Two hotels in the Sarnia Hotels Group first in Guernsey to be accredited by the Green Tourism Business Scheme

September 14th, 2010 by Sarnia Hotels

Two hotels in the Sarnia Hotels Group are the first in Guernsey to be accredited by the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Both Moores and The Hotel de Havelet have received bronze awards for making their operations more sustainable, whilst still delivering a high quality service.

A Team Effort - left to right - Assistant Manageress Hotel de Havelet, Wilma Jack; House Manager Hotel de Havelet, Gennaro Festivo; Trainee Manager Moores, Dirk Brehm; Sarnia Hotels Director, Karel Harris; Hotel de Havelet team member Indra Molcanova. (click image to expand)

To qualify for the awards the hotels have made a commitment to continuous improvement in their environmental performance by demonstrating good management, staff awareness and communication of green policies to customers.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme, (GTBS) has been running since 1997. It has over 2000 members across the British Isles and Ireland. Sarnia Hotels Director, Karel Harris is delighted that both hotels have become the first in the Bailiwick to gain the awards:

“Guests who stay at our hotels can be assured that we are committed to sustainable tourism and minimising the damage caused to Guernsey’s environment. It’s about sustainability in every aspect of our business which takes into account the needs of the environment, local residents and visitors both now and in the future.”

In order to qualify for accreditation each hotel was scored by a qualified grading advisor on up to 60 measures. These included energy efficiency, water use, purchasing of environmentally friendly goods, waste recycling, biodiversity and transport.   Mrs Harris said receiving the awards doesn’t mean that the hard work now stops:

“The hotels will be reassessed on a regular basis based on the latest sustainable development standards, so we have to continue the good work we have started.  Our staff have worked as a team and adapted very well to the changes. They understand that by looking after our environment we are improving our customers’ experience and benefiting the local community.”

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the largest and most established scheme of its type in the World.  It is the only certification scheme validated by Visit Britain through the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) The current network of members is made up of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions and corporate offices.

“Down to Earth Dowsing” with Adrian Incledon-Webber

September 14th, 2010 by St Pierre du Bois Floral Group

As part of the Floral Festival Week, Adrian Incledon-Webber, vice President of The British Society of Dowsers, will present “Down to Earth Dowsing” at La Vielle Grange, Rue des Heches, St Pierre du Bois (Perrys Reference 27 H/3) on Sunday 26 September 2010 between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm.

Mr. Incledon-Webber will offer practical demonstrations and a hands-on workshop demonstrating how gardeners can use dowsing to locate, identify and overcome a wide variety of problems in the garden.

Numbers are limited so booking is essential.  Tickets are £10.00 per person from the Guernsey Information Centre tel 723552.  Free Parking is available at Les Heches Vinery which is signposted.

Dowsing is an ancient art in increasing use today to help us find out about things beyond our five senses – from locating underground water and minerals and tracing lost pets & people to diagnosing allergies, choosing therapies or improving the well being of our living environment.

Discover Dowsing with Adrian Incledon-Webber, vice president of The British Society of Dowsers

September 14th, 2010 by St Pierre du Bois Floral Group

Adrian Incledon-Webber, British Society of Dowsers Vice President

Adrian Incledon-Webber, UK dowsing practitioner and Vice President of The British Society of Dowsers, will give a presentation on dowsing in the Harry Bound Room, Les Cotils on 24 September 2010 between 2.30 and 4.30 pm.

Dowsing is an ancient art in increasing use today to help us find out about things beyond our five senses – from locating underground water and minerals and tracing lost pets & people to diagnosing allergies, choosing therapies or improving the well being of our living environment.

• Learn how to Dowse for water quality and for streams
• Dowse for health and allergies
• Look for ley lines and earth energies
• Detect your own energy field
• Find underground sewer pipes, drains, and electricity cables.

Dowsing can be used to:

• Locate archaeological remains
• Determine the best location for plants in your garden
• Diagnose food intolerances
• Detect harmful electro-magnetic and other radiations within the home and office (geopathic stress)

Find out how this ancient art can work for you in the 21st Century.

Entrance fee is £5 in advance or £6 at the door. Click Invitation to download it to your computer.

To book or to find out more information please contact Tony Talmage on 264396 or email talmage(at)cwgsy.net

October is Walk to School Month

September 14th, 2010 by Pat

October is Walk to School Month.   The Walk to School website has classroom packs and resources to help you promote this initiative.

The number of school children walking to school has declined over the years. All States Departments have signed up to Guernsey’s obesity strategy. Living Streets Guernsey believes it is now more important than ever to encourage children to be more physically active.

New US research has shown that walking to school in the morning reduces stress in children during the school day.  A one mile stroll was found to curb increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life.

Stress levels were about twice as high for the passive commuters compared to active children. Lead researcher Professor James Roemmich, from the University of Buffalo said: “The cardiovascular disease process begins in childhood, so if we can find some way of stopping or slowing that process, that would provide an important health benefit”

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets UK, told Mail Online: “This new research is more ammunition for what we have been saying all along – walking really does work. Walking is one of the greenest, cheapest forms of exercise you can do and not only can it impact your physical health, it is good for children’s learning. Previous research from the Department of Transport found that 9 out of 10 teachers reported that children who walk to school are more alert and ready to work once they reach the classroom.”

Living Streets Guernsey has been promoting walking in the island since 2002. In the UK the WoW scheme (Walk Once a Week) is being used as a tool nationwide to help lower obesity rates amongst children.

This initiative could be a starting point this October for students to walk to school at least once per week.