul) towards this scheme and you can rest assured that we’ll be getting our hands dirty too. Our team and their families have helped out on various tree planting days, including one on the back of Latrigg above Keswick, and another at Coledale just 3 miles away.
For a friendly chat about our holidays:
