How to Grow Green?: Stages 4-6

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4. Developing Green Experiences

Design with sustainability in mind, whether you’re starting from scratch or developing what you have.
Offer your visitors the chance to get involved with ethical experiences. For example, Paddle with a Purpose invites you to gather up sea-trash while out on the water.
Work with the surrounding landscape and, if possible, re-purpose existing structures or materials. Point out local examples that combine old and new, such as restoring damaged boundaries with dry stone walls.
Employ local crafts people to carry out the work. Using traditional building methods or practices makes a great story to tell your visitors.
Think about sustainable purchasing. Could second-hand or reconditioned outdoor furniture or equipment work for you?
Consider providing charging points for electric vehicles
Make sure to have adequate toilet facilities for groups. (Perhaps this is a chance to use recycled rainwater?)

Have a visitor management plan in place. It will give your visitors a better experience and protect your surroundings too.
Provide suitable car parking and, if necessary, have an overflow plan.
Give people information on green transport options.
Encourage visits at off-peak times. It cuts down congestion and shows you’re thinking of the local community.
Find helpful ways to educate your visitors. If this is a new experience for them, clear tips will help them to protect the landscape and its nature.
If your visitors are lucky enough to be in an Area of Natural Beauty, tell them what that means, so that they can really appreciate and look after it.
Help them enjoy a richer experience with information about local green initiatives or attractions.
Green tourists love an authentic taste of local life. So involve them in local events.
Take them to matches, spend a day on a farm, invite them to volunteer days.

Additional traffic can be very disruptive for your neighbours. Could you team up with a local bus company to offer a shuttle service for visitors?
If your site has a café or restaurant, don’t bring in a big international chain to run it. Perhaps a local café could do the job or set up a new venture for you.
Try to engage local people. Maybe you need a tour guide or someone to help maintain a mountain trail? Keeping it local creates jobs and income which sustain your community.
Could you sponsor a local team or support a local charity? If you get your visitors involved, they’ll be leaving something meaningful behind them.
Be open with the community about your plans. Being part of the decision-making gives everyone shared ownership, helping things run more smoothly