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The Estate
- Blenheim Palace recycles more than ten metric tonnes of both glass and card every year
- Blenheim spends approximately £18,000 per year disposing of visitors’ litter
- By monitoring our use of energy (Co2 reports are produced monthly) we are able to measure and review our consumption and energy saving measures
- All old paint, batteries, light bulbs, office paper, toners, water cooler bottles, feed bags, timber and hard-core are either reused or recycled by the Estate
- We encourage our suppliers to deliver goods in reusable containers
- We have thermostatic controls for air conditioning and hot water, and heating where possible
- Where we cannot control heating via thermostats because of the age and complexities of the heating system within the Palace we only heat the Palace for limited periods of time
- Most batteries onsite are rechargeable or sent to Brite Glancing for recycling
- All paper used across the Estate is sent to M&M for recycling
- All glass bottles are sent for recycling
- We have skips for all wood, metal and plastic to be taken away for recycling
- Low energy light bulbs have been introduced across the Estate
- The fountains are on timers to save energy and water at night.
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Park and Wildlife
- There are five sites of Scientific Interest on the Estate, one extending over 225 hectares in the Park
- All Blenheim Estate Woodlands have been independently certified as being environmentally sustainable
- There are many wildlife refuges in the Park in trees, which have been left standing or undisturbed if they have fallen and died. This is essential for saprophytic species (insects and fungi) and in turn birds and other wildlife
- Blenheim Park is the home to nine species of beetle on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Every May over 2,500 lambs are born in the Blenheim Park
- The oldest tree in the Park is around 900 years old!
- Britain's most studied Oak tree was grown on the Blenheim Estate
- The OneOak tree is the focus for an educational project by the Sylva Foundation. Read more..
- Read our Wildlife blog.
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The Gardens
- Rainwater is used to water our plants
- We use a drip irrigation system to water our gardens, these are on timers to save evaporation
- In the Gardens at Blenheim Palace we are most aware of the need to conserve every drop of water, so in two of the main planting areas we have installed water and labour-saving devices in the form of drip irrigation and pop up irrigation. Firstly the drip irrigation is installed in the very ornate Italian Garden, this system comprises of flat plastic piping which has holes along the length of the piping from which the water is allowed to seep out at controlled times, thus saving on the amount of water used, also saving on labour by not having to hand water the Summer bedding. The irrigation is set out in four zones and each zone is on a separate timer, which is also very easily operated, thus with weather conditions changing makes it very easy to alter timings.
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Marketing
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Blenheim Palace Hospitality
- Blenheim Palace Hospitality has a sustainable procurement policy and a commitment to use local and British produce in a sustainable way.
- We are committed to ethical trading, and Fair-trade tea, coffee, sugar and confectionery is available in all our catering outlets.
- The disposable products are used in our restaurants are 100% biodegradable
- All our cakes and pastries are made onsite in the Blenheim Palace kitchens.
- Our meat is 100% Red Tractor certified.
- Our fish is sustainably certified.
- All food waste is sent to the anaerobic digester only 5 miles away.
- Any liquid waste contaminated with fats and oils is sent to the anaerobic digester instead of being put down the drain.
- Most cleaning chemicals are phosphate and chlorine free.
- Our equipment is serviced regularly to make sure it is running efficiently.
- We employ many local staff.
- All of our sandwiches are made onsite which cuts down on waste packaging. Sandwiches are packaged in biodegradable wedges.
- We use locally sourced produce as much as possible. Most of our meat is sourced from a local farm.
- We use only recycled paper in our offices and for our marketing.
- Download our factsheet about how to book Greener Events for your business at Blenheim Palace
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Retail
- We have opted for an electric vehicle to transport stock to our shops and to event sites across the Estate. It uses very little power, is very quiet and has a maximum speed of 15mph. It was purchased locally so no large transportation was required.
- We sell two types of reusable shopping bags
- We promote Fair-trade products in our shops including scarves, hats, picnic ware and chocolate
- We serve Fair-trade tea and coffee in ‘The Pantry’
- We source local products wherever possible including honey produced by bees on the Estate, lavender toiletries made in the Cotswolds, locally brewed ale (in recyclable glass bottles) and locally grown herbs and lavender
- Our wooden products are from sustainable sources. Our walking sticks are made by a family business based in the West Country, using their own sustainably grown wood. Our wooden pens are made with wood from FSC approved forests. We stock a range of hand turned and carved items produced from fallen timber from the estate
- One of our best selling products is a rug made from 100% recycled wool and made in the UK.
- Read more about Retail Green Credentials
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Education
- The Education team offers a ‘green experience day’ for school groups who come to learn how the Palace is environmentally responsible and how they as a class and as individuals can make a difference. As part of their visit they complete an experiment to filter water. This is challenging and delightfully messy but the children do learn how important it is not to waste water.
- When making a booking, teachers are encouraged to do this via email or by using our on-line booking form to keep paper use to a minimum.
- We keep a seasonal Nature Diary which enables our readers to keep track of what is happening to the birds, animals and trees in the park.
- Click here to read the Spring Nature Diary
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Accessibility
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