Environmental Policy
Body Hub and the environment
When we first started Body Hub we were located in the corner of a field and security/storage was an issue for us. As such we started looking at using equipment which wouldn't be attractive to wandering hands. Little did we know but this was the start of our environmental journey!
When we relocated to where the centre is now based we had a huge 2 acre site which first needed to be flattened and scraped clean of vegetation which can be seen in the images below. It was at this point that owner Darryl realised that the natural habitat for animals and insects was being destroyed and at that point he made a conscious decision to put back what was removed.
The bunds which form the edges of the entire course have been allowed to naturally regrow along with the addition to some native bee loving wildflowers. The edges of the bunds have been lined with logs which have been provided from local tree surgeons. These logs provide homes to field mice, insects and other critters. The tracks have been filled with woodchip which again has been provided by local tree surgeons and helps not only to keep the centre open all year round (no mud) but also keeps most weeds at bay meaning that we have no need for weed killer which in itself is bad for the environment.
By using local tree surgeons it means that their waste is repurposed which would most likely have been burned. Wood, being a natural material, over time, breaks down putting its goodness back into the soil and as this happens we need to keep topping up so it's a continued positive cycle. We have seen the direct impact of these results as each year more and more wildlife and insect species appear and flourish.
At the end of the day we run a business and as such we need to continue to develop our offerings which most of the time means adapting existing obstacles or building new ones. When looking at material lists to adapt or build rather than buying new, we first look at materials which can be repurposed and if we can't source everything we need we then purchase new. This has meant that we have built relationships with local refuge centres, searching on local marketplace sites etc. Our thinking behind this is that if we don't repurpose then those items will go into landfill sites so why not give them another use/life.
Our forest area has been a recent project and the thinning out of the trees has given us more materials to use for building obstacles, creating fences etc as well as giving the stronger trees more room to grow and gain more light. This area is now used as a forestry school area teaching kids about nature and the environment as well as our mindfulness and meditation area. Everything in this area has been repurposed.
If you would like to visit us and see for yourself what has been achieved here at the centre please feel free to get in touch.
