Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Feb 22

Your dog walk in the woods could be doing the ecosystem serious damage!

Dogs are the cause of a lot of damage to wild areas, cause the deaths and injuries of many mammals, birds and fish and can actually be responsible for making species locally extinct!

Don’t forget that domestic dogs are not part of the natural habitat, they are a pest to the natural way of things.  Wild animals see them as a predator and run away, and predators can pass on or catch viruses and other illnesses off our pets.

And of course - there are far to many of them in one place!  If a piece of woodland becomes a busy dog-walking site - then it will be goodbye to the wildlife.

So, here are a few tips to help make sure that your dog doesn’t become an eco disaster in your local woods and heaths, or to wild places you visit on your holidays.

1) Loiter Around The Car Park
By hanging around the car park when you arrive in a wild area, you will know exactly when and where your dog relieves himself and then be able to clear it away and most poo bins are located here too.  Dog feces in woodlands isn’t a natural or beneficial thing, and it can spread diseases to wildlife, other dogs and to humans.

2) Carry An Airtight Container
Always have poop bags and an airtight container in your car, so that if there isn’t a poo bin at the site (which is likely in remote locations) you can take yours away.  And don’t pick up your dogs feces in a plastic bag and then leave it there!  This is even worse than not picking it up in the first place!

3) Train Your Dog:
By making sure that your dog responds to your basic commands instantly, you can really enjoy wild places without the worry of your pet injuring or killing wildlife.  If you can see your dog is stalking something, you can instantly give your command and the situation is over.

4) Use A Long or Extending Leash:
If you are not sure of your ability to control your dog, then make sure you keep it on a lead.  That way they can still experience the scents of wildlife without any risk to it, and you can explore an new environment too.

5) Plan Your Route:
By making sure you visit the information board of the place you are visiting, you will be able to see the best or recommended route for dog walkers.  These routes don’t mean that you can only go that way, they mean that if the hundreds of dog walkers all went the same route, then other paths, delicate habitats and wildlife-filled locations are less disturbed.

6) Learn About Local Species:
If you know when certain wild animals are migrating through an area, when ground-nesting birds are at risk and when young animals are first exploring their new home - you can avoid taking your dog there.  If you (along with a high percentage of other dog walkers) could limit their access during these times - species could be encouraged and saved from needless harm.

7) Stick To The Paths:
If you head off anywhere you want, you could be damaging delicate plants or scaring off other animals.  The paths are usually there as they are the best route to use, and sticking to them will limit your impact on the environment.  Once you trample a route - others might follow - making it permanent.  But it could pass close to a badger, fox or other nest area that will no doubt have to be abandoned if the ‘people’ traffic increases.

Dogs and wildlife can exist in harmony - but it is up to their owners to make this happen.  So it’s down to you!

posted by Catherine on Sep 16

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You can make sure that your big day is remembered in more ways than one!

If you are getting married away from home or abroad, then you really need to consider the eco friendly tactics of all your service providers.  Is the caterer using local foods for your dishes?  Is the building using green suppliers or preserving it’s local environment? 

And, equally importantly, is your green wedding photographer helping to buy areas of rainforest with the World Land Trust as a wedding gift to you?

The Whole Package:
There can be many environmental concerns about the digital processing of your pictures and of course the electrical equipment itself and it’s energy use - but with an eco friendly wedding photographer - there is one less thing for you to worry about when you should be enjoying your big day!

I am sure that there are a whole range of wedding photographers from those who are using the most ethically credited equipment, using only the most environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries and only printing on recycled paper, right the way to those that just still use whatever materials and equipment they have always used regardless of it’s environmental impacts.

But you need to be happy that all the actions of the people you employ for your wedding are as green as you would like them to be.  So if you are arranging an eco holiday to a conservation area or getting married at home in a ruined castle or are travelling by train to the event rather than flying - the last thing you want is for your photographer to be the only weak link in your planning.

Every Bit Counts:
It may be that you have other constraints on you for your planning and events which can restrict your ability to find the service and the eco credentials you want your service provider to adhere to - but of course sometimes the finances can control the final outcome.

Even if you only do one thing - it is better than nothing - so take this into account when you are researching.  I recently found a wedding photographer in Nottingham, England who has made some of those important steps towards being one of the most eco friendly photography companies in the country based on changes to his lifestyle.

They have a small section on their website detailing their ‘Green Pledge’ making visitors to their site aware of the steps they are taking in their quest including the reduction of the use of gelatin in traditional celluloid processing to make their products less dependant on animal by-products.

They are, more importantly, reducing to very low levels the amount of paper-based advertising materials to promote their business and focusing on more digital advertising and other on-line advances to reduce wasted printing and printers!

They also send out their sample pictures for you choose from on a disc rather than actual hard copies - again reducing materials used that are only going to be thrown away.  If for some reason you do require them printed before your final selection, this company are beginning to offer these on eco friendly paper.

And the final eco bonus is the fact that they work with the World Land Trust by pledging to buy acres of rainforest for each couple - different sizes depending on the wedding package chosen - for which the couple receive a ‘Thank You’ certificate for.  They can then find out about that area of woodland that has been preserved for ever on their behalf!

So if you are going to get married in England, plan yourself one of these Nottingham weddings.  That way you can make a difference to the world by just saying ‘cheese’!