As many of you know, Coolings Nurseries has been committed to the environment since opening in Knockholt in 1913.

We recycle at least 90% of all our on-site waste. Last year, this included 20 tonnes of cardboard and two shipping containers worth of green waste. And plastic plant pots accounted for 14.4 tonnes of the 19 tonnes of plastic the business recycled in 2017.

With one of the largest selections of plants available in the UK, mostly all grown on site, we are doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint. Rainwater is harvested throughout the garden centre, collected in two reservoirs which hold the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools.

We have introduced biodegradable carrier bags and recyclable taupe pots to replace carbon black ones, and we are trying to get the new pots accepted by Sevenoaks council for domestic recycling. The first in the south east, our plastic pot recycling scheme is set up at on site at Rushmore Hill.

Our on-site restaurant, Arthur’s, uses fruit and veg from our ‘plot to plate’ greenhouse and other local produce.

Environmental awareness is promoted in our community and schools and we have also written our own environmental pledge, sharing goals and achievements with customers and locals.

We aim to encourage sensory planting and schemes which attract insects, birds and other animals.
Marketing manager, Becky Malcolm, said: “We benefit from the support of our customers, who have embraced the schemes, as well as the support of the community. We are aware of the impact our business has on the local infrastructure, particularly traffic, and so all we can to reduce our impact on the village and also support local activities and donate to local causes.”

We are now aiming to become the greenest garden centre in the UK.

Well done all.