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green tourism awards news archivePrevious News Items:
New Spa Hotel Hosts Awards in Blackpool
David congratulated the hoteliers on their achievements and gave a short summary of future activities and publicly funded programmes which will be available to assist companies in 2006. In addition to the award presentations, the event also featured a demonstration of wireless internet technology for hoteliers, and a summary of some of the other developments in the field of ICT that could be of benefit to local business owners. David explained the potential for initiatives such as group purchasing for outsourced ICT facilities and the use of customer relationship management tools, as well as other activities which can help companies in the tourism sector to develop new business, reduce costs and increase their profitability. The event concluded with the presentations themselves. Pictured above left is Kathryn Ansell from the Elbon Hotel receiving her award from David Bowker and, to the right, Denise Lane and Adrian Warrender from the Sydney Hotel. Recently Launched Tea Room Wins Award
“Bridge House Farm was established less than 12 months ago,” said Alex. “But in that time, Pat and her team have clearly made considerable efforts to promote sustainability and to make a positive contribution to the local environment. The refurbishment of the barn itself has entailed many energy saving features, but equally impressive are the little touches elsewhere, like the planting of wildflower seeds along the bank by the car park.” Bridge House Farm was originally a working farm and the home of Maud Stephenson, who was born in the 1900s and who lived and worked at the farm all her life. In more recent times, the Staveley family – themselves local farmers – decided to convert the redundant barn and outbuildings into a tearoom and gift shop. The process of planning and refurbishing the structure took a number of years but, in December 2004, the diversification project was complete and Bridge House Farm Tea Room opened for the first time. As a 21st Century restoration project, the tea room boasts several energy saving features, including effective insulation, thermally efficient glazing and low energy lighting. The building also makes good use of original and locally reclaimed materials, including roof timbers and stone. Much of the tea room’s food is sourced locally, as are many of the original artworks on sale in the gift shop, and the establishment now provides the starting point for woodland walks and a recently opened footpath which was created with support from Lancashire Rural Futures. In addition to food and gifts, the tea room also sells locally grown plants and flowers, and Pat is hoping to expand this activity in 2006. “Whatever the size of a business, a key factor in improving sustainability is awareness,” said Alex. “It’s good to see that Pat and her team are not only conscious of issues like ‘food miles’ – they are actively committed to promoting locally grown produce and the work of local crafts people. They have even used sustainable building materials wherever possible – recycling stone in the car parks and replacing some of the barn’s original beams with locally felled oak. As a result, what they have created is a very impressive visitor attraction in which environmental sustainability plays an integral part.” See the Bridge House Farm website here. Awards for Blackpool’s First ‘Green Street’ On 24th November, environmental consultants working on the Blue Sky Resorts Network programme in Blackpool presented seven hoteliers and guest house owners from Barton Avenue with Green Tourism Awards for environmental sustainability. In all, eleven hotels and holiday flats on the same stretch of road have now received these awards, making Barton Avenue Blackpool’s first acknowledged “Green Street”. Alex Southall presented the hoteliers with their awards at a special gathering at the Everglades Hotel, which is run by Adele and Graham Spinks.
