By Katherine Price
Why should hospitality care about biodiversity? Because of the sector’s reliance and influence on food.
Global demand to produce more food quickly and cheaply is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, according to a 2021 Chatham House report, which warned the current system was threatening our ability to sustain human populations.
Plants cannot grow in soil that can’t provide the nutrients they need and our reliance on monocultures is leading to huge risks in food security, while imbalances in species populations can be disastrous. Since the 1970s, 41% of all UK species surveyed have declined and 15% are threatened with extinction.
Dan Saladino explains it brilliantly in his book Eating to Extinction, in which he offers many examples of the dangers of overreliance on monocultures, such as bananas. Almost all bananas exported to the UK are the same variety – the Cavendish – which is being devastated across several continents by an aggressive disease. Diversity in plants means some are immune to diseases that destroy others, with food security just one of many arguments for biodiversity. Having already experienced the problems supply chain disruption can cause in recent years, a biodiverse and secure food system is in hospitality businesses’ best interests.
“Alongside the climate crisis, we have a biodiversity crisis, and they are inextricably linked. The biodiversity element is possibly even worse,” explains Marten Lewis, head of corporate responsibility at the 500-acre Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire.
There are two major areas in which venues can make a positive impact on biodiversity – onsite and through the supply chain. Bluestone resort has been on a sustainability journey since William McNamara opened the venue in 2008. A decade ago, the site was of very low ecological value. Over 60% had been intensively farmed and the remainder of low diversity woodland was due to be felled. In 2007, prior to development of the resort, the then Newton Dairy Farm site was described as an “ecological desert” by a Cardiff University assessment.
But through the advice and support of the local Wildlife and Woodland Trusts, Bluestone has since planted 60 acres of woodland, created two lakes, new hedgerows, widened existing hedges, and managed the rewilding of pasture to more natural grassland. As a result, it achieved a projected 53% biodiversity net gain since 2006, according to the Kent Wildlife Trust following a year-long study.
In recent years, species have been recorded onsite including otters, yellowhammer birds, harvest mice, and cricket bat spiders. Other populations have increased, such as the common lizard, grass snakes, slow worms, frogs, toads, and newts.
As of 2020, the resort has been on a mission to implement a 10-year biodiversity plan to improve and enhance habitats as well as encourage wildlife and flora back to the area.
One of the most important projects, says Lewis, has been increasing the different types of habitats as well as connecting them. For example, tree planting has connected two ancient woodlands, which will improve the health of the species living there, increasing their habitats and providing safe passage for animals and insects.
Exclusive Collection is another hospitality company that is investing in the biodiversity of its grounds. Earlier this year, the group’s South Lodge hotel in Horsham, West Sussex, recruited 100 team members and local volunteers to plant 1,267 trees and 317 shrubs over four acres of its estate to extend an ancient woodland. Working alongside Protect Earth and Ecologi, the Collection has also announced a partnership with online mapping platform the Land App to help understand the biodiversity across its estates.
Lewis advises engaging the assistance of Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs), as they are called in England and Wales – see below for more information – which will be able to advise on biodiversity specific to your area.
“Understanding what’s important locally to you… that’s the best way to support biodiversity,” he explains.
“There’s no point adding six new types of tree species if they don’t do an awful lot locally, whereas we could plant half a dozen of one tree species that is in decline or is perfect for a particular type of animal or moss or fungi that requires it.”
Bluestone is also working with the local records centre and regional wildlife recorders to fine-tune its land management and identify opportunities. While it may be tempting to simply leave nature to rebalance itself, land management is key to speed up the process and reverse damage that may have already been done, says Lewis.
It also doesn’t necessarily require huge investment, he explains – it could simply involve removing mesh from the corners of your building which discourages house martens.
“Turn it into a selling point. People will be pleased that you’ve done something for nature,” he says.
There are also opportunities for venues in city centres to support biodiversity in their areas, even if they don’t have much by way of green space, for example local parks. Your venue could host a fundraising event to support local conservation projects, arrange for your team to volunteer for community initiatives, or establish a long-term donation commitment to nearby projects.
“It’s a really good way of showing that you have a community connection [and] can hugely add value to your brand,” points out Lewis.
The second area is your supply chain. “There are ways that you can engage with the supply chain to affect biodiversity quite easily just by asking some questions. And you would probably find that the big players are all fighting to be green, so use them,” says Lewis.
“For very little extra work they could perhaps widen their hedges or use parts of the fields to plant wildflowers and increase the biodiversity without affecting their product in any way. Now you’ve got a value chain story to tell which is far more powerful. You can both talk about how you’re supporting the local community.”
Educating as well as engaging visitors is also a priority for the resort. A grain dispenser has been installed at its lake along with information explaining the detrimental impact of bread on habitats and ducks.
Meanwhile, the menus at its restaurants include interesting sustainability facts to get guests talking. Given the venue welcomes 400 diners every day, even if only 10% of those people are inspired to start a conversation about sustainability, that’s still 40 people every day, points out Lewis.
“How many people across hospitality in the UK every day could potentially be having a conversation about biodiversity or climate change sparked by a really interesting point on the menu?” he says. “People sitting around eating is a hugely powerful medium for anything to happen.”
Regional biodiversity resources
Local Nature Partnerships England.
Local Nature Partnerships Cymru.
Local Biodiversity Partnerships Scotland.
Northern Ireland Nature Recovery Networks.
