Eco Friendly Devon

With two national parks, a wonderful coastline and several areas of outstanding natural beauty and sites of scientific interest, it is important that we work together to help preserve and protect this naturally beautiful county.

With this in mind, it’s no wonder that so many people are turning eco-tourism, an idea to allow travellers to enjoy natural environments while also supporting conservation efforts. Luckily, Devon is happily embracing this new concept and offering a whole host of eco-friendly places to stay, visit and eat all over the county.

Whether you’re looking for a fun, action-packed week away or just a relaxing weekend, you don’t need to feel guilty about the impact your holiday is having on the environment, take a look through some of our eco-friendly members and plan a great break away while keeping your conscious clean and green! From only using local, sustainable produce in their menus, to cutting down on their single use plastics, to powering their accommodation with solar or wind power, there are a whole range of ways to cut down on your carbon footprint and it is something that more and more businesses in Devon are offering.

Being green in Devon

It isn’t just cafes with bamboo or paper straws or hotels with solar panels on the walls, many of Devon’s top attractions are working towards creating a more sustainable future for the region, including the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth which not only introduces visitors to a whole host of marine life, but also works as a conservation charity dedicated to helping us all understand more about the ocean.

Other attractions, such as the region’s open farms or places like Pennywell Farm are also great places to visit for a green day out – these farms will often serve food grown on their own land and also feature education facilities to help the younger generations learn more about how they can keep natural open spaces healthy.  

Devon County Council has committed to be net-zero by 2050 at the latest. There are several plans in place to help achieve this, including using renewable energy, cutting out single use plastics and more. 

Small ways you can be eco friendly in Devon

Here are some of the ways you can help lower your carbon footprint while visiting Devon. 

- Take part in beach cleans, there are national and local events organised all year round.

- Take all your litter with you.

- Recycle where you can. 

- Use public transport where possible.

- Only have picnics and BBQs in designated places.