“Seeing these sorts of measures being implemented by a whole group of hotels and guest houses is extremely encouraging. Blackpool is already clear leader within the region when it comes to demonstrating environmental responsibility in the tourism industry, and now Barton Avenue stands as one of the town’s most impressive examples of sustainability in action.” In addition to achieving their environmental awards, the hoteliers of Barton Avenue have also begun to co-operate in other ways including joint marketing projects and collective purchasing. Some members of the group also recently engaged in a Disability Access audit, which has helped them to identify any new facilities needed to make their premises as accessible as possible to guests with a range of different disabilities. As a result of the audit, which was part funded by the Council, they have purchased a number of new items of equipment – such as hearing loops and special alarms for people with hearing difficulties – which can now be shared between them according to visitors’ needs. “The Awards are another excellent example of the activity that can be undertaken by working as a cluster,” said Josie Hammond, Tourism Projects Manager, Blackpool Council’s Economic Development. “Such co-operation can minimise resources for maximum results, which is something that the Advisors in the Tourism Support Bureau, working in the Blackpool SRB area, are currently promoting.” A list of hoteliers who received awards at this event can be found here. Historic Gallery Wins Green Tourism Award
“While working on the Sustourex project, we have encountered a number of businesses that are obviously very committed to maintaining high levels of environmental sustainability, and I’m pleased to say that Maiden Bridge is a clear example of this,” notes Alex. “It is always possible to find some additional energy or waste-saving opportunities, but in this case, the owners were already doing a tremendous amount and they should be congratulated." Through careful management of their land, David and Hannah have established a wildlife-rich meadow which was recently accorded the status of ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’. They have also planted more than 600 trees elsewhere on the site to create a diverse woodland habitat on what was originally little more than an unusable boggy field. The site now hosts many native species including oak, beech, ash, birch and hazel. Combining their love of art with a commitment to sustainability, David and Hannah have recently commissioned a new sculpture for their own garden, which will stand alongside several newly created ponds that are already attracting a variety of wildlife. Similarly, their own woodland often provides the raw materials for local sculptors, as well as the fuel for their wood-burning heating system. As a renewable fuel source, their home-grown timber is performing extremely well; they have stockpiled approximately 40 tonnes, all of which will be used in place of fossil fuels to heat the building. “There are many aspects of this site that are very impressive,” explains Alex. “The gallery is well insulated to conserve heat, the living quarters make good use of a sustainable fuel source and David and Hannah have even uncovered a natural spring that they now use when watering the garden. Most significantly, perhaps, they are actively managing their land to maximise its value as a wildlife habitat, and in the process, they have created a very beautiful setting that I’m sure their many visitors will appreciate.” More information about Maiden Bridge can be found at www.maidenbridge.co.uk.
This impressive milestone means that Blackpool is now the clear leader within the region when it comes to demonstrating environmental responsibility in the tourism industry. The Green Tourism Awards programme is also being piloted in North and Western Lancashire, where many rural tourism businesses are taking part, but the sheer scale of the hospitality sector in Blackpool has meant that it has yielded by far the highest concentration of award winners. “As a traditional tourist venue, Blackpool would probably be expected to produce a good proportion of award winners,” said Councillor Fred Jackson, speaking shortly after the presentation ceremony. “However, what has impressed me most has been the level of commitment shown by local businesses. Winning a Green Tourism Award is no simple task; it takes time and effort – but, as we have seen today, a great many of the town’s hoteliers are very happy to make that investment. I very much hope that tourists will now see these plaques, understand what has been done, and reward the hoteliers’ efforts with their custom.” While the programme undoubtedly requires effort on the part of the hotelier, participating businesses have reported that the benefits more than justify the time involved. Their waste minimisation work has produced significant cost savings and many previous award winners have found that the plaque itself can be an effective means of attracting new business. A list of hoteliers who received awards at this event can be found here. Conservation Work Earns Award for Patty's Farm Barn Chris Parry, a local farmer and owner of Patty’s Farm Barn, a series of self-catering holiday cottages in Cockerham, has received a Green Tourism Award for outstanding achievement in environmental sustainability. He received the award as part of North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s Sustourex programme.
