You may think that just because you are going camping then you are inherently making a greener choice. Well, you most likely are, but we think there are a few things you can think about to make sure that your next camping trip is as low impact as you perceive it to be.
Do you have to travel 100s of miles to find a great camping holiday spot? One of the biggest impacts on the environment of any holiday is the fuel consumption and emissions produced by getting to your destination. The further you travel, the larger your carbon footprint. We bet there are some fantastic places under 100 miles from where you live which you are yet to discover.
How much stuff are you taking and do you really need it? When you go camping are you trying to re-create your own home but in a field? We know how many gadgets you can buy, and frankly, some of them are sheer genius, but do have a think when packing about whether you really do need the kitchen sink as well? Part of the whole brilliance of camping is freedom, and that can include freedom from needing all of the comforts you have at home and getting closer to nature.
Choose a green campsite: this can sometimes be harder than it may seem as it can be very difficult to find out how “green” a campsite really is. Some help you out by putting “eco” somewhere in their name, but, In our experience there are so many who are doing amazing things to protect the environment and encourage wildlife etc….. but they don’t tell people about it! Don’t be misled into thinking that a more basic campsite is always greener either (although they often are very low impact), some of the larger holiday parks are making huge strides into using renewable energy, focussing on waste management, creating wonderful wildlife habitats and providing superfluous recycling facilities. For further information take a look at our
guide to finding a green campsite…
Plan car-free days: Do you spend more time in the car on holiday than you do on an average day at home? Well why not embark on a little pre-planning and pledge to make at least half your days on holiday “car-free”. Take your bikes, go walking, choose where to stay carefully – make sure there is lots to do within walking / cycling distance. Check out if public transport can be used nearby – lots of campsites will help you out with buses etc – great for doing a linear walk back to the campsite.
What soap do you use? Try to take biodegradable soap, shampoo, washing up liquid and washing detergent – a lot kinder to the environment and important as some more rural areas have grey water flowing out into local water sources.
Recycle everything you can: at home we are used to it so why change when you are away camping? Lots of campsites do offer recycling of some sort. If they don’t offer comprehensive recycling ask them if they will in the future (a bit of pressure goes a long way) and collect your empties to deposit at a local supermarket if possible.
Buy local produce: How often do you stock up at your local Tesco or Asda before going camping, or stop at one en-route as you don’t know what might be available locally? We know that this is a hard one as most of the time you really don’t know if you can get local produce at the campsite or nearby. We suggest finding out and / or making sure you book a campsite which does sell local produce. The footprint is very low and it is often very good quality.
Learn about where you are – some campsites offer information about local wildlife and places of natural interest; in fact some even have rangers who will take you and your family on walks in the local area. If your children discover and enjoy the environment they are in and love being in it they will grow up with the desire to protect it!