Sustainability
As a group of family-run Holiday Parks, all within or close to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, we have always placed an emphasis on being ‘green’ and make positive changes where possible in respect to wildlife, energy, waste, environment and conservation.
Since 2008 we have been fundraising for the Jurassic Coast Trust and have raised over £130,000 for this incredible charity that works to protect our coastline here. While the Trust no longer operates, we are still collecting money to go to various coastal projects and charities.
We aim to provide the best experience for our holidaymakers, holiday home owners and employees, while improving and protecting the environment and wildlife and taking the interests of local people into account. In 2019, we set up a “Green Team” among the team to consider, explore and implement initiatives in all areas of the holiday park operations. Below are some of the things we are doing as part of our ongoing pledge to sustainability:
Wildlife
- Wildflower areas to create bee and butterfly friendly spaces
- Planting increased across all parks – in winter of 2024/2025 we planted over 6000 trees across our parks
- Many parks have Nature Trails designed to get guests to appreciate the environment and wildlife around them
- Bug hotels provide shelters for insects and animals including frogs, ladybirds, hedgehogs and butterflies
- Wildlife spotting books and signs to help guests identify wildlife
- No herbicides or pesticides are used on the parks
- Designated areas of the parks are left “rough and wild” to encourage natural plant growth and formation of animal habitats
- Bird and owl boxes to provide shelter and nesting spaces
- Holiday home owners are encouraged to plant flowers and shrubs around their pitches and use bird feeders
- At parks where we own neighboring fields, these are used for farming and allowing wildlife to flourish
- Bee hives at Graston Copse and Larkfield with honey for sale
- Duck pond at Sandyholme with many resident and visiting ducks, geese and other birds
- Lake at Golden Cap where any fish caught must be released safely back to the lake
- Wildlife pond at Highlands End with a variety of insect and pond-life species present.
- Pond at Larkfield which is loved by dragonflies, newts and frogs
Energy and Water
- Ground-mounted solar system installed at Highlands End Holiday Park in 2024
- Solar Panels installed across park buildings and lodges at Highlands End
- Air source heat pumps and solar water heaters at Highlands End
- All new vehicles purchased are electric
- Our housekeeping and maintenance teams use electric utility vehicles to move around the parks wherever possible
- 10mph speed limit on all parks to reduce emissions from any guest petrol/diesel vehicles
- All parks have new and more efficient electric vehicle charging points *excluding Eype Beach
- All new equipment such as hedge cutters and strimmers are also electric
- Low-energy lighting in all public buildings, many with motion detectors to reduce unnecessary usage
- Low level lighting outside on the parks to find a balance between reducing light pollution and ensuring people feel safe at night
- Well insulated buildings, with high efficiency space and water heating
- Easy Be Dishwasher for touring & camping customers at Highlands End, designed to save water
- Water butts to collect rainwater
- The urinals are waterless while still being hygienic
- Our used cooking oil from Martin’s Bar & Restaurant is collected and made into bio fuel
- Wool from our sheep and alpacas is made into insulation by a local farmer
Waste
- Launched our own app with helpful information, and paperless brochures to reduce the amount of printed material we produce
- Nearly 50% of all our waste is recycled
- Glass bottle collections
- Informative bin stickers designed to encourage recycling
- Recycling bins in some self-catering accommodation
- Martin’s Bar & Restaurant uses completely recyclable takeaway packaging and straws
- Free water bottle refills designed to reduce purchasing of bottled water
- We are introducing recycled tyres in the soft ground at our children’s play areas
- Waste paper is either recycled or shredded to be used for chicken bedding, before being composted
- We have joined the Plastic Free Bridport movement and are listed as a Plastic Free Champion for our efforts to reduce single-use plastic
- Our alpaca poo is collected and goes to a local company for fertiliser
Local Policy
- We use an in-house “Buyer’s Guide” to encourage local purchasing within the company
- Local contractors and businesses used wherever possible
- We have increased the local suppliers in our Park Shops
- Surplus food from our SPAR stores is donated to a local food bank/food swap scheme, so nothing is wasted and it goes to those who need it
- Martin’s Bar & Restaurant uses a wide range of local food and drink suppliers
- Holiday Planner promoting over 275 local attractions and businesses
- Embedding our business into the community where we can to assist with projects, sponsorship and donations.
Awards
All of the West Dorset Leisure Holidays Parks have achieved numerous David Bellamy Conservation Awards including the Honey Bee Friendly Award and awards for our work with wildflowers, woodlands and hedgerows. We have also taken on David Bellamy’s new Blooming Marvellous Pledge for Nature and are enjoying working towards the challenges to complete it.
So far we’ve completed the following challenges:
- Home Sweet Home (Highlands End, Golden Cap, Graston Copse, Larkfield, Sandyholme)
- Pollinator Patch (Highlands End, Golden Cap, Sandyholme)
- Treemendous (Highlands End, Graston Copse, Larkfield, Sandyholme)
- Wonderful Wetlands (Highlands End, Graston Copse, Larkfield)
We were thrilled to win Silver the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award at the Dorset Tourism Awards in 2025.
We have also achieved the Litter Free Dorset Award and the Plastic Free Champion Award from Surfers Against Sewage for our efforts in combatting litter and plastic pollution.
In 2022 we won the Green Eco Business award at the Bridport Business Awards, as well as overall Business Of The Year.
Many of the other awards we have received, such as Holiday Park of The Year, the AA Caravan and Camping awards and the Taste Of The West awards also look at our sustainable practices.
What you can do
When on holiday with us, please do your bit and consider the environment. Leave things how you would wish to find them so future guests can enjoy the park and the local area.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – In all of our bin bays across the parks, you will find 3 types of bins – recycling, glass and general waste. All of your recycling goes in the same bin, there is no need to sort. See the signage at the bin bays for a list of what can be recycled and help us reach and exceed our 50% target!
- Use local – We recommend and work with a whole range of local suppliers and there are some fantastic producers and businesses local to the parks. Purchasing goods from Dorset supports the local economy and reduces their carbon footprint. There are a variety of farm shops, markets, pubs, cafes and food events across the county. See our Holiday Planner for more information. Why not visit a local farm shop for fresh local produce:
- Washingpool Farm Shop – Bridport, DT6 5HP
- Felicity’s Farm Shop – Morcombelake, DT6 6DJ
- Modbury Farm Shop – Burton Bradstock, DT6 4NE
- Duck’s Farm Shop – Portesham, DT3 4HG
- Kate’s Farm Shop – Owermoigne, DT2 8HN
- Public transport – There are some great public transport links in Dorset and you can see the Jurassic Coast without the hassle of driving and finding parking. See the First Group website for Dorset timetables, focusing in particular on the X53/X51, which runs along the Jurassic Coast. Alternatively, visit the Park Reception.
- Reduce energy consumption – Think about your energy consumption on the park in terms of water use and electricity usage – we have some amazing night skies in Dorset so help us to reduce light pollution by switching off lights and devices when you don’t need them.
- Follow the Countryside Code – When out enjoying the natural environment, consider other people, animals and foliage. Keep dogs under control and away from livestock, don’t leave waste behind and stick to public rights of way – “leave only footprints, take only memories”.
- Support Jurassic Coast projects – When making a booking with us, make a voluntary donation to help various projects to conserve the World Heritage Site and educate people about it’s importance – with the help of our guests, we have raised over £100,000 since 2008.
- Beach Clean – Get involved in a beach clean – visit Litter Free Coast and Sea to find out more
- Avoid single-use plastics – use metal or paper straws and avoid plastic items like water bottles and takeaway packaging