The Green Tourism Award was presented to Chris by Alex Southall, an environmental consultant from Lancaster University, which is a partner on the Sustourex programme. “It is clear that Chris has taken account of environmental considerations at every opportunity,” notes Alex. “Inside, the holiday cottages have modern, energy saving appliances, effective insulation, low energy lighting and many other features that we would recommend to anyone wanting to save waste and reduce costs. Outside, the surrounding grounds are continuously managed to encourage and sustain wildlife.” For his efforts, Chris has been given a Silver Award – an achievement which only a very small number of tourism businesses in Lancashire have yet been able to match. “This is certainly an impressive result,” says Alex. “Chris’ work has clearly begun to yield great benefits for native wildlife, and I very much hope that his business will benefit too when customers recognise the effort he and his family have put in. Tourists are increasingly quoting environmental concerns as an important factor in choosing their accommodation, so I’m confident that people will appreciate what Chris has done.” Cockerham and the wider Morecambe Bay area is well known amongst ornithologists as an area that is rich in wildlife, and many of the regular customers at Patty’s Farm Barn include bird watchers, walkers and other nature lovers. Guests have reported that as the environmental management programme has progressed, the ponds and surrounding land have witnessed increasing numbers of visits by such species as grey partridge, dunlin, oyster catchers, lapwings and migrant pink-footed geese. More information about bird watching in the
Morecambe Bay area, as well as details of local routes for walking
and cycling, can be found at www.pattysbarn.co.uk. Cleveley Mere Nature Reserve Wins Green Tourism Award
The award was presented to Mr Brown by Alex Southall, an environmental consultant from Lancaster University. "When environmental advisors working on the Sustourex project first visited Cleveley Mere, it was evident that Peter was already doing a tremendous amount to protect and enhance the environment," notes Alex. "We were able to point to some useful energy and waste-saving opportunities, but in general, the quality of the environmental management at the site has been extremely impressive and has far surpassed our original expectations." Since Peter purchased the site in 1998, he has engaged in a process of continual improvement that has not only given rise to a very successful business, but has also created a valuable habitat in which many different wildlife species are now thriving. In addition to rainbow and brown trout, the 23 acre lake is home to birds such as kingfishers, herons, woodpeckers and even the occasional osprey. Roe deer are commonly seen in the surrounding fields and woodlands, and the site is also visited by foxes, badgers and otters. "One of the most impressive aspects of this site is that it is very much an actively managed environment," explains Alex. "Left to itself, the lake could quickly become choked with weed and overly invasive trees such as willow and alder, so a lot of work is clearly done on a continuing basis to keep the lake and shoreline in top condition. Peter is also planting new trees each season - all native to Britain - and he has focused on those species that maximise the quality of the habitat for wildlife. There are new oaks, ash, beech, chestnuts and hazels going in, and he has also planted a variety of fruit bearing trees that will provide a reliable food source for birds and animals."
Speaking at the presentation, Alex Southall said: "It is a great pleasure to see this level of commitment to environmental sustainability in a commercial enterprise; Peter and Lynne’s efforts are clearly paying dividends. The lake is becoming an ever more popular destination for fishermen and tourists, the nature reserve is flourishing and, with further low environmental impact developments planned, Cleveley Mere is going from strength to strength. We very much hope that visitors will see this Green Tourism Award plaque and recognise the valuable work that has been done here." Hilton Hotel Offers Suggestions for Improving Sustainability Brian Jones, Chief Engineer of the Blackpool Hilton has offered the benefit of his 20 years' experience at the hotel in a new case study which you can read here. He explains the effect of many items of equipment such as passive infra red detectors, water treatments and heating controls, but he also describes the effect of improved staff awareness. Green Tourism Awards Newsletter - Out Now The Summer 2005 Green Tourism Award Newsletter is now available for downloading here. The newsletter summarises many of the stories previously featured on this news page. Future editions will contain results from recent questionnaires and details of new developments, such as progress on the provision of trade waste recycling facilities. The newsletter is provided as a PDF (file size 179K), and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. You can download the Reader free of charge from the Adobe website. More Green Tourism Awards for Blackpool Hoteliers On Wednesday 22nd June, more than a dozen Blackpool hoteliers came to the Solaris Centre on the South Shore Promenade to receive Green Tourism Awards for environmental sustainability. Councillor Fred Jackson presented the award winners with their plaques and certificates in this, the second large group presentation to be held this month.
