Planting Trees in Kenya – A step closer to being carbon neutral
A quick look at the photographs of Andrewshayes or check East Devon on Google Earth, and you will see that Andrewshayes Holiday Park is lucky enough to be in one of greenest parts of the UK. Beautiful deciduous trees spring into life in April and May and transform the Devon landscape from its bare winter hibernation.
Planting trees has always been a passion of park owners Harry and Stephanie Lawrence and all over the site you will find examples of this. Helping to provide natural breaks around the caravans, shade and screening for humans as well as home for a huge number of wild birds and insects.
Woodland Walk
In 2004 they took this step further by purchasing a 4 acre field from a neighbour. With the help of a Forestry Commission Grant, this was planted with hundreds of native trees and shrubs. We are proud that this has now become a beautiful woodland walk for you to enjoy. Perfect for a relaxing leg stretch or a place to safely walk the dog.
Environmental Benefits
All this was done in the knowledge that trees provide great places for wildlife to thrive as well as being attractive to look at. What was not really considered was the longer term environmental benefits of tree planting that we now talk about. Being carbon neutral is a relatively new concept as is the idea of our carbon footprint.
Over the years all businesses have come to see the benefit of considering their green credentials. Sadly in the early days these were often just paid lip service to by large organisations.
However holiday parks have been doing the right thing for years, mostly without realising it. Our efforts and those of many other holiday parks have been significant. For instance, by signing up to accredited schemes such as the David Bellamy or Green Tourism Awards have ensured that continuous improvements have been made.
Here at Andrewshayes we decided a few years ago that we have enough knowledge now to pursue positive environmental measures, without the need for costly annual inspections.
The Word Forest Organisation
In 2019 one of the park owners Clare, became aware of a local charity called The Word Forest Organisation based in Lyme Regis. The work this charity does is focused on Kenya. In summary they raise money for trees to be planted in rural communities in East Africa.
Evidence shows trees are needed by our planet to halt climate change and in this part of sub-Saharan Africa, trees can grow quickly.
At the Word Forest Organisation sites, the trees are raised in nurseries then planted and looked after by the local people. In the communities, ladies known as Mothers of the Forest are entrusted with the trees.
The charity along with local employees, finds locations where they will be of use such as near schools or community centres. Providing much needed shade and fruit that can be eaten or sold.
Empowering Women in Rural Communities
Education is given about the need for the trees, the commercial value of their fruit and how they will earn more money harvesting and selling fruit than cutting trees down for firewood.
The linked efforts of this charity are to help provide classrooms for children and to empower women in the rural communities to run their own small businesses.
The point is that despite our best efforts planting a range of trees in the UK, our trees grow very slowly in comparison. Word Forest founders Tracey and Simon West visited Andrewshayes in 2020 for a good look around. They commented that our 15 year old trees in the woods are about the same size as trees panted 5 years ago in Kenya, that’s a big difference. So in terms of benefit to the environment there is a clear winner.
Our Carbon Footprint
We’ve asked Tracey and Simon if there is a way to assess the Carbon Footprint of the Holiday Park. After much research and head scratching, they concluded that it was possible, but for a business like ours with so many elements and external suppliers, it probably wasn’t financially feasible to undertake the work.
The good news is that we know we are doing lots of things very well. From reusable energy sources and water bore holes on the park, to recycling and using local suppliers and traders where ever possible.
Keeping the park green and with borders for insects is also important – that’s a good excuse for the stinging nettles you might see growing! We are however running out of places here to plant trees!
Helping the Word Forest Organisation
As a thank you to the Word Forest for their time and advice looking over our current polices and procedures we have donated 40 trees to be planted in Kenya
Furthermore, we are offering visitors the chance to offset the carbon from their journey to Andrewshayes.
For cost of a cup of coffee, just £2.50, your donation will plant a tree in Africa providing shade, fruit for years to come, employment and crucially help to strip carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How To Help
When you book online there will be the option of adding a tree when you check out. If you call us to book over the phone you can request that we add a tree to your final invoice as well. We will ensure that 100% of your donation goes to the charity.
Support The Word Forest
You can find out other ways to support this charity from giving one off donations to buying e-birthday cards, cool t-shirts and ethical gifts.
We hope that our relationship with The Word Forest Organisation will flourish into the future. We have added a collection box in the office for loose change. With your donations we can contribute to the future of these projects and money raised by the park will help enable more trees to be planted in the future.
