Green Spaces for a Greener Planet!

At Skern Lodge, we're more than just a place for fun and adventure - we're dedicated to doing our part to preserve and look after our environment. Let's take a closer look at some of the key initiatives we're proud to champion...

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Planting trees for greener spaces

We are delighted to report that the Skern Lodge team and volunteers have now planted over 1300 British native trees in the last five years. Most of these trees have been generously donated by the Woodland Trust and Devon County Council. Each tree will slowly sequester carbon as they grow, with 1 tonne of CO2 offset for every 6 trees. The average yearly carbon footprint per person in the UK is a little over 12 tonnes, which means each row of 6 trees planted offsets 1 month of our personal emissions. Trees can also help improve air quality, improve soil fertility and create habitats for wildlife.

Every sapling we plant is a step towards restoring nature's balance!

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Adding colour to our green spaces

We have planted 900 spring bulbs in 2025, including British blue bells, snow drops, crocus and many more which not only bring a bucket-load of early-spring cheer when they pop up every year with great enthusiasm, but they provide an essential source of early nectar for bees too. Sometimes, bees even sleep in the crocus at night as the flowers close around them like a sleeping bag.

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‍Green spaces and habitats

At Skern Lodge, we have allowed the grass to grow long in many areas of the site and created wildlife meadows in order to support local biodiversity. This encourages native flowers to blossom, and attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects, which play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

We have deadwood piles and bug hotels dotted around site to encourage mini beasts to make homes and added bird boxes to our trees.

We are not only enhancing the beauty of this landscape, but also creating a safe haven for wildlife, contributing to the overall health of the environment. This has helped increase biodiversity and now badgers, buzzards, bats, frogs, foxes, moles, pheasants, rabbits, stoats, woodpeckers and many more animals can all call our beautiful 22 acre land a home.

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The importance of green space

The role of green spaces is crucial because they provide the natural setting where learning and growth can happen. These spaces help us connect to nature and as a centre, they provide an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our environment. Teaching people, especially young learners, how their actions impact green spaces can create more environmentally conscious individuals who care for and respect their local landscapes and wildlife.

Having greener spaces also has a huge positive impact on health and wellbeing. People benefit from being outside, breathing fresh air, and engaging in physical activity, which all help to reduce stress levels, enhance our mood and improve mental and physical health.

We are so proud to welcome back many returning schools and groups to Skern Lodge year on year, and it’s wonderful to know that we are a little bit greener every time they visit.

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Creating a sustainable future

We are committed to making environmentally conscious decisions that lead to long-term sustainability and positive change. Having a green centre that allows wildlife to flourish and reduces our carbon footprint, is hugely important to us and contributes to our mission of being a completely responsible organisation. We were the first to achieve Star Business status in July 2021, accepted the Nature Business Award during March 2022 and given the Wildlife Garden Award from the Devon Wildlife Trust in March 2025.

Together, we can help create a healthier, more sustainable world for future generations!