Category: Enterprises News

SHERE CRAFTSMEN AND ALBURY VINEYARD CREATE A 5-STAR HOTEL FOR LUCKY BUGS

 

A giant hotel created by Shere Kitchens for creepy crawlies in Albury Vineyard is probably the most 5-star, luxurious accommodation that any bug, bee or beetle could ever desire.

Children from the Hedgehog cohort at Shere C of E Infant School enthusiastically put the finishing touches to the de-luxe bug hotel at its grand opening on Wednesday June 18.

They inserted hollow bamboo canes and gathered sticks, moss, grass and wood to make a ground-floor nesting site for small animals as well as bugs. There was great excitement when the first creepy crawlies found in the undergrowth were introduced to their new home!

“I love the bug house because we got to help make it,” said one of the boys.

The Bug Hotel was a collaboration between the biodynamic vineyard and the artisan kitchen company. “More than 80% of EU crops rely on a severely declining bug population for pollination,” explained vineyard owner Nick Wenman. “We are delighted to be working with Shere Kitchens to improve the bug population here at Albury and the Bug Hotel is a great way to help educate local school children on the importance of pollinators to the environment. We very much welcome anyone who is interested to come and visit us, enjoy a glass of our organic wine and visit the Bug Hotel.”

“We absolutely loved making the bug hotel for Albury Vineyard,” said Ella Driscoll from Shere Kitchens. “Our new apprentice Tomas Baker created it from wood off-cuts left over from making our bespoke kitchens and he made such beautiful job if it.

“We feel so lucky to work with Nick and the team at Albury as they care so deeply about growing the vines organically, respectfully and environmentally. And it was very special that the children from Shere Infant School came to help us finish it with wood and sticks. Nick made the afternoon really fun and engaging for the children. They drew pictures, took part in a quiz and learned all about the vines, the beehives and the local wildlife and even rolled down the hill!

“Thank you, Year 1! They bought bucket-loads of enthusiasm and asked lots of fantastic questions. They really got into the spirit of the afternoon – making pillows for

 

the bugs with moss, creating crowns from goose-grass, searching for bugs and thinking about how important it is to re-use materials.

 

“Our kitchens celebrate the beauty of wood and now our off-cuts have made a beautiful home for bugs – we’re really pleased to have been able to do something so positive for our environment and community.

 

“Being members of the Surrey Hills Enterprise group is a key driver of our conservation efforts. We feel so lucky to live and work here in this beautiful landscape and it’s wonderful to find ways to help our environment and re-use the materials we work with. We hope the lucky bugs who live there will thrive.”

For more information contact Ella Driscoll at ella@sherekitchens.co.uk

 

80 Businesses from across the Surrey Hills gathered at the stunning Barnett Hill Hotel in Blackheath for the first Surrey Hills Enterprises Annual Celebration and Awards last week.

Jim Glover, High Sheriff of Surrey formally opened the event and congratulated the businesses on their prestigious Trade Mark Surrey Hills accreditation, a mark of local provenance and quality.

Simon Whalley, Chairman of Surrey Hills Enterprises welcomed guests and said, ‘We are delighted to be welcoming and celebrating so many of our extraordinary business Members this evening. The event is a recognition of our local businesses and the contribution they make to the rural economy and the Surrey Hills’.

Surrey Hills Enterprises thanked their Corporate Partners Charles Russell Speechlys, Wilkins Kennedy and Birtley House for their continuing support and welcomed Lexus Guildford, Kier and Gatwick as new supporters.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director said ‘Surrey Hills is a very special and unique place and we have equally extraordinary and inspiring local Surrey Hills businesses who are producing a fantastic range of local products and services. We congratulate all our Members on their Trade Mark Surrey Hills awards’.

Ann Moriarty, the creator of the original concept said ‘The Trade Mark Surrey Hills promotes the best of what Surrey has to offer and celebrates those organisations who share the values of supporting the local environment’. Ann announced the Gold Awards, made to Surrey Hills Members who have excelled in their collaboration with other businesses, improving environmental sustainability and conserve the Surrey Hills.

The Gold Trade Mark Surrey Hills was awarded to Shere Kitchens and to Clandon Wood Nature Reserve & Natural Burial Ground. The Award recognises their collaboration and active support for Surrey Hills and their joint initiative to plant elm trees at Clandon Wood to connect to two populations of a rare butterfly. The initiative was inspired by their Surrey Hills membership and is an exemplar of businesses with sustainability and collaboration at the core of their business.

