Daisy Green » Clean breaks

A very wild experience

Sallyanne Flemons — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:09:04 +0000

Volunteer Latin America provides information on free and low-cost volunteer work in Central and South America, connecting international volunteers to some of the best grassroots projects in the environmental and humanitarian sectors.

We can also inform volunteers about language schools if they are interested in learning Spanish or Portuguese as part of their trip.

The idea came when we were participating on several conservation projects in Costa Rica and Ecuador in 2001.

We were inspired by the reaction of other volunteers when they discovered the disparity between our financial contributions and the subsequent analysis of what they received for their fee. Hence, it was a direct response to all those other ‘voluntary work facilitators’ out there asking for exorbitant fees from international volunteers.

Besides the economic aspects of volunteering abroad, another important factor behind the creation of this service concerned our own personal philosophy. The experience of working and travelling in Latin America has only served to increase our awareness of the need to preserve the uniqueness that is Ecological Latin America.

Make no mistake; the ecosystems of this region are truly magnificent.

What separates us from other similar services is our passion for what we do and the fantastic array of low cost projects we offer volunteers – many of which they are unlikely to find elsewhere. We aim to get people involved at a fraction of the cost associated with arranging their placement through a sending agency.

Another key difference concerns our ethical policy, enabling us to be called the greenest voluntary work facilitator on the web. Innovative best practices include running a mobile office and offsetting our own carbon emissions by living eco-conscious lifestyles.

The projects we offer are as varied and interesting as you might imagine. They range from helping to build nature trails in the Amazon to monitoring big cats such as ocelots and puma. A multitude of other opportunities exist in a diverse range of species, habitats and locations.

As well as offering a vast range of environmental projects, we give volunteers the opportunity to help the economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people of the region by providing a wide variety of humanitarian work. There are opportunities to get involved in child welfare, community development, education and health programmes.

Because we help hundreds of grassroots organisations find people willing to help them achieve their objectives, we support environmental conservation and local community development in the region. Without the support and commitment of volunteers many of these organisations would be unable to carry out their vital work.

To find out more about us and how to get involved please visit our website or blog.

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Hot tubbing in Yorkshire

anonymous — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:39:42 +0000

I was sold on the place as soon as we entered the cabin and saw the word WELCOME spelled out in Scrabble letters perched on the table.

It may have only added up to 14 points on the Scrabble board, but this quirky greeting gave immediate kudos to Forest Holidays.

Hoping for some rest and relaxation, eleven university friends and I chose to organise our Easter reunion at the eco-friendly Keldy Forestry Cabins in Yorkshire. We had booked two cabins in the heart of the forest – located just 35 miles outside York on the edge of the North Moors National Park.

All of the park’s cabins are constructed from sustainable FEC timber, are appropriately insulated and glazed to minimise energy loss and the newest builds are kitted out with low energy light bulbs and appliances. All waste at the Keldy site is sorted by a company who ensure that rubbish is separated correctly before being sent to a recycling plant.

Getting to the site involved traversing some bumpy roads into the wilderness and a slight amount of panic as the signal bars from our phones disappeared. Our expectation of everyone arriving was pinned on the hope that the rather more disorganised group members had had the foresight to read the detailed map and instructions they had been sent!

We soon realised that this was a far cry from the camping holidays we’d been on before, this was glamping (glamorous camping) at its best – small houses rather than cabins, comfy beds, hot shower rooms, mod cons including a TV/DVD player and a hot tub on each patio which looked straight out into the forest. The initial dread exhibited by some of the girls at their lack of mobile phone signal dissipated after a couple of hours – it was so great to feel completely disconnected from the outside world without the rude interruption of a text message, tweet or email to disrupt the relaxing atmosphere.

Our first, as well as every evening which followed was spent chattering and lounging in the hot tubs with G&Ts and glasses of wine after home-cooked dinners rustled up in the large kitchen. You have the option to bring your own food and drink, although hampers filled with Yorkshire sausages, local eggs and plenty of other treats can be ordered in advance. There’s also a small cafe serving hearty fare on-site for breakfast and lunch if you don’t fancy slaving away over the stove.

Under the dappled sunlight fading through the tall canopies from the hot tub we watched flocks of birds – chaffinches, blue tits and robins to name a few – twittering through the tall trees. Male pheasants shrieked their way through the undergrowth flashing their brightly coloured plumage at anyone who would take a look. As well as the plethora of bird life on our doorstep we were lucky enough to spot toads and deer just a short walk from our cabins. With most of us hailing from the big smoke, we were incredibly excited to be seeing anything more interesting than a pigeon or a stressed underground commuter!

