Smart Traveller

British Airways has announced that it is working with the Solena Group to try to set up the first sustainable jet fuel plant in Europe. The plant, which is likely to be sited in East London,  will be used to convert waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfill sites into low-carbon aviation fuel.

British Airways estimates that up to 16 million gallons of low-carbon fuel per year could be produced at the site and is planning to be using the fuel in some of its aircraft by 2014.

In a press release issued by British Airways on 15 February 2010, the airline’s Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, stated:

“This unique partnership with Solena will pave the way for realising our ambitious goal of reducing net carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050.  We believe it will lead to the production of a real sustainable alternative to jet kerosene.  We are absolutely determined to reduce our impact on climate change and are proud to lead the way on aviation’s environmental initiatives.”

If you’re planning your 2010 holiday, but don’t want to fly because of concerns about the contribution made by carbon emissions from aircraft to climate change, the Guardian has published an article packed with suggestions for low-carbon holidays as part of its 10:10 climate change campaign.

Ideas include taking a spa holiday in Cornwall, cycling in Holland and taking a trip to the Whitepod, a ski resort in Switzerland which claims to be more environmentally friendly than traditional ski resorts.

In a previous post, we took a look at the South West Coastal Path, one of the U.K.’s National Trails. In this post, we’re focusing on another National Trail, The Ridgeway.

The Ridgeway is in southern England and stretches for 87 miles between Overton Hill, near Avebury, to Ivinghoe Beacon. It would take a reasonably fit walker about 7 days to complete the entire trail, but it’s possible to walk shorter sections of it.

You can get to the beginning of the trail using public transport, making it an ideal choice of holiday for anyone concerned about the contribution that carbon emissions from the number of privately owned cars on the road are making to climate change. You can travel from London to Swindon by train and then catch a bus to Avebury. There are also several railway stations near to the end of the trail. If you prefer to travel by car, there are also a number of car parks along the route.

The Ridgeway National Trail website is full of information to help you to plan your trip. It suggests breaking your walk down into the following six stages and provides details of each stage: Overton Hill to Ogbourne St. George; Ogbourne St. George to Sparsholt Firs; Sparsholt Firs to Streatley; Streatley to Watlington; Watlington to Wendover; and Wendover to Ivinghoe Beacon.

The website also provides details of nearby accommodation and includes tips for anyone planning to walk The Ridgeway National Trail. You can also download leaflets about the trail from the site, as well as free guides to shorter walks in the area, such as the Liddington Castle Circular Walk, the White Horse Hill Circular Walk and the Ivinghoe Beacon Circular Walk.

Highlights of The Ridgeway National Trail include: Avebury World Heritage Site, the location of Britain’s largest stone circle; the Uffington White Horse; Whiteleaf Hill; and the Grand Union Canal.