Who hasn’t spent most of last year daydreaming about booking a holiday? The back garden and a paddling pool full of grass doesn’t quite compare to the golden sandy beaches of the Mediterranean. We’ve been at home a lot over the last year while Covid-19 swept across the globe. Now we’re on the long and winding path out of lockdown, our fingers are hovering over our phones and keyboards just waiting for the go-ahead to book that long-awaited getaway.
So what does your ideal holiday look like? A beautiful sandy beach? Hiking through stunning landscapes? Sailing and surfing? When you hear these types of holidays you’re probably picturing them taking place somewhere hot and exotic. But you could do all of the above – and much more – here in the UK. Yes, the weather can be temperamental but how about we stay at home just a little bit more this year and embrace what the UK has to offer.
By doing so, we’re doing the planet a favour.
With around 7% of the world’s population being in lockdown at some point in the last 12 months, the air quality in the world’s busiest cities has improved thanks to an 8.8% decrease in global CO2 emissions. A reduction of people moving around the globe has had a real impact on the environment, allowing the planet to bounce back a little. We all know that hopping on a plane, as exciting as it is, isn’t great for the environment and is a contributor to global air pollution. Did you know that worldwide flights produced 915 million tonnes of CO2 in 2019? If you’re curious (and brave enough) to find out how big your carbon footprint is, visit carbonfootprint.com.
Staycations have always been popular but there has never been a better time to consider a holiday at home. OK, that might be because we’re restricted in our choice of holidays abroad, but it’s a great opportunity to continue the positive impact that reduced travel has had on the planet.
Staycations are also a lot less stressful to organise and the journey itself becomes a huge part of the holiday. Spontaneous stops at points of interest or picnics are all part of the fun. However, if you don’t fancy being in the car – why not consider a scenic rail journey instead? Another improvement to your carbon footprint and you’ll save on using fuel for the car too. Another useful resource for a staycation is the website Book Different. It tells you the carbon footprint of different accommodations so you can keep an even closer eye on the impact your holiday has on the environment.
If this has piqued your interest, check out the Green Tourism website, a certification programme that promotes greener ways for businesses and organisations. They offer their members advice on reducing energy use, saving water and promoting biodiversity. You’ll also be able to check whether the places you are visiting have the Green Tourism accreditation for another tick for sustainability on your UK holiday.
And let’s not forget another huge positive for staying in the UK – our country is bursting to the brim with amazing places to visit!
Wales, Devon, Scotland and Somerset have been ranked as the top eco-friendly destinations by hometogo.co.uk and they all have an abundance of places to explore and activities to dive into. We’re looking forward to exploring what is on offer across the whole of the UK over the next few years.
Click here to read some more insights about energy saving in the home.
