Our sustainability policy

Groves recognises that the global environment is our single most important resource. Dorset and indeed the UK boasts some of the most beautiful countryside, flora, and fauna in the world; and we want to keep it that way.

While the issues surrounding global warming and environmental damage are diverse and complex; by implementing a comprehensive, company-wide environmental policy we have developed stringent best-practice guidelines for all our employees to reduce our carbon footprint, promote recycling and energy efficiency, and limit wastage wherever possible.
 

Groves Nurseries shares public concern in reducing peat use to minimise the effects of global peat extraction on peat bog habitats. We have a comprehensive range of peat-free products so that our customers can always make a peat-free choice, no matter their compost needs. Where possible we will always offer peat-free compost at a comparable price to traditional compost so that affordability isn’t a factor.

We aim to educate customers on the use of peat-free compost so that they choose this alternative. This involves working alongside manufacturers to ensure clear labelling so that customers can make informed choices.

95% of our compost range is now peat-free, and we will be 100% peat-free by 2026.

In 2023 we launched our own brand of peat-free compost.

Our nursery is now proud to be 100% peat-free. Since 2021 all of our bedding, vegetable plants, shrubs, and perennials have been grown in Peat-Free growing media developed by Melcourt.

We compact and recycle all our cardboard and paper waste. Our staff are also encouraged not to print unnecessary documents, and minimise paper waste by making a committed effort to cut down on paper-based marketing; with the majority of our external advertising being electronic. Where possible, our cardboard boxes and plastic carry trays are reused for customers to carry their purchases to their car.

The very nature of some of the products we sell means that eliminating all plastics is always going to be a difficult task; however we are constantly assessing alternatives and implementing change wherever possible.

We have eliminated plastic bags at the checkout, with paper bags and paper carrier bags freely available instead.

We have a pot recycling facility where our customers can leave behind their old pots to be re-used again and made into new things, including house signs which we sell in the shop.

In our nursery we use taupe pots wherever possible. These are recyclable in certain council household recycling schemes.

Our nursery recycles all plastic pots and trays, as well as all waste soft plastics and polystyrene.

In 2023 we will be launching our consumer compost bag recycling scheme whereby customers can bring back their used compost bags to be recycled.

Rainwater Harvesting

We collect the rainwater from the roofs of our greenhouses and barn for use in irrigating the plants in our nursery, and sustainably extract water from the River Brit.  In 2023 we installed flood benching for our plants.

Eco Conscious Gardening

At Groves we like to help customers garden while bearing in mind the impact of gardening on the environment. Our display gardens are designed to inspire people to choose flowers suitable for pollinators and encourage people to look after our natural resources by storing water and home composting.

We advise people to choose a non-chemical solution wherever possible.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests.

FSC labelled products are made with consideration for people, wildlife, and the environment; and provide ongoing business value.

The FSC label guarantees that the forest products that are harvested are replaced or are allowed to generate naturally.

The FSC protects the right of indigenous people to use the forest. The forest owners must use local workers to run the forest. They must provide them with training, safety equipment and a reasonable salary.

The FSC gives the assurance that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and benefits of the forest.

Groves Nurseries will endeavour to:

• Provide information to our customers on the benefits of purchasing FSC accredited products.

• Actively work towards stocking only wood products that have the FSC accreditation.

• Ensure that every product purchased from us that bears the FSC logo has been produced according to FSC standards.

We sell loose

We sell a wide range of seed, fertilizer and pet food loose so that customers can buy only the quantities they require, therefore reducing waste. We suggest that customers use their own bags, or we have paper bags (where appropriate) if the customer does not bring their own.

Efficient deliveries

We always group our deliveries visiting certain postcodes on certain days.  This ensures the minimum use of fuel, lessening our impact on the environment.

Recycling in Ivy House

Our kitchens in our Ivy House recycle all of the plastic and paper as well as the oil that we cook with, and any glass generated by our kitchen. All waste food is taken away to be used in biodigesters and our coffee grounds are given away to customers for use in their gardens as a soil enricher.

We purchase from many businesses in the surrounding area of Bridport and try to buy local whenever possible.
Here are just a few of our local suppliers:

3 Hours West, Bridport Building Supplies, AJ Supplies, Creative Solutions, Footeprints, West Dorset Waste, Huck Nets, Futures Dog Food, Dorwest Herbs, Phillips Gravel Merchants, Robs Logs, Moores Biscuits, Bridport Banners, Bloomin’ Amazing, Country Care Products, Palmers Brewery, Nick Parker Woodman, Dorset Charcoal Company, West Milton Cider & West Dorset Beekeepers.

The majority of the food that we prepare and sell in our Ivy House Kitchen is purchased from local suppliers. We rely on regular deliveries from:
Charmouth Bakery, Furleigh Estate, Baboo Gelato, Dorset Tea, Ford Farm, Moores Biscuits, Woodbridge Farm - Dorset Blue Vinny and Dorset Nectar Cider.

And many more located within a 30-mile radius.

We grow all of our bedding plants and most of our seasonal plants on site, and of the plants that we do not grow on site, the majority are bought from trusted UK-based suppliers. These measures not only effectively reduce our potential carbon footprint, but also actively promote and support British businesses.