Green Policy
The Cumulus team are committed to reducing our impact on the natural environment wherever possible. We work hard to operate sustainably, follow our green policy and educate students on the importance of recycling and respecting the countryside code.
Cumulus Outdoors is privileged to be located in one of the most beautiful and environmentally diverse parts of the British Isles. Our outdoor adventure activity centre in Dorset is surrounded by countryside and situated within walking distance of Jurassic Coast – a stretch of coastline famed for its natural beauty, geology and bountiful marine life.
Managing environmental issues is a top priority for the company and we are committed to lowering our environmental impact to ensure we protect our local area for generations to come. We continually review our practices and are always trying new initiatives to further improve our green credentials across the whole business, from ensuring we never spray chemicals on our land and reducing single-use plastic to choosing locally sourced food and creating sustainable habitats for plants and animals.
Sustainability and environmental management
Energy Consumption
At our Residential Centre, we are making way for more environmentally friendly methods of lighting and heating to ensure no energy is wasted.
For example, our dormitories and facilities benefit from low-consumption LED lighting. We also have PIR sensors in our communal areas to ensure lights are only on when essential. All students are reminded to turn off lights when leaving a vacant room. In our newest dormitory, flexible light tunnels channel natural light in and reduce the need for artificial light.
In our Studland dormitory, we have replaced the existing boiler with the most efficient Bosch boilers on the market. In the other dormitories, we currently have thermostatically controlled heating, ensuring we do not unnecessarily run boilers. Old boilers will be replaced by more efficient ones as they come up for renewal.
Locally sourced food and wood
Wherever possible we use locally sourced ingredients including meat, dairy, and bakery products from across the Isle of Purbeck, helping to reduce our carbon footprint whilst supporting local businesses. With careful menu planning, we minimise the amount of food waste generated across our sites and any leftovers are disposed of through our food waste collection service. When making food, we always try to provide a hot lunch to reduce the need to use further packaging. Our team in the kitchen is also aware of reducing single-use plastics and correctly recycling packaging, minimising waste as much as possible.
We are also committed to using locally sourced wood for our campfires. Our usual supply is from Rempstone Estate, which can be found on the Isle of Purbeck.
Education and respect for the environment
Many of our outdoor adventure activity sessions take place in scenic locations across Dorset. During these activity sessions, we work hard to educate children on the Countryside Code and promote the importance of the ‘Respect, Protect, Enjoy’ messaging. We always carry bin bags to take our litter home and encourage young children to ‘leave nothing but footprints’ when exploring the great outdoors.
We hope to instil a love of nature that will continue when they return home. Educational talks are not only limited to children – we promote respect and love for nature to visitors of all ages staying at our tented villages and Residential Centre, and during activities.
It’s also essential that our staff stay up-to-date with the most recent best practices. We run regular workshops to educate our team on how to minimise their environmental impact and reduce single-use plastics.
Recycling
We provide comprehensive recycling facilities at our Residential Centre and tented villages, which encourage staff and students to dispose of waste most sustainably and responsibly. The bins are clearly labelled so that visitors know exactly what they can and cannot recycle while on site.
Our recycling efforts are not only limited to bins! We are very proud to use recycled tyres and carpet for ground surfacing on activity areas such as axe throwing and high ropes course. We are also proud to have recycled plastic picnic benches across our site for visitors to eat and relax.
Water Fountain and Suncream station
Single-use plastic bottles significantly contribute to pollution, even if they are subsequently recycled.
Refill.org.uk
At Cumulus, we are aware of the environmental impact of plastic water bottles and containers. Reducing single-use plastic bottles is one of our main initiatives to be eco-friendly. We encourage all staff and students to use reusable water bottles throughout their stay, as we have dedicated water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains at our Residential Centre and Tented Villages. This ensures water is always at hand, but not wasted.
Similarly, we also have an on-site suncream station with re-fill bottles to ensure children and visitors are protected from UV rays in the most eco-friendly way possible.
Creating Sustainable Habitats for local wildlife
We’ve worked hard to provide sustainable habitats for the local wildlife to thrive. In February 2022, we built a pond on-site, which is now well-established and provides a breeding space for frogs, toads, newts, pond skaters and water snails. Our pond is shallow at one end, which also provides a bathing area for birds and a watering hole for hedgehogs. We also have a wildflower area for pollinators with new flowerbeds and borders.
Nest boxes are also provided to attract birds, and bug hotels and hedgehog houses can be found throughout the grounds.
