My journey(s) to net zero

At Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT), we believe that culture has a key role to play in tackling one of the biggest issues facing our planet: climate change. We're taking steps to increase awareness of climate change for our staff, volunteers and visitors, as well as actively seeking ways to protect the environment at our organisation, both in our venues and on an individual level.

In this post, Emma Back, vice-chair of our board of trustees, describes her own personal journey to net zero as she set out to visit our venues across the county only using public transport.


The new HCT 2030 strategy launched at the end of 2024 has sustainability is at its core. This emphasis, and our commitment to climate action, are very important to me as board sponsor for environmental responsibility, and I'm enormously proud of our green team as they guide our collective efforts to reach net zero by 2030.

Last summer, I set myself a personal goal during Carbon Literacy training to try and visit all of HCT’s venues by public transport. Since then, I've blistered my feet walking to our Winchester sites and battled with other modes of transport to travel further afield. Here's what I learned:

Firstly, travelling by train or bus or ferry can be a joy. I caught fantastic views from bus upper decks when winding my way to Alton and Aldershot, and from the ferry to Gosport (see photo). Where my routes were less scenic or interesting, I was able to bury my head in a book – a serious hazard while driving!

When public transport isn't an option, car sharing can be a lot of fun. I enjoyed catching up with a fellow trustee on our way to and from an evening performance at Ashcroft Arts Centre, and car sharing to Rockbourne Roman Villa (the only option for that venue, really) meant that my mum and I could stop for a pub meal on the way home.

However, using public transport requires good advance planning, and it is often considerably more time consuming than travelling by car. This can be frustrating. For example, it takes less time to drive from my home to Milestones Museum than it does to walk to Winchester railway station – and once on the train, I whizz past the museum (almost close enough to touch it) on my way into Basingstoke and then pass it again on the bus, before getting off at the nearest stop and walking another 15 minutes. It all feels a bit inefficient.

That said, if time is on your side, leaving your car at home can release your inner adventurer! I spent a beautiful summer's day walking around Christchurch after visiting the Red House Museum and Gardens, and following a board meeting at Forest Arts Centre, several of us spontaneously wandered off to the beach! Plus, sometimes public transport can be almost as quick as driving and cheaper than using a car park. The 2024 £2 bus fare cap meant I had a very affordable day out to Andover Museum and the Museum of the Iron Age, and I appreciated the bus driver racing non-stop from the road outside my house to Andover bus station, even if it was hair-raising at times.

All these journeys would have been more costly and demanding if I'd travelled with school-age children, though – and they're one of our key visitor groups. Someone with sensory or mobility challenges might find certain routes impractical. A train, followed by a bus, followed by a walk across a field and then along a muddy riverbank to Basing House is not going to suit everyone.

It's therefore important that we continue to improve pedestrian access and wayfinding to our venues, and to offer clear directions on our website for those using public transport. However, realistically, the majority of our customers will continue to drive – increasingly in zero emission vehicles, of course, and having EV chargers in or near our car parks will help. In the meantime, I'll see you on the top deck of a bus – I'll be the passenger with her head in a book. 

Emma Back, Vice-Chair Board of Trustees

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Hampshire Cultural Trust

From museums to galleries to arts centres, we manage and support attractions across the county, welcoming over 740,000 people each year. Our charitable purpose is changing lives through culture.
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