On 3^rd October 2026, our 2026 Members’ Day and AGM took place at the Abbey College, Ramsey bringing together members (in person and online), staff and volunteers to celebrate our conservation work, share ideas and discover more about the Trust’s projects. It was wonderful to hear such positive feedback, with attendees describing the day as informative, inspiring, enjoyable and well organised.

Alongside showcasing our conservation achievements, we were keen to make the event as sustainable as possible. Thanks to the efforts of our organisers, caterers, staff and volunteers - and indeed all of the attendees that brought their own tea/coffee cups - we made some significant progress in reducing waste and improving recycling, making our AGM more sustainable than ever before. 

We worked closely with our caterers to reduce unnecessary packaging and make better use of the resources available. By making a few practical changes, we achieved some excellent results compared with our AGMs since 2024.

Here are some of the highlights:

• 100% less general waste – a significant step towards reducing the amount of waste we produce.
• 33% less food waste – helping us make better use of the food provided.
• 52% less mixed recycling – reflecting our efforts to reduce the materials we use in the first place.
• 78% less soft plastic waste – with biscuit wrappers and the small amount of cling film greatly reduced.
• Zero waste from reusable plastic tubs – the tubs used for crudités were returned to our caterers for reuse.
• No crisp packets! – we removed crisps from this year’s menu to avoid unnecessary packaging.

We also made sure that all sandwich packaging was recycled by separating the cardboard and film, and 55 used compostable cups were collected for home composting.

We provided two recycling stations at our AGM and really appreciated everyone’s efforts to sort their lunch packaging correctly. As the outdoor area became available for us to use unexpectedly on the day, we hadn’t planned to place a recycling station there or provide guidance on how to sort items in that space. However, we ensured that all lunch packaging was sorted appropriately afterwards, meaning none of the AGM’s waste went into general waste that day.

These achievements demonstrate how small changes, careful planning and working together can make a real difference.

Sharing surplus food and supplies

Reducing waste also means finding useful new homes for items that might otherwise go unused. After the event, we donated unused sandwich bags and two boxes of fruit to Diamond Hampers in Huntingdon. We were pleased that these items could be put to good use rather than going to waste.

Greener journeys to Members’ Day

We also considered the environmental impact of travelling to and from the event. Staff and Trustees were encouraged to lift-share wherever possible, helping to reduce the number of individual car journeys. Our coach travel provider also supplied its sustainability policy, and the emissions associated with coach travel will be calculated and included in our 2026/27 carbon emissions audit. Understanding these emissions will help us build a clearer picture of the environmental impact of our events and identify further opportunities to reduce it in the future.

Listening, learning and looking ahead

Your feedback is an important part of helping us make Members’ Day even better. We heard suggestions about improving presentations, making displays more accessible, allowing more time for activities and discussions, and showcasing a broader range of the Trust’s work. We also received helpful ideas for building on our sustainability efforts, including providing clearer recycling instructions and continuing to improve our catering choices and packaging.

We’ll take these suggestions into account as we plan future events, balancing environmental considerations with the need to keep Members’ Day welcoming, accessible and affordable.

Thank you for helping us make a difference

Our 2026 AGM showed that a successful event can also be a more sustainable one. By reducing food waste, avoiding unnecessary packaging, recycling carefully, donating surplus items and encouraging lift-sharing, we took practical steps towards reducing our environmental impact.

Thank you to everyone who attended, helped organise the day, shared feedback or supported these changes. Your continued support makes the Trust’s conservation work possible, and your ideas help us find new ways to care for the natural world.

We look forward to welcoming you back to our next Members’ Day, where we can continue to celebrate our achievements, learn from one another and work towards a more sustainable future together.