Supporting the South West Coast Path

This year Studio Wood are delighted to donate 1% of our previous year’s sales to the South West Coast Path as our 1% for the planet pledge.

With our studio positioned on the South Coast in Bournemouth, our team are regulars on the South West Coast Path whether that be hiking, running or cycling along it. The Coast Path corridor exists at the very edge of our peninsula, where land meets sea, that’s what makes it so special.

The coast path is a huge source of inspiration, a beacon of hope during difficult times. The work of South West Coast Path benefits the physical and mental well-being of hundreds of thousands of people each year, many of whom have life-changing experiences walking the path.

Man O’War beach, Lulworth (Unsplashed - Noor Ul Hasan Shakir)

For people, for planet, for life.

The South West Coast Path, a vital route connecting coastal communities and supporting the region's economy and wildlife, is facing serious threats such as severe storms, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion. Despite providing health benefits and acting as a crucial wildlife corridor, less than 1% of its users contribute to its maintenance. The path requires increased support to address the challenges posed by climate change and rising costs, as an additional £2 million has been invested in the past five years. Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible damage to the coastline.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Studio Wood as a recipient of their 1% for the Planet donation. The support of business throughout the South West, many of whom benefit from the health and wellbeing benefits of the Path, is vital to the work to protect the Trail, and we’re grateful to the team for choosing the South West Coast Path Association as the cause to give back to, to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility.” Will Kean, South West Coast Path

Sophie from our team enjoying the view at the top of Flower’s Barrow

What is 1% for the planet?

“1% for the Planet provides businesses with expertise in environmental giving, credibility consumers trust and the accountability to follow through. Each year, businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to their vetted environmental partners. And, they check the receipts.”

Last year we supported Surfers Against Sewage as our 1% for the planet donation and this year our team voted for the South West Coast Path. Each year we give 1% of our annual sales to a charity which is voted for by the team. The South West Coast Path is on our doorstep starting (or ending) in Poole so we thought what better cause to support. During the past couple years the path has suffered from erosion and we witnessed the impact of this first hand.

With our donation our team hope to support the team at SWCP with the challenges linked to:

Climate Change: battling erosion and extreme weather to protect our coastal corridor

The Coast Path corridor exists at the very edge of our peninsula, which makes it beautiful, however this also puts it on the frontline when it comes to extreme weather caused by climate change. Increasing storm damage, combined with rising sea levels are leading to faster rates of coastal erosion which in turn drives up costs of caring for the trail.

Land: standing up for and providing access to natural landscapes

A formally protected landscape, the South West Coast Path is England’s longest National Trail, wrapping its way 630-miles around the region and creating a natural corridor either side of the footpaths it comprises. The trail boasts an extraordinarily wide variety of habitats such as grassland, heathland, moorland, woodland, sand dunes, mud flats, coastal cliffs and saltwater marsh which support biodiversity. Over 70% is within a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with much of the Coast Path also running alongside protected seascapes including Marine Conservation Zones and RAMSAR sites.

If you aren’t local to the area - we recommend making a trip along the SWCP one weekend - you won’t regret it.

Old Harry Rocks (Unsplashed - Jack B)