The awards programme, which began in late 2003, is now beginning to show real and tangible results, as environmental advisor, David Bowker explains: "In the early phases of the project, a lot of work was done behind the scenes - assessing local businesses, identifying opportunities for improving environmental performance and helping hoteliers to implement changes that would reduce waste and save them money. Since then, the business owners themselves have worked very hard to make these changes and so I’m delighted to see that the results of their efforts are now becoming clear. "June has seen a real surge in activity – with more than thirty hoteliers receiving awards to acknowledge their achievements – and many more businesses look ready to achieve the same high standard within a matter of a few weeks. It’s an impressive result, and one of which Blackpool ought to be proud." Speaking at the presentations, Councillor Fred Jackson said: "Blackpool is certainly setting the standard for environmentally responsible tourism, and the number of awards being made today shows very clearly what progress has been made. When tourists see these plaques outside hotels, guesthouses and other tourism businesses, they can be confident that the award holder has shown a real commitment to sustainability." The Blue Sky Resorts Network programme is still available to offer help and support to tourism businesses in eligible parts of Blackpool. Hotels and similar establishments wishing to apply for an award, check their eligibility or obtain free advice about energy efficiency, waste disposal and the availability of relevant grants, should contact Nick Cockayne on 01254 249991. A list of hoteliers who received awards at this event can be found here. 21 Blackpool Hotels Win Green Tourism Awards On Thursday 16th June, representatives from Lancaster Environment Centre and Blackpool Council arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool to present 21 local hoteliers with Green Tourism Awards for environmental sustainability. The awards, which recognise outstanding achievement in minimising the environmental impact of tourism businesses, are being piloted in Blackpool and parts of North and Western Lancashire under projects supported by funding from the European Union. In Blackpool, the awards programme is being carried out as part of the Council’s Blue Sky Resorts Network project, and the event at the Hilton Hotel brought together the largest group of award winners since the project began in the winter of 2003.
In addition to hosting the event, the Hilton was itself a winner of a Green Tourism Award, which was presented to Mr Jones in recognition of the hotel’s innovative and imaginative policies for improving sustainability. The last speaker before the presentations was Councillor Fred Jackson, who addressed the award winners, congratulating them on their achievements and emphasising the real value of their efforts - in terms of both financial savings and longer term environmental impact. The hoteliers were then invited to step forward and receive their certificates of achievement and a Green Tourism Award plaque. The plaque is made from recycled aluminium and is designed to inform passing customers of the award holder’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
"The response to the programme by local hoteliers and other business owners has been excellent," said Councillor Jackson. "More than a hundred companies are now taking part, so in addition to the financial savings made by each business, the cumulative effect of all their environmental improvements is also extremely significant. "I'm proud to see that Blackpool businesses are leading by example – showing that improved awareness and even very simple measures like using low energy lighting can be good news – for the business itself and for the environment as a whole." A list of hoteliers who received awards at this event can be found here. Forrest Hills Wins Lancaster's First Green Tourism Award
The award was presented to Mr Newsham by David Bowker, an environmental advisor working on the Chamber of Commerce’s Sustourex programme.
