Our Environmental Policy

At HF Holidays we recognise our responsibility to manage the environmental impact of our activities, products and services. In order to promote good environmental practices throughout the Organisation, the Policy with regard to the environment is as follows: -

• To identify any effect of its activities on the environment.
• To develop suitable objectives, targets, a management programme and apply appropriate procedures or operating instructions to minimise impacts during normal, abnormal and emergency conditions.
• To comply with relevant environmental legislation, regulation and other requirements to which the organisation subscribes.
• To minimise the inputs of utilities and resources and the outputs of emissions to the atmosphere, effluents to waters and wastes to disposal facilities; endeavouring to re-use, recover or recycle materials where possible.
• To ensure that environmental responsibilities are defined, communicated and understood at all levels within the organisation and provide appropriate training where needed.
• To ensure that suppliers and contractors understand the Company Policy and assist them in developing responsible behaviour with regard to the environment.
• To communicate, co-operate and respond to the views of interested parties, including stakeholders, customers and the general public, on environmental matters, where commercially feasible.
• To strive for continual improvement in environmental performance.

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Business Environmental Award

Organisations of all kinds throughout the UK are increasingly concerned to achieve and demonstrate sound and sustainable environmental performance. HF Holidays maintains a commitment to the environment. In some respects and in some areas, such as our walking operations, more than most. We are active in reducing, re-using and recycling waste, cutting energy costs and developing best practice environmental management. It is important to judge ourselves against national criteria and HF Holidays are continually assessed by the Rural Enterprise Agency.

In March 2003, we were awarded the Bronze Award, in September 2003 the Silver Award and then September 2004 to Gold level was achieved. This year we have retained the Gold award. This shows that HF Holidays have demonstrated an awareness and commitment to environmentally sound operations and has made progress towards assessing and controlling environmental risks. The gold award goes to companies who have reached a level of excellence in identifying risks, putting into place procedures to manage potential impacts and have planned for continued improvement in performance.

The next step will be to retain this award for the third year and into the future, by continuing with our efforts.

CBEN have helped HF Holidays:

• Improve environmental management, skills and practices
• Increase the level of recycling
• Cut operating costs by reducing waste and making better use of raw materials
• Benefit the environment by reducing waste going to landfill
• Reduce the risk of pollution
• Ensure that we and other businesses are aware of relevant environmental legislation
• Contribute to the achievement of Local Agenda priorities, particularly concerning pollution, recycling and a sustainable economy.
• Develop best practice by reducing, reusing and recycling waste and cutting energy costs

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The Pathways Fund

Our Pathways Fund is supported by our Members and guests which helps protect the environment in our communities.

Our wonderful countryside is worth protecting - and we need your support.

The Pathways Fund is kept buoyant through donations by our holiday guests. From the fund, grants are made to individuals and small organisations who seek to preserve or improve the environment in which HF Holidays' guests walk, but cannot readily obtain this funding from their own or other sources.

Our guests' generosity has recently helped to fund...

• Footpaths and footbridges on the Isle of Arran
• Boundary walls and footpath on the route to Malham Cove, near Malhamdale
• Work on the Cleveland Way near Whitby
• Handrails on the "landslip" on the Isle of Wight coast path
• Resortation work on Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis
• and many more.

In addition, occasional grants are made to those in need under an assisted holiday scheme.

Over the last ten years, some £170,000 has been provided in grants to many diverse, worthwhile projects and causes, including Mountain Rescue Teams, the John Muir Trust Schiehallion Appeal, to Field Officers for local footpath improvements, to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for footpath and signage work on Dartmoor, Conistonwater, Brecon in Wales and Pitlochry in Scotland, as well as assisted holidays.

Applications for a grant from individuals, interested bodies or organisations are welcome. Grants made will necessarily be small as it is the intention of the Pathways Fund to ensure the maximum benefit is provided in as wide an area as possible, within which HF Holidays' guests walk.

Guest donations make these worthwhile projects possible and we thank them for their support.

Please make your donations at our UK Country House accommodation or to our London office.

Requests for information on grants should be sent in writing to:
Chief Executive, HF Holidays, Catalyst House, 720 Centennial Court, Centennial Park, Elstree, Hertfordshire, WD6 3SY.

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