The Trust is keen to encourage expeditions that have a minimal impact on the environment. Is this achievable or is it just a pipe dream?
The Ulysses Trust is taking proactive steps to encourage units to reduce the environmental impact of expeditions and their carbon footprint. In the aftermath of COVID-19 we championed UK-based adventures. Furthermore, the Trust has been encouraging a reduction in air travel and a switch to sustainable transport (eg shared or public transport).
This approach is wholeheartedly driven by our Trustees who recently published a statement within our grant guidelines which emphasises the importance of considering the environment and ecology when planning and deploying an expedition. This is supplemented by suggestions and ideas detailed in our guidance to encourage units to ‘think greener’.
TRUSTEE STATEMENT
“The Ulysses Trust considers the environment in which its activities take place to be a valuable and irreplaceable asset. All expeditions and activities in receipt of grants from the Trust shall give due consideration to their impact on the environment and ecology of the area in which they are run and shall endeavour to leave no trace of their activities.”
The feedback we receive is that units take these considerations seriously. However, every expedition will ultimately involve some degree of travel to get to the start point and this will inevitably have an environmental impact.
We recognise that there is a strong case for overseas expeditions as they provide a degree of challenge that may not be available in the UK (such as high altitude mountaineering or ski treks). We also appreciate the huge appeal of overseas expeditions, especially to young cadets from disadvantaged backgrounds who otherwise would not have the opportunity to travel abroad or benefit from the experience of being in a foreign culture. So it’s about getting the balance right and considering different ways of doing things when planning an expedition, while remaining pragmatic.
An interesting example is Ex: Pedal Overlord undertaken by 129 Squadron Air Cadets Tunbridge Wells (Kent Wing). They have recently returned from a cycling expedition to France. Private transport was limited to a minibus trip to Portsmouth. From there cadets took their bikes onto the ferry to Cherbourg where they cycled along the coast before returning home via the Ouistreham ferry.
Another example is from Leicestershire Sea Cadets who recently completed preparation activities for their summer DofE expedition. The cadets took three rowing boats to travel along the River Soar over three days, during which they collected litter along the way and investigated the impact of humans on the local environment. This is a great example of a ‘backyard expedition’ with an ‘eco-angle’.
By prioritising these environmental considerations and encouraging participants to adopt sustainable practices, The Ulysses Trust and its grant recipients are attempting to balance the broader goal of reducing the ecological footprint of expeditions while promoting responsible adventure travel.
We look forward to receiving many more applications for expeditions that have a strong environmental bias and hope to support many more innovative adventures.