In a creative and sustainable collaboration, Isle of Wight Explorer Scouts (Xtreme ESU) have transformed retired rubber from Hovertravel’s hovercraft skirts into functional fire‑beaters.
In just one evening, the Scouts experimented with various designs, built over a dozen beaters, and conducted controlled tests to confirm their effectiveness.
Hover Green initiative
This project adds to recent Hovertravel initiatives to repurpose used skirt rubber under its Hover Green initiative.
These efforts include partnerships such as the Twyford Recycling collaboration, where worn skirt material is processed into rubber chippings for equestrian and playground landscapes. The initiative has also yielded eco‑souvenirs, including handbags, keyrings and coasters made from recycled skirt material.
Lale: Combining circular economy goals with innovation and youth skill-building
Loretta Lale, Head of Marketing at Hovertravel, said,
“At Hovertravel, we’re proud to champion sustainability through our Hover Green initiative.
“From recycling skirt rubber with specialist contractors to crafting eco-souvenirs with local artists, we’re committed to giving used materials a second life.
“It’s fantastic to see the Explorer Scouts repurpose skirt rubber into practical fire‑beaters—combining circular economy goals with innovation and youth skill-building.”
The evening session saw Scout teams testing different handle types, rubber thicknesses, and shaping methods. After refining their prototypes, they evaluated the effectiveness of each beater in controlled drills, ultimately demonstrating a practical tool built from recycled material.
Sharp: We needed a project linked to a local need that promoted re-cycling
Samantha Sharp, Explorer Scout Team Member said
“As part of the work towards the Explorers gaining their Scout’s ‘Earth Tribe’ award, we needed a project linked to a local need that promoted re-cycling.
“Scouts are very good at making fires, but occasionally they need to be good at putting them out too! The IW Scout campsite wanted a new set of fire beaters positioned around the site, so we offered to make them. Trying to do this using car tyre rubber proved impractical so as an alternative, hovercraft skirt was suggested.
“We are grateful that Hovertravel was able to supply us with plenty and in turn, we are pleased to be able to help the company with their Green Initiative. Once we had experimented to find the best design that would put out small fires and refined our production methods, the Unit collectively managed to produce over 20 in one evening!”
Price: Their efforts will mean that the site will be a safer place to be
Barrie Price, Warden, Corf Scout Campsite, said,
“We have been without a full set of fire beaters at Corf for a while now.
“I would like to thank the Explorers for doing such an excellent and useful job.
“Their efforts will mean that the site will be a safer place to be.”
News shared by Stephen on behalf of Hovertravel. Ed
