The World of Beatrix Potter works with
two charities to make a difference.
In the UK – Lake District Tourism
& Conservation Partnership
Great Knott Wood is an ancient woodland, covering 34 hectares on the south west shore of Lake Windermere, just north of Newby Bridge. It has one of the highest densities of woodland cover anywhere in northern England, with oak, sycamore ash, alder, birch, beech and larch - something for all tree lovers! In Spring and Summer the woodland floor is covered with beautiful flowering plants, including bluebell, wood sorrel, wood anemone, lords and ladies and honeysuckle.
With the help of the Tourism and Conservation Partnership,The World of Beatrix Potter donates the profits of its eco bags to help the Woodland Trust restore this ancient woodland. Felling the non-native conifers planted in the last century creates conditions in which the original trees and unique communities of plants, animals and fungi can once again flourish. The Trust is also protecting archaeological features within the wood and improving footpath links.
Worldwide – WaterAid
The World of Beatrix Potter has chosen to raise money for WaterAid as they work with some of the world's poorest people, helping them gain access to clean water, toilets and hygiene education. It seemed appropriate that an attraction like ours, based in a region famous for water, should be helping a part of the world where there is a shortage of it clean water.
The World of Beatrix Potter has already raised well over £9,000 for WaterAid to fund their work in Malawi.The attraction will continue to raise funds for WaterAid in the following ways…
- Collecting Boxes – there are boxes around the whole building.
Please help us by adding your donation or loose change. - Events – the attraction will run events and activities, the profits from which will raise funds for WaterAid
Our Environmental Policy
The World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction has, since its establishment in 1991, put conservation and care for the environment at the heart of its operation.
Beatrix Potter was a committed and pioneering conservationist and her work forms a theme running through the displays and interpretation in the attraction.
Clearly as a tourism related business in the Lake District National Park, the attraction has a duty to minimise its environmental impact, whilst maximising its role as a vehicle for regional regeneration.
Over the past 16 years the World of Beatrix Potter has been involved in a number of environmental projects in the Lake District including supporting red squirrel conservation and improving access to the landscape around Near Sawrey.
MARKETING
The World of Beatrix Potter uses its marketing campaigns to encourage visits to
the region using the most environmentally acceptable forms of transport.
Work has included…
- encouraging the use of public transport via combined travel and admission tickets (including lake steamers and steam trains)
- encouraging the use of bicycles, with the provision of cycle racks, storage and showers for cyclists
- encouraging visitors to experience the region in groups using coaches
- posting Beatrix Potter walks and information about public transport on the attraction website
The World of Beatrix Potter is keen to embrace the use of IT to lessen the amount of paper based marketing and for over a decade has printed its marketing literature on recycled or recovered stock, produced using environmentally sensitive processes and using environmentally friendly inks and vanishes. The attraction has a policy of printing all its marketing literature in Cumbria.
CATERING
In 2004 the Tailor of Gloucester Tea Room at the World of Beatrix Potter received a Local Food & Drink Award from Cumbria Tourist Board. The award recognised the attraction’s work in championing the use of locally produced and sourced food in its menus. The Tea Room continues to source over 75% of its ingredients locally and celebrates the variety of high quality foods produced in North West in the menus it offers both to independent and group visitors.
RETAIL
The World of Beatrix Potter produces only a small range of its own merchandise but has a policy of producing items in the UK and where possible within Cumbria. The attraction has recently transferred the production of its carrier bags to a Cumbrian company from one printing its products in China, where environmental controls were not established.
OPERATION
In 2005 the World of Beatrix Potter underwent a £1.5 million refurbishment. This was the opportunity to review the attractions environmental controls. The result was the introduction of a new environmental handling system which has reduced energy bills and improved the environment for visitors and staff alike.
The World of Beatrix Potter has, in association with the Cumbria Business Environmental Network (CBEN), produced an Environmental Management System for the attraction. This strategy provides an environmental context for all aspects of the attraction’s operations – from training to environmental risks.
Currently the attraction holds a Gold Certificate from the CBEN – its highest award. A copy of the Environmental Management System is available on application. Email rfoster@hop-skip-jump.com