During Easter weekend our group of twenty-somethings was rather an odd bunch, most of the clientele were families and a smattering of couples. The staff had gone to a huge effort to make all the children feel welcome with ranger activities, an Easter Day parade and BBQ with bouncy castle for the little ones. As we felt it would be a little inappropriate for us to join in the bouncy castle with over half of our group being over six foot, we opted to rent bicycles (around £18 per day) and tackle some of the biking trails. Bikers should be prepared for a workout (and mud if the weather isn’t fair), there are routes for all abilities and lots of hills to conquer. Coming home to the hot tub is the perfect remedy to relieve your aching muscles after a day’s biking.

Other outdoor activities on offer were bushcraft masterclasses, daytime and evening wildlife walks through the forest visiting badger setts and, if you were lucky, catching a glimpse of the majestic tawny owl swooping though the night sky.

Whether you are a family looking for an action packed weekend with events that the kids will love, or a couple looking to escape into nature while enjoying a few creature comforts at the same time then you should grab your walking boots and your wellies – this is the holiday for you. Despite having a brilliant time and loving the location I wouldn’t recommend this holiday to a group of young adults (there’s a 10pm noise curfew which is a little hard to stick to) as the place really had a family orientated vibe, however I would certainly return in the future when I have a family to take with me!

Forest Holidays are always looking to improve their green status and believe in constantly upgrading their sites to ensure that they remain as environmentally friendly as possible and have joined the GTBS (Green Tourism Business Scheme) which measures environmental performance over the year.

For more information go to forestholidays.co.uk

Go Ape this Easter

Ruth Rosselson — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:45:12 +0000

If the children are after some excitement but the adults prefer a nice day out in the country, then a Go Ape adventure could satisfy everyone.

Go Ape, a high wire forest adventure, build giant obstacle courses in some of Britain’s most beautiful locations, and have just opened three new courses, including two in Wales. There are 28 different courses in woodland across the country incorporating ladders, walkways, bridges, tunnels and some of the country’s best zip lines.

It’s an exhilarating experience. Happily, you don’t have to be super fit to take part, just so long as you can climb a rope ladder. Alongside ensuring you have a fantastic time, safety is paramount and everyone is given a safety briefing and training in using the harnesses, pulleys and karabiners.

Go Ape isn’t just about having fun, the courses are designed to minimise any impact on the trees and are friendly to wildlife too, the platforms proving popular shelter for birds and special boxes providing haven for bats. The company also raises money and donates to good causes, including the Gorilla organisation.

It’s a truly eco-adventure, that everyone (over the age of 10) can enjoy. To find out more, and a course close to you, visit goape.co.uk.

Escape to Tuscany

Charlotte — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:27:49 +0000

The organic farm and agritourism of Barbialla Nuova remains an undiscovered secret for some and for others an annual destination.

Those who have been before eagerly await the slow relaxation of mind and body amid the olive groves, under the Tuscan sun. For first-timers, expect to be reinvigorated by the hospitality at Barbialla and the breath-takingly beautiful surrounds.

Look closely and you will see the changes wrought by Guido and his staff to continuously build upon the attractions of Barbialla Nuova.

The serenity of the Barbialla woods returns to its undisturbed state after the development of an additional truffle zone in Brentina woods, where the truffle dogs sniff out the earth’s secrets.

After an unexpectedly low yield of the fragrant tubers in 2010, owner Guido Manfredi is preparing the ground as much as possible for the uncultivatable white truffles. White Poplar trees are being planted to encourage the elusive truffles, and paths are cleared for greater access. Guests are also invited to explore the extensive pathways that criss-cross the property through the woods and also in the open hillsides, where once ‘Casa Colonica’ stood.

As you walk through the property you will see the slopes dotted with the white Chinina cattle that have stood on this ground since the Etruscans. Barbialla prides itself on producing organic beef whilst giving the cows a quality life. The herd is slowly being increased as each new calf is born, so that demand for Barbialla meat can be fulfilled. At this time, each member of the herd has been born on farm, keeping the quality of the animals.

The changes at Barbialla Nuova do not stop there in the ‘tartufaia’ and the barn. Every guest apartment is maintained at a high level to ensure the comfort of our clients and this year is no exception. But the changes are not just skin deep.

The environmental credentials of Barbialla Nuova, which make it one of the best places to stay in Tuscany, are getting a boost with the renovation of the wood-fired central heating system in Brentina house as well as the development of an organic garden, with the aim to supply guests and residents with mouth-wateringly fresh tomatoes, salad and more.

The owners are looking at the carbon emissions of the farm and preparing to provide the option of offsetting visitors with accredited carbon reduction projects.

