NATURE RECOVERY & SUSTAINABILITY WITH MENDIP ADVENTURE

Outdoor adventures are rooted in the natural environment, which is why we are passionate about nature recovery and sustainability.

We are continuously working to:

Reduce our footprint
Respect risk
Share our knowledge
Pursue impactful nature recovery projects

Guided by a comprehensive sustainability audit, we have identified projects that protect the environment, support our objectives and commitments, and educate the public about the value of nature.

In support of the sustainability efforts we make, we are committed to:

Fulfilling our compliance obligations
Undertaking regular reviews of operations to identify areas of further improvement
Liaising with contractors and suppliers regarding their sustainability policies

Nature Recovery at Mendip Activity Centre

We’ve been working with Nathan Orr, a Nature Recovery Ranger from the Mendip HIlls National Landscape, on projects that support the local wildlife and rare landscapes found on Mendip Activity Centre’s 250-acre site. To strengthen this partnership, we sponsor 25% of his time to enable focused, year-round conservation work.

Nathan is responsible for devising and implementing plans to help wildlife recover and connect across the Mendip Hills National Landscape through analysing the presence and conditions of the 8 Champion Species found in the Mendips.

What are Champion Species?

Champion Species are particular plants and animals whose presence is considered a good indicator of a healthy ecosystem; likewise, their absence can indicate an ecosystem under pressure.

The 8 Champion Species of the Mendip Hills are:

Adder*
Black oil beetle*
Cheddar pink (flower)
Greater horseshoe bat*
Hazel dormouse*
Skylark
Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly*
Water vole

*found at Mendip Activity Centre

As stewards of this beautiful and diverse slice of the Mendip Hills, we are committed to enhancing and preserving this environment for future generations. Here are some of the nature recovery projects that Nathan has led at Mendip, in his words:

Hibernaculums - Building Cosy Homes for Adders

Hibernaculums are hibernating spaces for wildlife, particularly reptiles like the adder or common lizard. They are piles of stone and wood material, usually topped with turf, which have voids built into the lowest spaces of the construction where reptiles can escape the winter.

Preserving Rare Grasslands

We preserve grasslands, and by this description, I actually mean flower-rich meadows, not fields of Italian rye grass for cows. We prevent the transition to woodland that happens when there are no grazing animals. We cut back bramble, remove tree saplings, and sometimes cut grass and remove the cut material. This helps preserve this rare flower-rich grassland and the host of animals and plants it supports.

Sustainability With Mendip Adventure

Alongside nature recovery, infrastructure updates across Mendip Adventure destinations are a key pillar of our sustainability policy. By replacing outdated systems and fixtures and implementing new monitoring strategies and technology, we are reducing our environmental footprint one project at a time:

Transportation:

We've recently purchased an electric vehicle for on-site use, introduced a cycle-to-work scheme to encourage staff to make use of active transport and reduce commuting carbon footprints. We also provide public transport and active travel information to guests so they can make a considered decision about their transport.

Waste and Water:

To help reduce our water consumption, we’ve installed low-flow urinal blocks and developed a comprehensive digital system to track and manage our water usage.

Energy:

We have reduced our energy consumption by installing solar panels on Mendip Lodge and the shower blocks at Mendip Basecamp, implemented a digital system that shuts off lights when not in use, and installed an automated lift start/stop feature on the ski lift. We have also replaced the single-glazed doors and windows in Mendip Lodge and YHA Cheddar with more energy-efficient double-glazed options.

Making Environmental Education Accessible

We are big believers in the power of people and the things we can achieve together. Through our work with schools, youth groups, businesses, families and individuals, we aim to emphasise the holistic value of nature and empower everyone with nature’s knowledge and the belief that together, we can make a difference.

Alongside our knowledgeable, passionate team, everyone who visits a Mendip destination can become a valuable ambassador for the environment. Our approach creates opportunities for people to meaningfully engage with the outdoors, whether that’s seeing a bat for the first time or simply witnessing the changing leaves of autumn.

Guided Nature Walks

Alongside his conservation work, Nathan Orr also leads Nature Walks at Mendip Activity Centre, where he talks about the unique flora and fauna of the Mendip Hills and shows participants what to look for and how to identify different species. His work also contributes to the environmental education that we support schools and youth organisations with.

Self-Led Nature Trail

In addition to scheduled Nature Walks with Nathan Orr, we’ve designed a beautiful self-led trail that winds through woodland and open meadow, featuring brass rubbing stations so little ones can get involved, and QR codes that let you into the wild secrets of rare flowers, roaming creatures and ancient trees found on the Mendips.

Bat Transceivers

Bat transceivers are brilliant pieces of equipment that allow users to detect bats by their echolocation calls, and even identify the species of bat by the nature of its call signature. It’s a great way for children to engage with nature and experience rare species like the Greater horseshoe bat in their natural environment.

If you're visiting Mendip Basecamp, our family campsite, you can try using one of these.

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