Paragon Vets have been recognised for their commitment to environmental sustainability with a special visit from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
The practice, which has branches in Dalston, Wetheral and Newbiggin, recently became the first vets in the UK to be awarded ‘outstanding achievement’ in environmental sustainability by the RCVS.
RCVS President Sue Paterson visited Paragon’s Dalston practice to present the award and plant a tree in the surgery’s wellbeing garden, along with members of the team who worked on the sustainability drive.
Sue said: “It was a pleasure to visit Paragon Veterinary Group recently to present them with their Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Practice Standards Scheme Environmental Sustainability Award and plant a beautiful plum tree in their practice garden, which is a stunning green space that both practice staff and clients can take advantage of.
“I particularly enjoyed their tour of the practice and to see first hand the way in which the whole veterinary team has grasped sustainability and embedded it into every aspect of their work. They are an exemplar of green veterinary practice, which I know is being replicated in many veterinary practices all over the country.”
Paragon’s ‘green team,’ led by the sustainability project lead and small animal vet Laura Binnie, and managing director David Black, welcomed Sue to the Dalston practice. She was given a tour of the facilities, giving an insight into the range of actions the practice has taken to become more environmentally friendly.
Initiatives included safely reducing the amount of isoflurane gas used to anaesthetise patients, looking at ways to minimise waste and use reusable products, taking simple actions such as switching to LED bulbs, and creating the wellbeing garden.
Speaking about the garden, Laura said: “Nothing new was bought to develop the garden, we repurposed sandstone blocks and slate and pieces of wood we had lying around.
“We use compost that we make from our tea bags and fruit peels, and we feed the plants with water collected from our roof.
“Planting a tree in the garden seemed like the perfect way to mark the occasion of receiving our ‘Outstanding’ achievement in Environmental Sustainability award.
“Paragon is so proud to have received this award. It’s the product of three years of really hard work to improve our sustainability and we feel this award is a badge of honour for us.”
The wellbeing garden also won two RHS Cumbria in Bloom awards in 2022 and has not only encouraged wildlife into the area, but is also a pleasant and calming wellness space for staff breaks and informal meetings.