In addition, Forrest Hills has won awards for the creation and management of wildlife habitats. One of its longest running programmes is to increase the local population of voles by managing large areas of grassland adjacent to the golf course. This provides a food source for the resident population of owls and hawks. Speaking at the presentation, David Bowker said: “Forrest Hills is a good example of how good design combined with simple waste saving techniques can have a significant effect on reducing costs and improving environmental performance. I’m delighted to be presenting this award and I hope that customers will see it and recognise the outstanding efforts that Colin and his team have made.“ National Football Museum Takes Preston's First Green Tourism Award The National Football Museum has become Preston’s first visitor attraction to win a Green Tourism Award for environmental sustainability. The Museum’s Corporate Hospitality Manager, Karlyn Forrest, received the award on Friday 27th May from Simon Blackwell of North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking at the presentation, Simon Blackwell
said: "The National Football Museum is one of Preston’s
best known tourist destinations, attracting more than 100,000 visitors
each year. It is therefore very gratifying to see that it is setting
such a positive example of environmental responsibility. Supported by the Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University, the Sustourex programme offers local tourism businesses free advice about energy efficiency, waste disposal and the availability of relevant grants. Information about the programme can be found on the Sustourex website. Bowland's First Green Tourism Award Winner
Speaking at the presentation, David Bowker, an environmental advisor on the Sustourex programme said: "Calderbank Country Lodge has made very impressive progress, particularly considering the short time over which these changes have been made." Calderbank Country Lodge was built in the late 1820s by a family of Quakers. In the latter half of the 20th Century, the building was a popular hotel and restaurant, but in more recent times, it reverted to its original function as a family home. When Mr and Mrs Hayward took over Calderbank Country Lodge in July 2004, they quickly set about re-launching the premises as a viable business once again. As part of the refurbishment work, the enterprising couple have introduced many new energy saving measures including improved heating and lighting systems, as well as a ‘buy local’ purchasing policy that benefits the county’s farmers and food producers. The work will continue as the lodge prepares to add new guest bedrooms to its existing facilities, which include a popular bar and restaurant. More than 50 businesses are now taking part in the Sustourex programme. Further details about the programme are available from David Bowker on 01925 273270 or by visiting the Sustourex website. Blackpool's First Green Tourism Award Winner
The award was handed over to Mr Kamp by David Bowker, an environmental advisor working on Blackpool Council’s Blue Sky Resorts Network programme, which is funded by the European Union. At the Clifton Court Hotel, Graham has introduced various new energy saving measures including the installation of low energy lighting, high levels of thermal insulation and a key-card power control system that prevents energy being wasted while guests are out of their rooms. The hotel has also introduced a recycling policy and an environmental awareness scheme aimed at both staff and guests. This provides a simple but effective reminder about the importance of simple things like keeping doors and windows closed, preventing unnecessary water loss and turning off electrical appliances when not in use. For its efforts, the Clifton Court Hotel has been given a Silver Award and an eye-catching plaque which will inform passing customers of its environmental achievements.
“Every year, we see increasing numbers of tourists who list ‘green’ issues amongst their most important considerations when choosing holiday accommodation in Blackpool. These awards are designed to help environmentally responsible tourism businesses to tap into this fast growing market; they provide a strong and clearly identifiable symbol that tells customers that the award holder has made a real commitment to environmental sustainability.” The Clifton Court Hotel is the first hotel in Blackpool to hold such an award, but many other of the region's hoteliers are following close behind. More than 100 businesses are now taking part in the Blue Sky Resorts Network programme in Blackpool and many more are participating in the Sustourex project in North and Western Lancashire. These businesses range in size from small holiday flats and guest houses to large multi-storey hotels. Both Sustourex and the Blue Sky Resorts Network programme can provide local tourism businesses with free advice about improving their environmental performance. Details are available from David Bowker on 01925 273273. Hoteliers Consider Options for Waste and Recycling On Wednesday 27th April, more than 30 local hoteliers gathered at the Solaris Centre in Blackpool to discuss the thorny issue of trade waste disposal and to consider how recycling schemes could help them to reduce their costs.