The ‘Surrey Hills Young Entrepreneur’ was awarded to 2 talented young people who live in the Surrey Hills and who have developed outstanding skills within their chosen field.

Luke Whatley-Bigg of Photography Possibilities, an outstanding photographer, videographer and qualified drone pilot working at a very high standard has produced a range of Surrey Hills films including the Surrey Hills Wood Fair and is working with other Surrey Hills Members to produce videos of their work.

Jack Kerr of JK Forges is an outstanding Blacksmith who has honed and developed his skills and is producing outstanding pieces of work and taking on commissions. Bringing to life again a traditional country skill Jack has developed an inspiring range of products and has showcased his work and skills at the Surrey Hills Wood Fair.

Inchcape UK’s Lexus Guildford and Surrey Hills Enterprises are delighted to announce their new corporate partnership which was officially launched on Tuesday 22nd January.

The luxury car retailer and community interest company have joined together to drive the next phase of a development which aims to build a thriving rural business community and develop Surrey Hills into one of the top 10 nationally recognised countryside destinations and brands in the UK.

The partnership will also help to promote the ‘Trade Mark Surrey Hills’, recently launched with the support of the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It is a mark of local provenance and quality which celebrates those businesses of high quality that reflect and support the distinct and special nature of the Surrey Hills and who share the values of supporting the local environment.

The partnership reflects the key values of Lexus Guildford in supporting the local environment and inspiring its customers to explore the Surrey Hills and enjoy the outdoors. Wendy Preston, General Manager of Lexus Guildford said, ‘Lexus has got the largest range of self-charging hybrid vehicles of any luxury manufacturer and with that in mind we are conscious that as a brand we encourage a positive impact on society as a whole. It’s rewarding to know that our support is helping the local community while promoting the fantastic days out that Surrey Hills offer.’

Surrey Hills Enterprises is the commercial arm of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which was established in 2012 to support and develop the rural economy and to promote, protect and enhance Surrey Hills.

Wendy Varcoe MBE, Executive Director at Surrey Hills Enterprises, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wendy Preston and her team at Lexus Guildford. This is a key partnership enabling us to support rural businesses and local communities. We will be delivering an exciting range of events and festivals to explore and enjoy the fantastic landscape, arts, crafts and local food and drink of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The programme inspires people to be active, explore the outdoors and to support local.”

Inchcape UK is part of Inchcape plc, the leading independent multi-brand Automotive Distributor and Retailer with global scale. For more information on Inchcape, visit www.inchcape.co.uk,

Following Michael Gove’s Key Note Speech at Surrey’s Rural Economy Conference, Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises and Ann Moriarty of KISS The Agency, launched the Trade Mark Surrey Hills to celebrate those businesses of high quality that are stimulating the rural economy but are also reflecting the distinct and special nature of the local environment.

Ann, the creator of the original concept, said’ this is a new accreditation and is a Mark of local provenance and quality designed to promote the very best of what Surrey has to offer and to support those businesses who share the values of supporting the local environment.

9 of Surrey’s outstanding businesses that meet the Trade Mark Surrey Hills criteria were awarded the Trade Mark Certificates by Michael Gove who congratulated each on their outstanding businesses and the contribution that they are making.

The Trade Mark Awardees received their Award from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“The Surrey Hills Trade Mark awards play an important role in celebrating the high quality products and services the area is renowned for, and the awardees all deserve our congratulations.”

TRADE MARK AWARDEES
 Simon Taylor – Surrey Hills Butchers
 Sam Goody – Surrey Hills Firewood
 Tim Metson – Coverwood Farm
 Ian McCulloch – Silent Pool Distillery

And our 5 Surrey Hills Vineyards
 Chris White, Denbies Wine Estate
 Nick Wenman, Albury Organic Vineyard
 Mike Wagstaff, Greyfriars Vineyard
 Sibylla Tindale, High Clandon Estate Vineyard
 Mia Wrigley, Chilworth Manor Vineyard

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises said ’The Award celebrates those businesses of high quality that are shining examples in Surrey supporting local products and services and who reflect and support the distinct and special nature of the Surrey Hills and the local environment.

The Trade Mark Surrey Hills is one of a number of initiatives organised by Surrey Hills Enterprises, a Community Interest Company, working to support the rural economy and to promote, protect and enhance the beautiful Surrey Hills.