Business & Industry Environmental Award Category
Gardens Of The World
Geoff and Gillian Etherington receive this award in recognition of the sound environmental ethics upon which the gardens have been developed to date.
This award recognises the 'labour of love' put in by the Etheringtons to develop the gardens into a lovely landscaped reserve, with plants from around the world, which is a recreational, environmental, aesthetic and educational asset for paying visitors. The judges were particularly impressed with the high level of on-going commitment and sustainable approach taken by the owners, even though it is not yet hugely profitable. The fact that all organic material is mulched and composted on site, sprays are minimised and only used sparingly as required, irrigation water is used efficiently and pumping and power is monitored, all demonstrated how the environmental ethic of the owners underpinned their whole way of operating.
Overall, the Council and judges therefore give this award recognition of the input and commitment put in by the Etheringtons to develop the Gardens of the World as a commercial, tourism and recreational business and resource for the District, based on sound environmental operating principles.
