Rooted in Nature, Responsible by Design
Every one of our marinas and parks exists because of the landscape around it
From the quiet reaches of the Shropshire Union Canal to the limestone valleys of the Yorkshire Dales, the places we look after are what bring our guests, moorers and homeowners back year after year. Protecting them isn’t a side project for us; it’s the whole point.
Our Leave Only Ripples programme brings together everything we’re doing to cut carbon, reduce waste, keep our waters clean and give wildlife more room to thrive, with clear targets we’re holding ourselves to by 2030.
We want every family who stays with us, and every boater who moors with us, to leave knowing the place is in better shape than when they arrived.
Our 2030 Commitments
100% Renewable Power
Every berth, lodge and café across our estate running on certified renewable electricity, with solar canopies installed at four of our marinas.
50,000 Native Trees
Planting oak, rowan, hawthorn and birch across our parks and partner land to create new woodland corridors for wildlife.
Zero Waste to Landfill
Comprehensive recycling and composting at every site, plus refill stations replacing single-use plastics in our cafés and shops.
Net Zero Operations
Halving our operational emissions by 2027 and reaching net zero across all of our sites before the end of the decade.
412 Tonnes of CO₂ Saved
That’s how much carbon our solar canopies, electric work boats and LED lighting upgrades kept out of the atmosphere last year, roughly the same as taking 90 cars off the road.
Sustainability Across Our Sites
Cleaner, quieter waterways
Our marinas now offer shore-side charging on every berth, so moorers can switch off diesel generators and enjoy the peace. Our day hire fleet is being converted to electric drive, with three silent narrowboats already in service at Tattenhall and Great Haywood.
Pump-out stations have been upgraded to sealed systems, and every marina now has a dedicated oil and bilge-water collection point, keeping pollutants out of the canal entirely.
Letting the land breathe
At Long Ashes Park we’ve set aside six acres as a no-mow wildflower meadow, installed more than 120 bird and bat boxes, and introduced a ground-source heat pump to warm the leisure club pool.
New lodges are built with locally sourced timber and triple glazing, and our grounds team has swapped petrol tools for battery-powered equipment charged from our own solar array.
Local plates, lower food miles
Our kitchens at The Gamekeeper’s Inn, Woodland Café and The Boathouse source over 70% of their ingredients from within 30 miles, working with Dales farmers, Cheshire dairies and local breweries.
Food waste is composted on site and returned to our kitchen gardens, takeaway packaging is fully compostable, and you can bring your own cup for 25p off any hot drink.
Wildlife Watch
Help us count the creatures that share our spaces
Spotted a kingfisher on the cut, otters near the pontoons, or barn owls over the meadow? Our Wildlife Watch scheme invites guests, moorers and residents to log their sightings, helping us and our local wildlife trusts track how nature is recovering across our sites.
Last year our community logged more than 3,000 sightings across 140 species, including the first water voles seen at Saul Junction in over a decade.
See It in Action
Can I charge an electric car or boat at your sites?
Yes. All of our marinas have 16-amp shore power on every berth, and EV charging points are available in the car parks at Tattenhall, Barton and Long Ashes Park, with more being added through 2027.
How can I reduce my impact while staying with you?
Use the recycling and food-waste bins provided, bring a reusable cup and bottle for our refill stations, and leave the car behind to explore on foot, by bike or by boat. Ask at reception for our walking and cycling maps.
Do you work with local conservation groups?
We partner with regional wildlife trusts and the Canal & River Trust on habitat surveys, hedgerow planting and volunteer clean-up days. Keep an eye on our What’s On page for upcoming volunteering events.
How do you measure your progress?
We track energy, water, waste and emissions at every site each month and publish an annual sustainability report, independently verified, so you can see exactly how we’re doing against our 2030 commitments.