Ensuring that we look after our environment to be a beacon for green camping is a high priority to us all at South Lytchett. Over the last 10 years we have constantly tried to improve the green space and sustainability of our site. From maintaining the colourful flower beds to having cycles for hire. We strive to keep our green and pleasant land exactly that!

Planting up to be a green campsite

Over the last few years we have gone planting crazy! We started off by installing a herb garden and 24 oak barrels, which provide sustainable and annual planting. We also installed two huge planting walls and planted 400 metres of native hedging and 40 parkland trees. These are maintained by professional Dorset trees surgeons.

More recently we have created a pumpkin patch and now give pumpkins to visiting children during October Half term. We also dredged the pond area last winter and Matt has created a pathway around this with bird boxes in place. There is also now a large area in our dog walk area to wild flowers, we are very excited to see the flowers rapidly growing. Plus we are very excited to have just had a duck house built to home our 10 runner ducks!

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle – Green Camping Principles

We actively promote the “reduce, reuse, recycle” principles to our guests. Our recycling is of great importance us to help protect the environment. In fact we recycle 60% of our waste! We are constantly striving to do more.

When our guests initially check in at reception we hand out recyclable bags and explain our recycling policy on the park. We have also designed quirky posters to put on all of the euro bins to prompt guests to recycle responsibly.

• We have boxes for battery recycling in all areas of the park.
• We try to minimise the use of carrier bags by selling recycled reusable shopping bags in our shop.
• We use recycled paper for printing, and refillable inks.

Access and Inclusivity Improvements

We have invested in facilities to help visually or hearing impaired guests. We have two disabled shower rooms with radar keys and have modified family rooms to assist the partially able. Ambient doors have also been installed.

We have compiled an accessibility information pack to include days out suitable for accessibility-impaired guests. In reception we have large print sheets to assist the less able. We also have translation sheets for overseas visitors.

A microwave is provided to assist families with young children, and there is a freezer facility in order to store your own ice which is a big help to our guest who are camping without electricity.

We also situate guests in relation to their specific needs and often assist them if they experience difficulty manoeuvring their caravans.

Sustainability Measures

• Our Romany Caravans encourage guests wishing to arrive by bus, train or cycle.
• Promotion of sustainable travel through our “40 things to do on the 40 bus”, and walking and cycle route folders.
• Battery recycling stations are provided.
• On the arrival, guests are handed recyclable bags and explain our recycling policy on the park.
• Our onsite brood of hen produce free-range eggs.

Supporting Dorset Businesses and the Community

We believe for business sustainability to succeed, it is vital to work with our local partners. With this in mind we network and cooperate with local businesses to promote and progress both our business and our partners’ businesses. Partnerships include the butcher, baker, pub, local Blandford jam maker, the Wilts and Dorset Buses.

One of our more unique features is that we have converted a red telephone box into a Book Swap library. If you cannot swap a book you can take the book for a £1.00 donation to our charity, Julia’s House Children’s Hospice.

We aim to fill as much as our shop as possible with local produce. This is evident as we supply locally reared meats from Candy’s Farm at Corfe Mullen, we have a bakery in Ferndown that deliver bread and croissants in high season, and purchase jams from “A jar of”, an independent Blandford Forum based business.

We also stock Dorset Cereals, Ecover Washing Up Liquid, Ecover washing Powder and Hall and Woodhouse real ales.

Awards

It is always great for us to be recognised for the effort we invest. Over the year we have been fortunate to win a number of awards such as our Green Tourism Award and Sustainable Dorset Tourism Gold Award.

Take a look at our awards page to view all the awards we have received.