The Environment

Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness is to understand the fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection. 

Over the years, Blue Diamond has taken many positive steps to reduce our impact on the environment and implemented measures to help reduce our carbon footprint.  We also support our local communities in their efforts by helping local schools in creating more green space and free talks and advice about all aspects of gardening.

By gardening, we can truly "go green" to benefit the earth. Plants act as highly effective air cleaners, absorbing carbon dioxide, plus many air pollutants while releasing clean oxygen and fragrance. Insects such as bees and butterflies depend on our gardens which are an integral part of the ecosystem.  Without insects, our lives would be vastly different.  Insects pollinate many of our fruits, flowers, and vegetables. We would not have much of the produce that we enjoy and rely on without the pollinating services of insects, not to mention honey, beeswax, silk, and other useful products that insects provide. 

At Blue Diamond, we are aware that we are part of a greener, cleaner future and this page sets out some of the steps we are taking to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a greener, cleaner way of working within our garden centre and restaurant environments. 

  • Sustainable Packaging

Our carrier bags are made of starch and are fully compostable. Our Busy Bee branded ‘bag for life’ is made from Jute and Cotton.  

 

All of our own grown plants are potted in kerbside recyclable non black containers. In our restaurant, our takeaway cups and straws are made from plant based materials.

 

 We reuse our cardboard waste for customers to carry thier plants home or it is baled on site and recycled. 

  • Energy Saving

Throughout the garden centre all of our lighting has been switched from incandescent to LED.

 

 Our own grown plants are grown cold with cover for frost protection, no artificial heating methods

  • Solar Panels

Solar energy is a free and renewable energy source that is available in abundance.

 

 By utilising solar energy we are able to cut down our use of non-renewable energy and reduce the impact of our carbon footprint.

  • Zero Neonicotinoids

We do not sell or use any products containing Neonicotinoids. 

 

We offer a range of natural products including organic fertilisers and biodegradable options.

  • Peat-Free alternatives

All of the plants grown in our own plant nursery are grown & sold in peat free compost.

 

In line with government guidance, the garden centre Industry must begin to phase out peat.

 

 Peat is a natural mineral rich resource that acts as a vital filter for carbon in the environment as well as being home to many species of micro-organism.

 

 Traditionally peat has been used in compost to help plants grow with its rich nutrients.

 

 Busy Bee has been gradually adding peat-free alternatives to our range and as we aim to become fully peat free.

We know there is so much more to do and each day, we are looking at new ways to reduce our impact on the environment.It starts with us - all of us...