From mesmerising TV shows narrated by David Attenborough to stirring speeches by Greta Thunberg, environmental responsibility and green living have never been more in focus. As people become increasingly invested in reducing personal carbon footprints, their buying behaviours are veering more toward sustainable businesses. This doesn’t just apply to groceries and fashion, as recreation, tourism and travel are very much on holidaymakers’ environmental checklists too.
If you’re interested in making your static caravan park more sustainable, we’ve put together some suggestions that are easy to implement and guaranteed to make a difference. You may have some of these in place already, in which case we recommend having a think about how they can be used to even greater effect. Sometimes the tweaking of an existing system can be just as effective as the installing of a new one.
Collect rainwater
Let’s start off with one that’s really straightforward, as the collecting of rainwater is a very simple process. Investing in water butts and other forms of storage will allow you to collect clean water automatically every time it rains. This can then be used for a variety of applications, such as:
- Watering outdoor and indoor plants, shrubbery and lawns
- Washing cars and other vehicles
- Filling birdbaths, ornamental ponds and water features
- Cleaning paths, fences, signage and building exteriors
- Visitors can use it to wash their dogs
- Use it as a back-up water source for emergencies
In the process, you’re doing your bit for the environment and also reducing the risk of your site becoming waterlogged when there’s excessive rainfall.
Recycle thoroughly
Placing recycling bins around your site will encourage both staff and guests to recycle as much as possible. We’d like to think that customers won’t litter on your site but it does happen, so easily accessible bins will also reduce the likelihood of people spoiling the appearance of your land.
Consider resident ecosystems
When rearranging, expanding or simply tidying up your static caravan site, always make sure to think about the local wildlife. For instance, when trimming hedges it’s a good idea to leave a section at the bottom untouched, as it’s the perfect home for animals such as hedgehogs. Tree branch removal should be done outside of nesting season, which is officially listed as February to August but it could differ according to the species.
Grass should also be left to grow where possible, as this is the perfect place for insects, furry critters and feathered friends to do their thing.
Think about the bees
We all need to do our bit to protect bees and other pollinators. Whilst leaving them alone is a good start, owners of caravan sites can go a step further by adopting a planting strategy. This can either be done in-house or you could consult an expert to see what kind of plant species would thrive in your area, attracting bees throughout their active months.
Connect with organisations
Static caravan sites can team up with all kinds of organisations, such as RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, National Trust, Buglife, The Wildlife Trusts, Bat Conservation Trust, and any others that you have an affinity with.
This could lead to multiple benefits, including staff training, improved brand image and reputation, a range of fundraising activities, organised walks and talks that visitors can get involved in, tree planting events and PR opportunities.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you improve your static caravan park, give us a call on (+44) 1758 306036 or fill in our contact form.