EVERGREEN GARDENS ENVIRONMENTAL ‘BEST PRACTICE’ GUIDE

All chainsaws, brushcutters and strimmers fitted with catalytic converters. New brushcutters use Stihl 4mix engines that recycle exhaust gasses and reduce fuel costs.

All saws run on Organic vegetable-based chain lubrication oil.

All two stroke machines run on organic vegetable-based 2 stroke oil.

We maximise use of shared transport.

Strong consideration is given to location of work and employees home to minimise travel distances.

Encourage employees to keep vehicles well maintained, tyre pressures properly inflated and restrict speed to a maximum of 50mph when travelling to and from work.

Undertake a basic Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before accepting any work and aim to educate employees where we feel there is a conflict of interests eg. Virtues of leaving standing dead trees when quoting for their removal.

Only use British origin plants (from local sources where possible) in any planting/sowing schemes, with the exception of non-natives where they are known to be beneficial food sources and non-invasive.

We only use Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber products.

We only use peat free compost and products such as organic farm yard manure and ‘zoo poo’.

We use reclaimed and/or recycled materials wherever possible on hard landscaping projects.

We only use herbicides as part of a programme of restoration (not as a technique employed for long term management)

We maximise the use of by-products from projects eg timber for domestic heating.

We minimise waste by recycling all metal and plastic consumables.

We build habitat piles instead of burning where appropriate.

We burn on bare patches on grassland areas or remove and compost.

Each employee is familiar with the Evergreen Gardens Environmental Best Practice Guide, our Health and Safety policy and measures against potential environmental damage.