Though it is central to the major tourist destinations of Tuscany, Barbialla Nuova is a destination in its own right; a ‘foodies’ dream holiday with organic produce at your doorstep in the shop and garden, your own fully-equipped kitchen, and if you want, access to an experienced chef to show you how to create the perfect Italian meal.

The colours of the seasons change the face of Barbialla, but its green philosophy underpins everthing at Barbialla Nuova.

www.barbiallanuova.it

To find out more, email prodotti@barbiallanuova.it or call +39 571 677 259/004

Domain Chandon de Briailles

Alex Conti — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:10:25 +0000

The Domaine Chandon de Briailles has been owned and managed by the same family for seven generations and now it is François de Nicolay’s turn, assisted by his sister Claude.

The vineyard is located amidst three different villages in the heart of the Cote de Beaune: Savigny les Beaune, Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. It has a total of 13 hectares, almost all Premier crus and Grands crus.

Here at the Domaine there has always been a great respect for the environment, especially within the two last generations. François’s mother, Nadine de Nicolay – who trained the vineyard from 1984 to 2001 – had decided to stop the weed-killers in the 1990s and re-start ploughing the soil. Since 1995, the wish to use more and more organic products and techniques against diseases has become an integral part of their philosophy.

The big decision was taken in 2005 to work all 13 hectares in the bio-dynamic method and even some horse ploughing was introduced. “Life has come back in our subsoil and we don’t fight against the diseases anymore, we cope with them…” Every year, new experiments are carried out, knowing that it will take 10 years to completely establish the method.

Today, the Domaine is in process of certification for both Ecocert and Demeter and, in 2011, they’ll be able to say it on their back label!

For more information contact Mme de NICOLAY Claude, Domaine Chandon de Briailles, 1 rue Sœur Goby, 21420 Savigny les Beaune, Tel: +33 380 21 52 31, contact@chandondebriailles.com, www.chandondebriailles.com

Visit Alex Conti’s Eco Hotels of the World website

Meet the people

Sallyanne Flemons — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:58:32 +0000

As a schools speaker for the Wales Fair Trade Forum and a schools assessor for the Fairtrade Foundation you might expect Sue Fisher to be enthusiastic about fair trade.

And thanks to Meet the People Tours, her passion can even stretch to her holidays.

Sue has previously visited India and Cuba to meet fair trade producers, and is already planning a journey to South Africa for her next Traidcraft Meet the People Tour.

Traidcraft’s Meet the People Tours offer small groups of people a unique and authentic insight into a country’s people and culture; with a shared interest in fair trade, groups experience life in local communities, spend time with the people involved and visit development projects. As well as visiting fair trade producers, the tours give you time to enjoy and appreciate the country, see the sights and meet the people that you wouldn’t even see on a regular tourist trip.

Despite seeing the Taj Mahal and visiting the Bay of Pigs during Meet the People tours, when we asked Sue about her favourite experiences, she told us that the unique visits to fair trade producers provided her most dearly-held memories:

‘The thrill of seeing Carlos, the face of Fruit Passion juice, at work in Cuba, or visiting Agrocel, the home of Marks and Spencer’s Fairtrade cotton, are some of the pleasures that spring to mind. In 2007 I travelled to Western India on Traidcraft’s textiles tour and watched women embroidering skirts in their houses in Mumbai and then saw those same skirts in Traidcraft’s catalogue.

‘But it is seeing again the empowerment of local workers, particularly women, that remains the most exciting aspect of these visits. Recently I saw this process taking place in Kerala when I visited the Peermade Tea Factory, source of Equal Exchange’s Fairtrade organic tea, and some of its workers during Traidcraft’s South India tour.

‘One brave woman, Anasoma, had accepted nomination to the committee and actively encouraged other women to take part. We visited her house high up on the mountain slopes surrounded by tea bushes and she cooked lunch for the whole group.’

The whole idea of fair trade potentially touches on some quite serious issues, but Sue found the holidays a truly uplifting experience.

‘I find that a lot of laughter is heard on these visits to producer groups. Often this is hard to describe, as it is non-verbal, like workers’ reactions to our efforts to eat with our hands in village houses or to pick the ‘two leaves and a bud’ of quality tea in a clean break.’

‘Sometimes it arises from the generous hospitality of our hosts, as in a lunch with a farmers’co-operative in Cuba, when we realised that the bottles on the tables were rum – one bottle for every two visitors! We didn’t do it justice!’

You can find out more about Meet the People tours at www.traidcraft-tours.com, call Lizzie or Paul on 0191 2651110 or email traidcraft@skedaddle.co.uk.

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A greener getaway

Charlotte — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:37:03 +0000

Monkton Wyld Court

If you’re looking for somewhere to escape, sometimes the best places are right on your doorstep.

