Sustainability - Our Wider Sustainability

Bluebell woodland in Westonbirt Arboretum
Johnny Hathaway

Everything we do at Westonbirt contributes to our wider sustainability. We’re more than just a great place for a day out – Westonbirt is a site of national and international importance. As such, we have a duty to make sure that everything we do, is done with sustainability in mind. 

two boys, a man and a woman holding hands in a line on a path with grass and trees either side. The woman is pointing.
Photo credit: Johnny Hathaway

What we are doing to achieve wider sustainability on site: 

  • When we plant our trees we look to do this is the most sustainable way, in terms of the trees we plant but also the landscape. 
  • We work with community groups to make Westonbirt as inclusive and accessible as possible. 
  • We take part in global tree conservation every day.  
  • We make our purchases as sustainable as possible and question whether we need what we are buying. 
  • We monitor and improve our biodiversity everyday. 
  • We generate income to invest in our natural habitats.
  • We aim to engage our visitors in our work as well as providing a great day out! 

Sustainable Purchases

We aim to make our purchases as sustainable as possible and encourage staff to question whether the purchase is needed.  

How we ensure our purchases are sustainable:

  • We buy local stone for our paths. 
  • We ensure our learning/family activities use to plastic- free and natural craft products.
  • We use our own timber or UK FSC timber where we can in our building projects. 
  • Our Welcome Building won a BREEEAM excellence certification 
  • Where we can we mill wood on site, reducing transport emissions. 
  • Our Tree Management Centre won a RIBA sustainability award. 
  • We aim to only purchase Fairtrade tea, coffee and chocolate and sustainable palm oil (RSPO) products for food products our staff purchase and use.
  • We are working with our partners to make items we sell as sustainable as possible.  
A woman and a girl accepting coffees from a coffee shop window
Photo credit: Johnny Hathaway

Our place in a changing world

Mission

Our mission is to connect people with trees to improve the quality of life.

Vision

Our vision is to be a world leader in trees inspiring people through education, conservation and participation.