A RURAL college near Dorchester has made an ambitious new year resolution, setting itself the target of being carbon neutral by 2025.

Kingston Maurward College announced the pledge on New Year's Day and the organisation said it aims to be more mindful of its carbon emissions.

The term 'carbon neutral' means balancing out the amount of carbon dioxide produced by reducing its production elsewhere, thus bringing the net carbon dioxide production to zero.

Although the plans for how the college will start working towards this target are still in the early stages, several ideas and activities have already been suggested.

The college will start by looking at ways of reducing the non-renewable resources it uses including utilities fuels and will also focus on ensuring that all paper, stationery and kitchenware are recyclable and are made from renewable resources.

Another issue it plans to address is single use plastics - not only in terms of use, but raising awareness to the wider community by hosting events like beach cleans.

The college will also be looking at ways in which to upcycle more effectively – including animal by-products from the on-site dairy farm and stables.

As well as improving recycling schemes, the college will look to offset its carbon footprint by composting on a larger scale and planting more trees on its land.

The college's Strategic Management Team (SMT) will be working with a newly formed Sustainability Group to come up with further strategies of reaching the goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Principal and CEO, Luke Rake, said: "The decision by Kingston Maurward to become Carbon Neutral by 2025 is an ambitious one, but is also part of a wider development of the college’s overall strategy to be Dorset’s hub for sustainability and environmental work.

"This builds on our existing expertise in environmental land management, and sixth form and university level study in land, animal and horticultural sciences, and also expresses our strong desire to consider wider impacts we have within Dorset’s exceptional landscape.

"For me personally, zero carbon is not simply an end in itself, it’s much bigger than that. We already do a huge amount of work in improving supporting Dorset’s food production in a sensitive way, and working to improve animal welfare and our countryside, but we want to take this further, much further. We will be a beacon of excellence with enhanced biodiversity and wider sustainability of the estate being at the heart of every activity we do."