Award Presenter: Rob Reed (UKSA)
Winner: Chessell Pottery Barns
Chessell Pottery Barns was taken over by the current proprietors in 2003 as part of their Pottery Café group that includes two other sites in London.
The business was given an environmental review by ecoBIZ late in 2004 as well as being given a grading by Green Island, at 70%. The resulting report by ecoBIZ raised a number of issues, which were taken on board by the proprietors and many of those points have been acted upon, resulting in an increase in the Green Island grading this year to 89%.
Chessell Pottery Barns has incorporated the concept of sustainable management, not just within the confines its own business, but further a field. The café sells locally produced goods, such as Isle of Wight lavender, local walking and cycling guides and Fair Trade beverages and toys. Locally produced produce is used in the café and even the squash is additive free (Organic fruit, sugar and not much else). The shop also sells goods and holds information promoting the Island’s Red Squirrel project.
The café hosts a display board which promotes the Green Island Scheme, Fair Trade and the business’ environmental and recycling policy. Water butts around the site are made form wooden barrels to fit in with the ambience of the site.
Right from the word go, the proprietors have aimed to reduce waste going to landfill as well as increasing resource efficiency. A new holiday let has just been built on site that includes free cycle hire form the adjoining cycle hire business.
• Effective ongoing environmental management plan
• Replacement of low energy lighting with energy efficient systems
• Promotion and sale of local goods and craft products
• Sell Fair Trade beverages and toys
• Good information in café promoting Green Island, Fair Trade and on-site policies
• On-site cycle hire available to holiday let free of charge
• Ongoing management of grounds to increase biodiversity i.e. native tree planting
• Water butts used for all garden watering
• Drought tolerant planting scheme in place
• Ongoing replacement project to replace baths with showers
• Changes in cleaning practices have reduced polluting substances entering water system
• Won Shanklin in Bloom Small Hotel Gardens 2005 award
• Good guest awareness campaign to encourage them to take part in best practice policies