Canal charity's Standedge Visitor Centre wins 'green' award

[Ray T]

PRESS RELEASE

CANAL CHARITY’S STANDEDGE VISITOR CENTRE WINS ‘GREEN’ AWARD  

The Canal & River Trust’s Standedge Visitor Centre is officially ‘green’ – thanks to a coveted Silver Award from the Green Tourism Board.

 The popular visitor attraction in Marsden, West Yorkshire, celebrates the nation’s longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel, Standedge Tunnel, which takes the Huddersfield Narrow Canal under the Pennines.

 For many years a hit with visitors, the centre has now proved it has first class sustainable credentials too. The award is proof of excellence in energy and water efficiency, waste and recycling, ethical sourcing and ‘green’ values.

 The Canal & River Trust has made a range of improvements across the centre and Tunnel End Café over the past year. These include a £45,000 investment in low energy lighting, improved recycling facilities and an increased focus on working with local suppliers and community involvement.

 Claire Atkinson, Standedge duty manager with the Canal & River Trust, said: “We always felt that Standedge was a sustainable visitor attraction but we wanted to learn, test ourselves and improve. We discovered the Green Tourism Board and saw this as a great opportunity to measure our effectiveness. We have worked hard and made many changes such as investing in low energy technology.

 “Many of the changes have cost little if anything. For example we now recycle the majority of our kitchen waste in new green tombola bins. The composters cost us nothing, but mean that we continue to drive down the amount of waste sent to landfill. Our young visitors can even help by giving the composters a spin. The Green Tourism Board has made some excellent suggestions of where we can make further improvements and we look forward to getting even greener in the coming months.

 “Visitors too can help reduce their carbon footprint by arriving on public transport. We are just a short delightful stroll along the towpath from Marsden Train Station and anyone arriving by public transport or bicycle can even look forward to free refills in the café as a reward.”

 The Canal & River Trust charity, which cares for 2,000 of the nation’s waterways, is certified to the Carbon Trust Standard – delivering a further 6.7% reduction in our CO2 emissions from 2014-2016.

 David Baldacchino, local waterway manager with the Trust, added: “Working more sustainably is a key ambition for Canal & River Trust.  We’re really proud to have achieved this award for Standedge Visitor Centre”.

 To find out more about the Standedge Visitor Centre and Canal & River Trust’s ‘green’ plans, check out www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

ENDS

 For media requests, please contact:

Lynn Pegler, Canal & River Trust press office

Tel 077177 60284. Lynn.pegler@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

[matty40s]

 

 “Visitors too can help reduce their carbon footprint by arriving on public transport....OR BY BOAT???? We are just a short delightful stroll along the towpath from Marsden Train Station and anyone arriving by public transport or bicycle can even look forward to free refills in the café as a reward.”

 

[Mac of Cygnet]

35 minutes ago, matty40s said:

 

 “Visitors too can help reduce their carbon footprint by arriving on public transport....OR BY BOAT???? We are just a short delightful stroll along the towpath from Marsden Train Station and anyone arriving by public transport or bicycle can even look forward to free refills in the café as a reward.”

 

I don't think arriving by boat reduces your carbon footprint.  I can go much further on a litre of diesel in my car than I can in my boat, even discounting the 42 locks between Huddersfield and Standedge.

[billh]

5 hours ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

I don't think arriving by boat reduces your carbon footprint. 

It does if you have a horse  and leg the boat  through the tunnel to the visitor centre- been done several times in the last few years.

http://www.horseboating.org.uk/gallery/gallery44/

 Very small carbon hoof prints there. How green is that?

Edited June 29, 2017 by billh
link to pics added

[Mac of Cygnet]

Ah, yes, Maria.  I've met the boat a couple of times on the HNC. I'm tempted to say that the amount of hot air produced by her owner and crew could contribute quite a lot to global warming.

But I won't.

[billh]

3 minutes ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

Ah, yes, Maria.  I've met the boat a couple of times on the HNC. I'm tempted to say that the amount of hot air produced by her owner and crew could contribute quite a lot to global warming.

But I won't.

I think you need to check out who actually owns Maria, I doubt  very much you have had any hot air from them. As for the crew- they have the right to remain silent and mostly choose to do so.

[mayalld]

2 hours ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

Ah, yes, Maria.  I've met the boat a couple of times on the HNC. I'm tempted to say that the amount of hot air produced by her owner and crew could contribute quite a lot to global warming.

But I won't.

I rather suspect that the person you THINK is the owner isn't actually the owner.

(For the avoidance of doubt, Maria is NOT owned by an opinionated horsey lady. She just borrows the boat)