Robin Asquith, Head of the Natural Environment at Camphill Village Trust, explains how small, practical environmental actions — from composting to community-led initiatives — can make care settings greener while strengthening wellbeing, connection and shared responsibility.
Stewardship of the natural environment is rooted deeply in the 70-year history of Camphill Village Trust. With over 900 acres of land and a heritage including practices like biodynamic social farming, we have a unique opportunity to transform the health and wellbeing of the people we support through a connection to nature. With that comes a deep responsibility to care for the land which helps us flourish.
In our latest Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) statement, we documented 341 hectares of sustainable land management schemes, 75 hectares of woodland and 2.65 tCO₂e carbon footprint per service user. We measure this data annually to track progress and inform our journey to carbon neutrality.
Yet with nine communities across England, and many different landscapes and properties to look after, making a positive environmental difference is a complex undertaking. As an organisation, there is much more to do, but we are finding success through small initiatives, powered by local partnerships, which get everyone involved.
Food waste offers one of the clearest opportunities to make a difference. Food waste is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, Food Waste Index 2024). From the energy needed to transport waste to landfill, to the methane produced by improper disposal, stopping food entering general waste reduces emissions and creates many benefits.
We have had great success with our composting programmes, involving people we support, team members and volunteers in efforts to ensure food waste is redirected to compost where it can do good instead of harm. Composting means healthier soil, lower spend on bought compost (delivered by road and often peat-based) and great yields from allotments. At Botton Village, we now produce 40–50% of our compost, with plans to achieve 75–80%.
To make this possible, we have worked to make composting more accessible. With materials from a Farming in Protected Landscapes Grant and the help of students from Middlesbrough College, community members co-designed compost bins for people with mobility needs. But not every site needs a “compost palace” like ours. Low-cost options are readily available, and free bins can be built from materials such as salvaged pallets.
This programme shows the value of cultivating green spaces where food waste can be composted, cardboard repurposed as mulch and weed suppressant, biodiversity allowed to flourish and people supported to develop a stronger connection to nature. Even a small urban planter can create valuable habitat for pollinators.
Lighting has been another low-cost win. We have been installing DarkSky-compliant, low-energy fittings, cutting energy use while reducing light pollution and supporting wildlife. So far, the North York Moors National Park has funded 75% of the cost. People we support were involved in the project too, testing and feeding back on fittings before installation.
Greening care settings is not always straightforward. Many sustainable improvements require upfront investment, and financial pressure can make this difficult. Staff turnover can disrupt momentum, while misconceptions — such as resistance to electric vehicles or concerns about “dirty” vegetables — can slow change. When energy bills are paid centrally, frontline teams do not always see the impact of everyday choices.
Partnerships help us meet these challenges. Colleges, providers, local businesses and grant funders have supported everything from compost bays to courtyard transformations, often at little or no cost.
Partnership with community members and colleagues is equally vital. Our “Dragon’s Dell” microgrants invited people we support to pitch ideas for improving their local environment. Winning projects included clothes recycling schemes and special bins. When people see their ideas come to life, they take ownership and inspire others.
When someone carries their caddy to the compost bay or helps choose a light fitting, sustainability becomes part of everyday life. Over time, it is these small actions that make the biggest difference.
Further Reading
Camphill Village Trust – Environmental & Sustainability Work
camphillvillagetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/initiatives/esg-in-action/
UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024
unep.org/resources/report/food-waste-index-report-2024
Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
gov.uk/guidance/farming-in-protected-landscapes-programme
