As an organisation we have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment.  Our volunteer Green Team supports the team to make improvements through our Environmental Action Plan (below).

Recent activity includes:

• We are progressing well with our scheme to fit solar panels onto parts of our roof. Generating our own power will reduce what we have to buy, dramatically cutting our ‘carbon footprint’ and saving money as well. We have permission to connect panels to the National Grid. We now need to find funding to progress the project.
• We looked at our energy suppliers as our fixed contracts come to an end. We now use greener supplies and have installed smart meters. This means that our source of power is more sustainable. We can plan power usage more efficiently.
• We recycle the coffee grounds from our Tea Room. They go into our home-made compost to help our beautiful heritage garden flourish.

Successes over the last few years include:

• We joined the Nature Recovery Dorset Network.
• We attended training from Historic England to become accredited as Carbon Literate by the Carbon Literacy Trust.
• For parties and events, we choose eco-friendly decorations made from paper and we use recycled bunting borrowed from Wimborne Town Council.
• Working with Wimborne War on Waste, we are a Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Champion (Bronze).
• Wherever possible we buy from local suppliers and support local businesses. This reduces the miles that food and other items travel to get to us.
• We offer, and promote, free water refills in the Tea Room.
• Our Garden is wildlife friendly, with bug hotels, bat boxes and a pond. We take part in regular activities which promote nature, including Moth Nights and Bat Walks.

Local Steering Groups

As part of our community work, we are on several local steering groups, including those committed to improving the environment:

• Wilding Wimborne Steering Group, helping to reverse the dramatic decrease in wildlife and insects.
• Planet Wimborne Steering Group, including being involved in the annual Green Festival.
• Fairtrade Wimborne Steering Group, which promotes sustainable food production and environmental protection.

Our Plan for Reducing Carbon Emissions Created by our Activities

This Environmental Action Plan (EAP) outlines how we assess the environmental impact of our activities. We aim to continuously improve so that we deliver our activities in a genuinely environmentally responsible manner. The museum has chosen to actively commit to the reduction of carbon emissions (our ‘carbon footprint’) in all aspects of museum activity. We will measure carbon emissions from our activities wherever possible, evaluating where we can make reductions by changing how we do things and implementing those actions. Whilst the concept of ‘Net Zero Carbon Emissions’ would be difficult for us to achieve in practice, we keep this concept in mind as we move forward with our programme of improvements.

This plan will be a long term programme of work but it is necessary, in order to protect and preserve our local and global environment. The plan needs the cooperation and goodwill of the entire team, requiring Staff, Volunteers and Trustees to play their part.

Key museum activities that we will look at as part of this plan include:

1. Electricity usage

We will measure how much electricity we consume over the year, reviewing our electricity needs and how we can reduce consumption of power taken from the national grid. We will consider the viability of renewable electricity sources such as solar power.

2. Gas usage

We will measure the amount of natural gas that we consume each year to see how we can reduce or eliminate this fossil fuel, a key source of greenhouse gas emissions discharged into the environment.

2. Water consumption

Whilst not directly creating carbon emissions, water is pumped and the treatment of wastewater uses energy. It is therefore an indirect carbon emission. We will review our water consumption and seek to reduce it within our activities.

3. Tea Room

We continue to reduce our impact in Tea Room activities by trying to buy more locally produced items (which reduces food miles), and being aware of our energy and water consumption. Introduce a discount for those using sustainable modes of transportation to reach us, or reusable cups.

4. Shop

Continue to purchase goods selectively for sale in our shop which are made from natural or recyclable materials and do not use plastic packaging.

5. Museum activities

We reuse and recycle display material whenever possible, including sharing resources with local museums. We ensure that new displays and curatorial activities comply with environmental sustainability criteria. When possible, we try to minimise the need for people to travel to the museum by holding meetings online or hybrid meetings.  

6. Waste

Where we produce solid wastes through our activities, we’ll increase the amount of material that we send for recycling and reduce the amount of waste that we send sent to landfill through our bins.

7. Garden

Increase composting of garden waste for recycling back into the garden and eliminating the use of gardening chemicals.

8. Building

Where possible in the historic building, look to improve insulation, draft proofing, and room usage to reduce heat losses whilst meeting heating requirements for our historic building fabric and collection.

9. Communication and promotion

Promote our environmental commitments as part of our community engagement and education programmes, encouraging everyone to do their bit. Share best practice and learn from other museums and attractions.