Northumberland tourism business declares a climate emergency

Dave and Harvest Harris-Jones, owners of Laverock Law Cottages, near Lowick, have made a commitment and declaration with the organisation Business Declares.

Harvest, who is chairman of the North Northumberland Tourism Association, said: “Our commitment is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the end of 2025, in doing so we join a small but growing band of businesses, many players on a national stage, such as the Body shop, Good Energy, Pukka Tea.”

The couple are already doing their bit for the environment, as shown by their 2018 Visit England national award and their gold at the North East England Tourism Awards 2018, both for sustainable tourism.

“We have already won both regional and national awards for sustainable tourism, reflecting our genuine concern for the state of our planet and recognising that all of us have to act now in order to minimise carbon emissions and their associated climate impact,” said Harvest.

“We were visitors to Northumberland before moving here to set up our business, it is too easy to think that nothing much will change despite climate change.

“However, even small changes in sea level will dramatically impact on the coastline and wildlife we love, and frequent heavier storms and rainfall will increase the incidents and impact of flooding across the region, all of which will have a major impact on the tourism industry.

“We hope that other Northumberland businesses will join in with their own declarations in the coming months.”

Visit businessdeclares.com for more information.