Monkton Wyld Court combines the idyllic Great British countryside with a little bit of luxury, to create the perfect break away.

Set in Devon, the court has been running for over 70 years. It has played host to many educational courses for families, as well as running a bed and breakfast for guests who just want to relax.

The house itself accommodates up to 35 guests at any one time, with rooms holding up to 6 people. The whole place is, of course, as green as you can get, with communal areas all heated by wood burning stoves, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

And it doesn’t end there. The water comes from the court’s own wells,using their reedbed filtration system. Solar panels are also in full use. Where possible, the food served is vegetarian, organically grown and sourced from their own farm and kitchen garden or locally sourced. Many products used are Fairtrade and eco-friendly, and they cater for many specific dietary requirements as long as you give them notice.

The grounds include terraced lawns, a small wood, and even and orchard. The fields lead to a stream and a Victorian walled vegetable garden, showcasing the building heritage.

As for travel, when booking your stay there is the option to take part in a car sharing scheme. You can be matched up with other visitors close to your area and share the car, cutting carbon emissions and making the whole trip, and the environment, that little bit greener.

Whether you’re looking for an educational visit to learn a little more, or wanting to sample a part of our wonderful countryside, Monkton Wyld Court really does have it all. A little piece of paradise in your own backyard.

Monkton Wyld offers courses, B&B, full board, camping plots and meals. For more information, visit monktonwyldcourt.co.uk

&Beyond Banjaar Tola

Alex Conti — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:52:08 +0000

&Beyond Banjaar Tola is situated right on the edge of the Banjaar River in India, and overlooks Kanha National Park on the opposite bank.

The two intimate camps, each consisting of only nine elegant tented suites, have been designed with a light footprint to protect the sensitive riverine environment.

Each contemporary suite features bamboo floors, canvas roof and walls, and glass doors leading out onto a floating veranda overlooking the river. And each camp boasts its own comfortable guest sitting area with a spacious open-air dining area and interpretive library.

Every camp has a refreshing swimming pool for relaxing afternoons between game drives. Locally crafted furniture is hewn from the timber of exotic Indian trees and features textiles designed in tones of delicate saffron and acid-washed green, with rich block-printed Madhya Pradesh cottons and silks. The atmosphere is light, ethereal and organic.

India offers a fascinating alternative to Africa. The safari experience comprises game viewing, interpretive jungle walks and world class birding. The guest experience is complemented by warm staff welcomes, butler service, interpretive game drives with &Beyond-trained naturalists, and delicious regional food.

Review courtesy of Eco Hotels of the World

Soneva Fushi by Six Senses

Alex Conti — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:08:22 +0000

Blue heaven

Fringed by white sandy beaches that shelve gently into an azure blue sea, Soneva Fushi is set on a 40 hectare island a thrilling 25-minute seaplane ride away from the capital Male’.

The Six Senses flagship resort presents a luxurious experience in an understated yet sophisticated style, which allows guests to enjoy the natural reality of the destination.

It is this theme of Intelligent Luxury that has made it a truly legendary resort. Offering just 65 accommodations set privately in the lush jungle and looking towards the surrounding lagoon, Soneva Fushi captures the very essence of a castaway fantasy.

31 villas offer private pool options while the Jungle Reserve and The Retreat incorporate the Maldives’ first tree houses. Dining alternatives abound with a choice of restaurants and an excellent wine cellar. The resort grows much of its salad, vegetable and fruit produce in its organic vegetable and fruit gardens. There is a Six Senses Spa, an open-air cinema and a PADI dive centre, as well as a marine biology programme.

Read our review of the Six Senses Spa at Canary Wharf

Soneva Fushi review courtesy of Eco Hotels of the World

The Barefoot Resort – Havelock

Sallyanne Flemons — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:52:55 +0000

The Andaman Islands, are India’s best-kept secret: stunning beaches, aquamarine coral lagoons, lush green rainforest, active volcanoes, swimming elephants, and giant fish.

‘Barefoot at Havelock’ is located on what ‘TIME Magazine’ rated as the best beach in Asia, the resort is set in tropical rainforest and fruit trees behind a pristine 2 km stretch of white sand at the quirkily named Beach No 7 on Havelock Island. Conde Nast Traveler thought that the beach was one of the 30 best in the world.

The resort consists of 19 beautifully designed and environmentally sensitive cottages hidden in the tropical foliage. The resort and cottages are spread over 8 acres, thus giving an uninterrupted feeling of nature and privacy. The barefoot philosophy propagates the use of only natural indigenous materials in the living and recreational spaces.

Review courtesy of Eco Hotels of the World

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A very wild experience

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