Page 76 - Discovery Guide

Green Business Awards
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www.forestof bowland.com
Several businesses - part of Bowland’s Eco Escapes initiative - are leading the way in the hospitality sector by achieving Green Tourism accreditation; achieving Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
Green Tourism is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK. Businessesareassessedbyaqualifiedgrading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria covering a range of areas, including energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more to achieve their award.
Forest of Bowland National Landscape Sustainable Tourism Officer, Hetty Byrne, explains: “Green Tourism in Bowland isn’t new: it’s something we’ve been committed to supporting for over 15 years. In fact, in 2011, 38 businesses in Bowland achieved Green Tourism awards. More recently, through our Eco Escapes project – an initiative to promote sustainable tourism across Bowland – we encourage visitors to enjoy the Forest of Bowland while ‘treading carefully’ on the landscape and using active travel where possible.”
(You can be inspired by the Eco Escapes itineraries later in this guide!)
“In particular, it highlights hospitality businesses that are committed to their green journey; whether that’s an experience provider, eatery, b&b, inn or glamping site.
“Working with Green Tourism, businesses have their sustainability efforts independently assessed, giving them
a competitive edge with eco-minded visitors. It’s a way of setting apart those businesses that actively embrace and invest in green practices.”
Green Tourism is a structured framework with a rigorous assessment process which requires evidence at every stage, so businesses are put through their paces to achieve an award! Often the details of what practices a business has put in place may not always be visible at first glance, but we hope these profiles shine a spotlight on the way these businesses are leading the way.