As part of their ‘Bag for Life’ scheme, UK outdoor brand Lowe Alpine (owned by Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd.) has made their yearly donation to Dukes Barn, a UK based outdoor activity centre providing access-for-all outdoor learning. With this year’s donation of over £3000, Dukes Barn will continue to fund projects in the outdoor classroom and the allotment garden at the centre’s facilities near Chatsworth in the Peak District National Park.
Due to the situation caused by the pandemic, Dukes Barn, like many other outdoor education centres, has had a tough year being closed to residents since February 2020, while still having to maintain their facilities. Colin Higginson, Centre Manager at Dukes Barn, explains: “I would like to give a huge thank you on behalf of everyone at Dukes Barn to Lowe Alpine and all the staff for this donation. This year more than ever, the donation will make a big difference to our ongoing work with children with special educational needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Colin Higginson, Centre Manager at Dukes Barn
Lowe Alpine has been supporting Dukes Barn Outdoor Activity Centre with employee volunteering activities, donations from the sales of the Lowe Alpine ‘Bag for Life’, and other money raising activities. Volunteering projects have included dry stone walling, repairing wooden accessible walkways and activity obstacles, maintaining the orchard, general gardening and maintenance of the kitchen garden and courtyard.
With their ‘Bag for Life’ scheme, Lowe Alpine have been championing sustainable manufacturing processes by avoiding sending waste materials to landfill unnecessarily. Made from off-cuts and obsolete pack fabrics, this not for profit product is a versatile, durable and practical bag designed for everyday use. At least 50 pence (or 50 cents) of each sale goes to Dukes Barn.
About Dukes Barn
Dukes Barn Outdoor Activity Centre provides adventurous activities for people of all ages and abilities. The Centre is situated in Beeley, which is one of the villages on the Chatsworth Estate, in the heart of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. Dukes Barn’s primary focus is children with special needs including Autism, Asperger’s and Downs Syndrome, children with hearing or sight impairment and those with physical disabilities including wheelchair users. The Centre also runs courses for primary and secondary school children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds or poor inner city areas. www.dukesbarn.org