The workshop found that a large proportion of many hoteliers’ trade waste was comprised of materials that could very easily be recycled if the appropriate facilities could be made available. These included paper and card, glass, tins/cans, cooking oil and various forms of plastic, such as bottles and packaging. Charles Jackson of Lancashire based waste recycling specialist, Recycling.co.uk, explained that commercial service providers would be only too happy to recycle the great majority of materials typically produced by tourism businesses. However, he pointed out that the costs of collection and segregation were critical factors, and without an effective, well organised system for supplying properly separated waste to the recyclers, the whole process may never become viable. The delegates proposed a number of possible solutions to this problem. Some hoteliers expressed interest in a ‘self help’ approach whereby they could segregate their waste and bring it to a central collection centre from which recycling companies could make regular collections. Others felt that only some form of kerbside collection service would be practical – particularly at high season when they could not afford to leave the business premises for any significant length of time. Some delegates expressed a view that EU funding could play an important role in making collection and recycling schemes more economically viable – providing the initial momentum for local schemes that could then grow to become commercially self sustaining. One very creative suggestion was that some form of local ‘social enterprise’ could be established that could assist with the collection and segregation of waste, while also creating new training and employment opportunities for socially disadvantaged groups. David Bowker noted that a proposal for such a scheme is currently being examined by local regeneration partnerships and said that more details would be issued as soon as there were any developments.
One further presentation at the workshop was given by Ian Pearson of Shredding Options, who explained the importance of disposing of confidential paper waste properly – particularly in the light of the recent rise in identity theft and similar crimes. He also explained some of the legal obligations facing businesses that routinely receive credit card details from their customers. Follow-up workshops will be organised for later in the year, reviewing progress and proposals for the new recycling scheme, as well as examining other subjects such as energy efficiency and the availability of grants. Details are available from David Bowker on 01925 273270. Project Helps Strand Hotel Achieve Savings
Run by Jane Bury and her family, the Hotel was officially re-opened in May 2004 and now features many waste- and energy-saving systems that were chosen after a series of workshop discussions and advice from project consultants. “The workshops were a great help,” says Jane. “We were able to discuss ideas and products amongst people who either had specialist knowledge or had been in the same situation themselves. To be able to tap into such a resource free of charge was invaluable.” More details can be found on our Case Studies page. First Environmental Innovation Seminar On Friday 4th March, Blackpool Borough Council’s first ‘Environmental Innovation Seminar’ took place at the Solaris Centre in Blackpool, demonstrating a range of environmentally sustainable technologies to a packed audience of hoteliers and other representatives of the region’s tourism industries.
The seminar began with a presentation by Lord Wade of Chorlton, the President of the Combined Heat & Power Association. He provided a global overview of the drive towards greater environmental sustainability and explained some of the influences of the current economic and political climate. In particular, he noted that while reducing energy use in absolute terms is clearly an important goal, improving energy efficiency is also critical. Andy Duckett of Blackpool Borough Council then spoke to the delegates about the design and operation of the Solaris Centre itself. As one of the team responsible for developing this landmark example of sustainability in construction, he was ideally placed to indicate real life examples of measures that reduce environmental impact while also helping building owners and managers to make very considerable cost savings. The Solaris Centre is designed to be a ‘sub-zero’ energy building – one that generates more energy than it uses. To do this, it makes use of many highly visible technologies including two 11m high wind turbines and a series of carefully placed photo-voltaic arrays. However, Andy was keen to emphasise that many other measures that required far less investment had also been employed within the Centre, and that a high proportion of these could easily be introduced by small hotels. He highlighted passive lighting, under floor heating, low energy lighting and rainwater collection as some good examples of viable and easily implemented techniques that have been shown to yield tangible savings with a very short payback period.
Yan told the audience how one of Baxi Technologies UK’s DACHS mini-CHP units had been installed at the Solaris Centre, where it could be seen in action by the local community as a working example of energy efficiency. Capable of running on natural gas, LPG, or fuel oil, the DACHS unit is capable of producing 12.5kWth of heat output and 5.5kWe of electricity. In a typical multi-occupancy building, operating for approximately 6,000 hours per year, the unit will save an estimated five tonnes of carbon dioxide – equivalent to approximately 20% reduction on C02 emissions when compared to the conventional gas fired heat only boilers and grid supplied electricity. Paul Taylor, Blackpool Borough Council’s Technical Services Manager concluded the seminar with an update on the Council’s plans to introduce new facilities for the recycling of materials such as plastic bottles, metal and glass. Delegates were then invited to take a tour of the Solaris building by Centre Manager Duncan Broadbent. Further seminars will be organised for later in the year, addressing subjects such as waste recycling, energy efficiency and the availability of relevant grants. Further details are available from David Bowker on 01925 273270.
