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Sustainability at Goodwood
For over 300 years the Goodwood Estate has continually demonstrated its responsibility to the land and local community. Since the first Duke of Richmond came to Goodwood in 1697, the estate has successfully adapted to changing socio-economic and natural environmental conditions. Today the estate continues to meet the challenges of climate change with creativity and innovation.
Our approach extends beyond the straightforward ownership of land and property to encompass each and every event and enterprise run on the estate. We are therefore committed to undertaking a range of initiatives to achieve our sustainability goals, ensuring the estate’s enduring resilience and contribution towards the development of a fairer, more sustainable world beyond its gates.
From solar panels providing energy for Goodwood’s historic Motor Circuit, to rewilding and biodiversity projects including the introduction of 78,000 new trees, to biomass boilers – fuelled from our own sustainably managed forests – providing renewable heat for The Kennels, Goodwood Hotel and Hound Lodge, there are a number of projects underway to ensure we achieve our eventual goal of becoming a carbon positive estate.
2023 Sustainablity Report
We are delighted to present the annual Goodwood Sustainability Report for 2023. The report highlights our sustainable accomplishments over the past year, showcasing our commitment to the environment, social responsibility and resource management.
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Our Sustainability
From Farm to Festival
Goodwood’s sustainability strategy covers all aspects of the estate and its activities, from farming with a self-sustaining and certified organic system and responsible forestry focused on continuous cover via natural regeneration, to our events, which of course provide a more substantial challenge in terms of balancing environmental impact with the benefits to the local community, charities and a global audience.
Across all of these activities, our strategy is focused on the six key priorities of natural capital, carbon, water, business, resources and social impact. We remain alert and responsive to changing conditions and expectations. Further initiatives are planned to join those already in progress and move us towards our goal of becoming a carbon neutral estate.
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Ours is a holistic approach to sustainability, focused on protecting the social and ecological value of the estate, and reducing our carbon footprint, whilst stewarding the area for the enjoyment of future generations.
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Tree planting at Goodwood
Since the planting project in 2019, the estate has continued replanting areas of woodland that were lost to ash die-back which has swept the country devastating ash trees. It is estimated that 90% of ash in the UK will be lost. For the estate, this has meant the loss of 15% of our total trees, from the woodland and also along roadsides, paths and recreational areas. To rectify this Goodwood has planted approximately 5000 trees per year of mixed native broadleaves in the areas where the ash was removed.
In addition, the latest tree planting scheme from Halnaker to Strettington was completed in March this year with over 36,000 trees planted and a permissive footpath opened for public use. We have planted the trees just 1 metre apart and have not used plastic guards as Goodwood Forestry tries to move away from plastic wherever possible. A £1 donation will pay for one tree to be planted. The trees are all sourced in the UK by trusted suppliers, using local tree stock wherever possible. Last autumn we also collected seed from Goodwood trees which are being grown in a variety of pots and will become part of the planting schemes of the next few years.
Carbon Reduction Plan
Goodwood has switched to 100% renewable energy providers and trialled several options for switching to renewable fuel at our events and across the estate, including recycled cooking oil and solar hybrid power.
We are also working on improving the water efficiency infrastructure across all of our properties, and have introduced water refill stations and reusable cups at our events.
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Biomass at Goodwood
In November 2021, Goodwood invested £7million into a 3.5mw biomass waste-to-energy facility, delivering both hot water and electricity to venues across the Estate, including the hotel. This new biomass facility is fuelled by 3,500 tonnes of straw from the Festival of Speed and 3,500 tonnes of woodchip from our Forestry team, reducing the estate’s carbon footprint by over 5,100 tonnes per year.
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We are keenly aware of the changing climatic conditions, and therefore how imperative it is that we work towards becoming a sustainable, carbon positive estate.
Contact us
01243 755000
Please get in touch if you have any questions or feedback regarding our corporate and social responsibility and sustainability policy.
You can also email us at sustainableevents@goodwood.com