Sustainability

Green Impact

Green Impact is a UNESCO award-winning programme that helps embed sustainability into operations, policy and procedures, supporting English Heritage staff to take actions in teams. By breaking down the often-complex world of sustainability into practical actions, staff can take steps to improve sustainable practice at their site.

English Heritage collaborated with Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) on a bespoke version of their Green Impact awards programme and tailored the online toolkit to align with our Climate Action Plan.

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Our Programme

After a pilot cycle involving 18 site teams, the programme launched across the country in September 2023. In 2023–4, 55 sites participated. Teams chose from a wide range of environmental actions covering areas like energy, water and biodiversity. Through checking off actions, sites worked towards bronze, silver and gold awards.

 

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A red-billed chough
A red-billed chough
© blickwinkel / Alamy Stock Photo

Special Awards

Awards were also given for community action, environmental improvement, innovation for engagement, English Heritage ‘sustainability hero’ and English Heritage Volunteer Leadership.

Each year SOS-UK selects five nominees from local Green Impact programmes to receive the prestigious National Green Impact Awards. Dover Castle in Kent was selected as the 2024 winner of the Community Action Award for their work with Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust on the choughs reintroduction project.

Read more about the award
Walmer Castle in Kent

Walmer Castle & Gardens, in Kent, won the Environmental Improvement Special Award in 2023 for their project to replace all their fossil fuel powered handheld garden tools with battery powered tools – from hedge cutters to robot mowers.

Larger machinery such as the telehandler and tractor are now running on HVO (a biofuel made from cooking oil) instead of diesel.

Using battery powered machinery has reduced emissions and fossil fuel use, reduced the impact on the operators (gardeners) and reduced noise levels, which is beneficial for users, visitors and neighbours.

Children exploring Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle, on the Isle of Wight, won the Innovation for Engagement Special Award for their work engaging the local community and visitors. They have achieved this via several methods: newsletters and articles, outreach, national campaigns and community events, social media and group and education visits.

Hannah Brewer (Stables Manager at Carisbrooke Castle) won the Sustainability Hero Special Award. She was nominated for her inspiring leadership of our Green Impact work.

[Hannah] has managed to enthuse the whole site team to get behind the ideas, recognising that even small actions can make a big difference. From the introduction of family activity weekends like ‘Bugs and Butterflies’ to getting water butts installed and a book recycling area for staff and visitors, her leadership has been key and without her perseverance many of these things would never have happened.

Andy Limbrick, a volunteer at Marble Hill, Twickenham, won the Volunteer Leadership Special Award. 

Andy has led Green Impact and has a great knowledge of sustainability and applies practical changes that are easy for everyone to adopt. Andy is a great example of how to lead on sustainability.

Find out more

  • Protecting Hurst Castle

    In February 2021, a section of wall on the 19th-century east wing collapsed. Find out about our major project to protect and bring stability to the castle.

  • Sustainability

    The climate and ecological crises are two of the biggest challenges facing our historic sites. Find out how we are reducing our environmental impact. 

  • Climate Action Plan 2022–2025

    Find out how our plan will create meaningful and sustainable change, from reducing carbon emissions to waste management and biodiversity.