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On
Friday 9th December, the New Spa Hotel on Queen's Promenade in Blackpool
hosted the latest Green Tourism Awards presentations. At the event,
local hoteliers enjoyed a buffet lunch before receiving their awards
from project advisor, David Bowker.
Bridge
House Farm, a recently launched tea-room in Wray, a village in Lancashire’s
picturesque Lune Valley, has received a Green Tourism Award for
outstanding achievement in environmental sustainability. The owner
and manager of the establishment, Pat Staveley received the award
from Alex Southall, an environmental consultant from Lancaster University.
“All
of the award winners here today have made great strides in improving
their environmental performance,” said Alex. “Not only
are they helping to conserve natural resources and to minimise both
waste and pollution, they are also saving themselves an appreciable
amount of money in the process. They have introduced energy saving
measures such as draught-proofing and low energy lighting, staff
awareness schemes, and a host of other things that will help to
improve efficiency, conserve water and reduce the volumes of waste
that they produce.
Maiden
Bridge Art & Design Centre, a privately run art gallery and
design consultancy based in Tatham near Lancaster, has received
a Green Tourism Award for outstanding achievement in environmental
sustainability. Owners David Davies and Hannah Smeds-Davies, who
live and work at the 14th Century farmstead, received the award
on Wednesday 12th October from Alex Southall, an environmental consultant
from Lancaster University.
On
Wednesday 17th August, nine Blackpool hoteliers received Green Tourism
Awards for environmental sustainability at a special ceremony held
at the Solaris Centre on South Shore. Presenting the winners with
their plaques and certificates, project consultant David Bowker
congratulated them on their achievement and announced that the number
of Blackpool businesses to have earned such an award had now reached
a total of 50.
Chris
and his family converted Patty’s Farm Barn into holiday accommodation
in 2000, and since then have invested a great deal of time, money
and effort in developing an ideal environment for local wildlife.
In addition to creating a large freshwater pond that is now home
to a variety of birds, Chris has also planted well over 4,000 broad-leaved
trees including oak, ash and rowan. As a result, he and his family
have created a rich diversity of habitats that will improve steadily
with age.
Cleveley
Mere Fishing and Lodges, a privately run trout fishery and nature
reserve in Forton in the Wyre Valley, has received a Green Tourism
Award for outstanding achievement in environmental sustainability.
Owner Peter Brown, who has devoted the last 5 years to establishing
a haven for both wildlife and fishermen, received the award at a
special presentation held at Cleveley Mere Lodge on Tuesday 12th
July. 
While
Peter’s commitment to creating an idyllic natural environment
is very clear, it is also apparent that he is extending the same
principles of sustainability to the other aspects of the site. For
example, he has created a luxury self-catering lodge where guests
can stay for holidays and weekend visits. Built almost entirely
of timber and other renewable materials, it owes its A-frame structure
to the fact that it was once a boathouse that Peter has recycled,
relocated and refurbished. Elsewhere on the site, as another example
of practical re-use and recycling, visitors will also see a rather
unusual, elliptical shaped summerhouse by the lake that was originally
a Victorian era tram-stop shelter.
Perhaps
the most striking building on the site is the all-timber 'Huf Haus',
which is home to Peter and his wife Lynne, and which provides additional
guest accommodation downstairs. Designed and pre-fabricated in Germany,
the three storey house was erected in 2002 and has proved to be
extremely energy efficient, requiring only one tank of propane gas
to heat it for an entire year. The lake-facing elevation is composed
almost entirely of glass, which affords impressive views but also
allows the sun’s heat to warm the building all year round
while providing effective insulation during the winter.
