ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Heart of Burren Walks encourages visitors to explore the Burren at a slow pace, to support high-quality local tourist enterprises and to take nothing from the landscape except precious memories. The company has been committed to sustainable tourism since its inception in 2002. By choosing to support Heart of Burren Walks, you are placing sustainable tourism at the core of your holiday experience.

Heart of Burren Walks is a member of Burren Eco-Tourism Network, (a Burren Connect project). B.E.N. is a nucleus of local tourism providers who choose to grow their businesses in a sustainable way. The network’s aim is to support its members in their efforts to encourage visitors to explore the Burren region in an environmentally-conscious way whilst benefiting the local economy.

ETHOS

• 10% reduction in walking fee for those who reach meeting point by public transport or by bicycle

• 1% of Heart of Burren Walks’ annual income from guided walks is donated each year to a local N.G.O. or community group. The chosen benefactor in 2010 is Burren Beo – the region’s nature trust www.burrenbeo.ie

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

• Burren Centre Kilfenora  www.burrencentre.ie - The Burren Visitor Centre in Kilfenora is a project of Comhar Conradh na Boirne. This is a community developed co-operative for the Burren region with shareholders drawn from a number of parishes.

  

• Burren Connect www.burrenconnect.ie – Burren Connect works to develop a visitor management and environmental protection strategy for the region.

• Burren Beo Trust www.burrenbeo.ie – Burren Beo is an inclusive membership-based organisation dedicated to the conservation of the Burren.

• X-PO Community Centre Kilnaboy x-pokilnaboy.blogspot.com/ – X-PO is a self-sustaining cultural hub and gathering point for local clubs in the Kilnaboy parish. It is situated in the former post office in Kilnaboy.

• Birdwatch Ireland  www.birdwatchireland.ie – Birdwatch Ireland is a conservation charity and membership organization which protects Ireland’s birds and habitats.

AWARENESS/ADVOCACY

• All walks conducted by Heart of Burren Walks subscribe to the Leave No Trace principles and the Burren Code.

• Leave No Trace  www.leavenotraceireland.org is an Outdoor Ethics Programme which promotes responsible outdoor recreation.

• Burren Code www.burrenconnect.ie/burren_code/burren_code.html  - is an inter-agency joint initiative designed to inform people about appropriate behaviour when visiting the region.

RESPONSIBLE MARKETING

• Heart of Burren Walks ensures that all our communications are legal, fair and truthful.

IRISH LANGUAGE/GAEILGE

• Heart of Burren Walks is Irish language friendly. Labhair Gaeilge linn!