WHITEHALL GARDEN CENTRE
GREEN ACCREDITATIONS

Whitehall Garden Centre as one of the largest leading garden centres in the UK should be at the forefront of green issues in both the way in which it operates, in the products it supplies to it's customers and the ethos in which the business is run.
We have identified three areas where we as a business can make a contribution to the environment and our surrounding area, this is our small contribution to making the world a better place.

IMPLEMENTATIONS IN PLACE

OPERATION

• Separation of waste at source, in conjunction with Hills waste, and Greens recycling separated into separate waste streams – cardboard, paper, plastics, metal, wood compostable waste and general waste
• Whitehall is the nominated recycling site for the village of Lacock with the facility of paper, glass, cans, bottles and clothing
• Plastics used for carrier bags now have EPI which helps to make them biodegradable
• The use of paper bags in being introduced for fresh vegetables, bulbs, clothing plant sleeves and boot liners
• The on going program of replacing the old 8ft strip light with a more efficient 6ft florescent light
• The replacement of the old irrigation computer with a new digital computer with rain sensor to reduce the amount of water we use
• The introduction of heavy duty bags for life that can be used more than once and we sell to our customers at cost
• The recycling of all ink cartridges from our office to help raise money for Wiltshire Wild Life
• The recycling of all mobile phones not being used to help raise money for Wiltshire Wild Life
• The use of suppliers cardboard boxes for customers to take their shopping home
• The use of suppliers plastic plant trays for customers to take their shopping home
• The restaurant cooking oil is recycled and sold to produce bio-diesel
• All good wooden pallets are returned to our suppliers to be used again
• All wood and damaged pallets are sent to Greens Recycling in Chippenham to be broken down and recycled
• All plant suppliers plastic plant trays and pots are recycled with Hills
• All office paper is shredded and recycled by Perry Recycling
• The conversion of the farming enterprise to organic status
• The introduction of plastic pot recycling for our customers
• The decision not to sell gas patio heater and similar products
• Finding ways to minimise our consumption of Water/Gas/Electricity
  

PRODUCTS

• The majority of plants sold at Whitehall are sourced from the UK helping to reduce the distance travelled
• The majority of food sold in the farm shop and the restaurant is sourced from the southwest of England
• Lamb sold in our farm shop produced from our own farm that is in organic conversion.  Beef, pork, venison, poultry and organic vegetables all produced from Wiltshire farmers helping to reduce food miles
• We endeavour to source furniture with FSC accreditation or from sources with environmental accreditations
• We will introduce new ranges of organic plants and products into our product ranges as they become available to us
• We will endeavour to give our customers the choice of an organic product whenever possible
• We will be actively looking for new products to introduce to our ranges, these will include water recycling, organic pest and disease controls, innovative products and products to help our customers recycle and help with organic gardening
• Try where practical to use suppliers or to educate our suppliers not to over package their goods for transport and for resale
• We source fair trade products whenever possible

COMMUNITY

• We encourage links with local schools to encourage gardening, this includes tree planting schemes, natural gardening, grow your own projects
• We provide free talks, demonstrations, lectures to encourage our customers to enjoy gardening
• The seedling club is evolving to encourage children to garden and grow their own vegetables with summer workshops, pumpkin and sunflower growing competitions etc
• We have a close association with local gardening clubs and allotment societies
• We have close links and raise money for local charities:-

• Wiltshire Wild Life
• Royal Society for the protection of birds
• Air Ambulance
• Dorothy House

• We sponsor local teams and clubs including Chippenham Rugby Club
• We sponsor Lacock School Scarecrow Trail to raise money for much needed equipment
• We provide meaningful work experience for school children and students from local schools and Lackham College
• We constantly review our green accreditation and look for any opportunity to improve how Whitehall can help the environment

If you have any comments/ideas or would like to know any further information please e-mail enquiries@whitehallgardencentre.co.uk