In
all, well over thirty local establishments have won environmental
awards since the beginning of June, having made significant progress
in minimising the environmental impact of their businesses. Their
efforts have come as a result of the Green Tourism Awards scheme,
which is being piloted in Blackpool and parts of North and Western
Lancashire under projects supported by funding from the European
Union. 
The
event began at noon with an introduction by David Bowker, environmental
advisor to the Blue Sky Resorts Network project. Then followed a
presentation by Brian Jones from the Blackpool Hilton who provided
an insight into the organisation’s environmental management
systems. 
The
programme has proven very popular in Blackpool and many tourism
businesses have risen to the challenge, as Councillor Jackson acknowledged
during the award ceremony.
Forrest
Hills – the Ellel based centre for business and outdoor pursuits
– has become Lancaster’s first conference and leisure
venue to win a Green Tourism Award for environmental sustainability.
The centre’s proprietor, Colin Newsham, received the award
at a special ceremony at one of Forrest Hills’ lakeside lodges
on Thursday 9th June.
Forrest
Hills combines a golf course, a rural conference centre, fishing
lakes and a variety of outdoor pursuits such as quad biking and
archery. Its conference centre – which comprises a series
of large modern log cabins overlooking the lake – is a relatively
recent development and, as such, it boasts many environmentally
friendly features such as the use of sustainable construction materials
and a heating system powered by fuel from renewable sources. 
A
relatively new building, the Museum already incorporates many modern
energy saving features including low energy lighting and effective
heat insulation. In addition, however, staff are keenly committed
to reducing waste and maximising energy efficiency wherever possible
– not only as a result of new technology, but also through
greater environmental awareness and effective management systems.
Calderbank
Country Lodge in Oakenclough has become the first rural business
in Lancashire to win a Green Tourism Award for environmental sustainability.
The lodge’s proprietors, Rowland and Lesley Hayward, received
the award at their premises on Thursday 19th May.
The
Clifton Court Hotel on Clifton Drive has become the first hotel
in Blackpool to win a Green Tourism Award for environmental sustainability.
Hotel manager, Graham Kamp received the award at a special presentation
ceremony at the Solaris Centre on Wednesday April 27th.
Speaking
at the presentation ceremony, David Bowker said: “The Clifton
Court Hotel provides an excellent example of how the introduction
of simple techniques can have a significant effect on reducing costs
and improving environmental performance. It’s gratifying to
see that it is already producing noticeable results at the hotel
and I wish Graham and his colleagues every success for the future.
Carried
out as part of the Council’s Blue Sky Resorts Network programme,
the workshop was intended to enable hoteliers to give their feedback
about current waste collection systems and to consider new ways
to address the problem. To help them with this task, environmental
experts from the University of Central Lancashire and Lancaster
University provided additional information and advice, while representatives
of private recycling businesses explained some of the commercial
realities associated with the collection, segregation and recycling
of different forms of waste.
The
workshop concluded by agreeing a plan of action for the coming weeks.
Hoteliers will begin by ‘auditing’ their waste –
identifying exactly what kinds of waste materials they produce and
in what quantities. This will provide valuable information that
will allow project officers and experts from the two universities
to develop firm proposals for launching effective and economically
sustainable recycling services within the Blackpool area.
Carried
out as part of the Council’s Blue Sky Resorts Network programme,
the seminar was intended to show how even relatively small businesses
can benefit from the use of both new and established technologies.
The recently re-opened Solaris Centre was specifically designed
to demonstrate the practical applications of environmentally sustainable
systems and, consequently, it provided the prefect venue for the
occasion.
Yan
Evans of Baxi Technologies UK then gave the delegates an insight
into recent developments in the field of Combined Heat & Power
(CHP.) He explained that small scale CHP units can now be produced
that are suitable for small hotels and even domestic residences
– and that with overall fuel efficiencies of up to 92%, they
can help owners make savings on their heating and electricity costs.Site
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