Green Tourism News : 28th August 2006

The Islands’ very own Green accreditation scheme hosted its third annual awards celebrating the achievements that Island tourism businesses have made over the past year towards improved environmental management. The evening was held on 25th May at Cowes Yacht Haven, attended by over 90 certified businesses and representatives from a whole host of projects and initiatives.

The evening was hosted by professional after dinner speaker Keith O’Keefe, with an opening address by Andrew Turner MP, who stressed the importance of Green tourism on both a local and global level. He then applauded the work done by Green Island businesses across the Island to retain the qualities that make it a great place to visit, adding that the local product ‘local food and drink and our countryside are our unique selling points and why people will come and visit us in the future’.

After a welcome by project co-ordinator Steve Blamire this year’s awards went to the following outstanding businesses:

The Green Island Accommodation Provider of the Year award was presented by Nigel Smith (Head of IoW Tourism) to Gotten Manor B&B and Self-Catering, Chale. Nominees were the Frenchman's Cove Country Hotel and Heatherleigh Hotel.

The award for Green Island Camping & Holiday Park of the Year was presented by Jim Fawcett (IWC Agenda 21 Officer & Green Island Partnership Chairman) to Silver Glades Caravan Park, Cranmore. Nominees for this award were Southland Camping and Ninham Country Holidays.

The Green Island Attraction of the Year was presented by Angela Mawle (Chief Exec, UK Public Heath Association) to Ventnor Botanical Gardens, Ventnor. Nominees in this category were Chessell Pottery Barns and Dinosaur Isle.

The Green Island Service of the Year award was presented by Peter Kelly (Environment Agency) to Yarmouth Harbour, Yarmouth. Nominees were Wight Offroad and X-Isle Sports.

The Green Island Innovation Award was presented by Lynn Clarke (Island Waste) to Medina Post Office/ Island Pedal & Power, Cowes.

The Jim Ruby Award for Contribution to Sustainable Tourism this year went to Calbourne Water Mill, Calbourne and was presented by Chris Barnes (Afton Park).

The Green Island Business of the Year was presented by Rob Reed (UKSA) to Chessell Pottery Barns, Chessell.

The Green Island Water Efficiency Award was presented by Jon Crooke (Southern Water) to Heatherleigh Hotel, Shanklin.

Green Island co-ordinator Steve Blamire said: 'Its been three years since we began working on the Green Island Project and during that time we have been amazed at the progress businesses have made, in some cases the response has been truly inspiring. Over 50% of businesses are achieving Gold and a number have simply gone off the scale! We have worked on a number of supporting projects and this years highlight has definitely been the development of the Island Food & Craft Association, which will hopefully radically improve the performance of the Island's food & craft sectors.'

‘A huge part of the Islands success is down to the businesses involved. Although Green Island has been a huge catalyst for change, without the energy of the businesses to want to change, evident in some of the fantastic projects they’ve undertaken, the project could still be on a pilot scale.’

Since Green Island started, it has followed a ‘just do it’ approach which can be seen in the projects achieved and funding brought onto the Island – in the last 3 years it has helped to facilitate a range of projects across the county accounting for over £2.4 million of funding, addressing many of the wider sustainable tourism issues such as local food, waste, infrastructure etc.