Call us 0845 126 4098
Introducing your 2009 boating holiday
Not only are you about to choose one of the most relaxing and rewarding holidays around, you are also choosing one of the‘greenest’. Starting the moment you board your floating home, a holiday cruising through some of the country’s most
breathtaking scenery, working the locks or sitting back with a glass of wine won’t ‘cost’ the earth. In fact your holiday is estimated
to be some 20 times better for the planet than spending two hours flying for a holiday overseas *(see below).
In addition to the initiatives to reduce our
impact on the environment, we have made
some changes to the way we price our
holidays in 2009. With the soaring costs of
fuel and uncertainty over marine diesel taxes
at the point we were producing this brochure
we decided the fairest way was to maintain
the same or cheaper hire prices, but to allow
you to pay for only the fuel you consume
during your holiday at the price prevailing at that time. This we
believe is fairer because if you are careful and cruise sensibly you
pay less and it will also be helping us to help the environment.
At no cost to you, we will continue donating a percentage of our
profits to “The Waterways Trust Green Fund” to offset the
environmental impact of your holiday.
The Waterways Trust
(www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/greenfund) is a registered charity
which works to promote and protect Britain’s waterways. If you
wish, you can further reduce the impact of your holiday on the
environment by offsetting your own travel to and from the boat
with a voluntary donation through us to the same fund. We
suggest £5.00 per car all of which will go directly to “The
Waterways Trust Green Fund” which you can indicate on the
booking form.
In supporting these iniatives we are both being environmentally
responsible in a way that directly benefits the waterways upon
which your boating holiday will be taken, and which will help
sustain and improve them for future enjoyment. I am sure you will
enjoy one of our Greener Holidays in 2009.
In addition we are delighted to have been awarded a Green Apple
Award for Environmental Best Practice this year and are waiting to
hear if we will be selected to represent the UK at the European
Business Awards for the Environment.
See below for details of projects this year.
Green Holidays Campaign
Following the launch of our Greener Holidays campaign in 2008 we are pleased to report on some of the projects which are being
initiated as a result of the donations from customers and ourselves to “The Waterways Trust Green Fund”.
A geothermal heat pump is being installed at an activity centre on the bank of the Union Canal. This form of heat pump utilises
the temperature of the ground as a heat source and a heat sink to provide both heating and cooling for a building. The canal will
be used to provide the water for the pump, doubling the sustainability and environmental credentials of the project.
Provision of cycleway and cycle hire along the Montgomery Canal to encourage sustainable use.
Construction of approximately 300m of towpath from the Worcester and Birmingham canal onto the newly restored Droitwich
canal to encourage people to walk or cycle rather than drive.
In addition to the donation that UK Boat Hire make for every holiday taken you may wish to further support the fund with a voluntary
donation. Simply indicate this on your booking form.
Edward Helps
Managing Director
* Based on flying a family of four to an average European location
compared to a family of four taking an average hire boat holiday.
