Green, hey. What a bandied-about phrase that seems to be these days.
On the face of it, "green" might seem like yet another trendy bandwagon of the 21st century: half the population are on board, waving their compost heaps and solar powered panels for all to see; then there's all those funky Bags for Life floating about and eco toilet cleaners made from lemons and coriander leaves...
If we dig a little deeper into our organic vegetable patch however, it's apparent that something quite substantial is growing. No longer regarded as a hippy way of life - or indeed something to make yourself feel 'at one' with the earth - green is very much the shape of the future. Every serious organisation worth their salt is assessing their green credentials, working out their eco-friendly objectives and tightening up their carbon footprints.
So it was encouraging to hear today that one of Lincolnshire's top hotels has been awarded a Silver accolade from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort of the QHotels group sits on the outskirts of Brigg in the north of the county, just a few minutes from the M180. Less the motorway stopover, more a secluded haven; the resort sits amongst ancient trees, peaceful wild heathland and an impressive championship golf course.
Putting myself in the shoes of a Forest Pines Hotel guest, I wondered what I might expect to find at this newly stamped 'green' resort. Bamboo sheets? A mossy roof? Or how about rainwater in the pool? Er, no. Rest assured the comforts of 4* luxury remain. Polished floors, contemporary styling and swish facilities abound. The real green graft is much more of a behind the scenes effort it seems.
Firstly, a 'Green Team' was established around 18 months ago, made up of internal staff with plenty of eco-enthusiasm...they meet, share ideas and help implement green practices within the hotel. Since the green gang have been working their magic, the resort has seen positive decreases in energy usage and significantly reduced their waste to landfill impact. Look out for their posters too, encouraging you to not waste water, switch off lights etc. There's also Conference with a Conscience, a programme whereby company delegates offset their mileage to the hotel, who in turn plant a tree in the grounds on their behalf. Neat.
So after a great round of golf, retire to your room and sink into a heavenly bubbly bath... (large glass of Shiraz in hand of course) then breathe easy - your luxury break is green and guilt-free, too. CL
Lincolnshire places to stay & visit with a Green Tourism Award:
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