LOCAL LEISURE FIRM MAKES GREEN CONSUMER GUIDE TOP TEN

Getting to grips with a new sport

One of Cornwall's Objective One-funded rural tourism success stories is celebrating another milestone in its development this Christmas.

greenleisure.co.uk has just been selected as the Green Consumer Guide's exclusive supplier for leisure activity experiences, seen by many as one of the fastest growing sectors within the gift market.

The firm's unique blend of environmentally-friendly countryside activities, which often combine new technology with traditional countryside sporting pastimes, are designed for participants of all ages and abilities.

With a choice of venues across Cornwall bosses believe that this national status will further enhance the reputation that the Duchy is acquiring as the 'green' leisure capital of the UK, and help attract new visitors to the county.

Bethan Pickrell, speaking for the Green Consumer Guide, said: "We chose greenleisure.co.uk because of their innovative range of products, and their status as perhaps the leading exponent of environmentally friendly activities within the rapidly expanding gift experience market.

“We are encouraging consumers to think before they buy and be aware of the effect that their choice of present may have on the environment. A wide selection of ethical and environmentally-friendly gifts are now available in our online Christmas shop at www.greenconsumerguide.com besides being available direct from greenleisure.co.uk.”

The Tregony-based leisure firm was a recipient, earlier this year, of funding from the Objective One-funded rural tourism marketing scheme run by Cartwheel, and used the money to help upgrade its website.

Gina Woodcraft, Cartwheel’s Chief Executive, said: “This is precisely the kind of venture that we are here to support, and we are very pleased that greenleisure.co.uk is developing a national reputation for its environmentally-friendly country pursuits. This is great news for Cornwall, and great news for rural tourism.”

The contract to develop the site was won by Cornish e-commerce specialists, Futurestore.co.uk, which has also done work for major organizations such as Kew Gardens and Lloyds TSB.

Lawrence Brendish, speaking for Futurestore, said: “We are naturally pleased to see that the investment made in their on-line presence has led to this national recognition. Part of our brief included the development of a unique activity selector, which we believe is the first of its kind within this type of application.”

This latest news has delighted bosses at greenleisure.co.uk, who view this national recognition as the perfect launch pad for their next phase of the firms’ development.

A spokesman said: “Through our presence on the Green Consumer Guide’s web site, we now have access to an additional 40,000 potential customers every month that visit their site, along with inclusion in a newsletter that is distributed to over 12,000 ethically minded domestic and corporate users each week. To be listed alongside such international concerns as Body Shop makes us very proud of our achievements to date.

“Our activities are already widely promoted and used by some of the country’s leading group activity organisers, with whom we collaborate to promote our activities to a national marketplace. Whilst we have had some limited success at the national level for our green leisure gifts - our furthest customer to date coming from Reading - this new strategic alliance should provide a great route through to our target audience.

“We would also hope that this new status will herald further interest amongst local retail outlets, including the major visitor attractions in the county, to stock our experience vouchers. Not only would we like to see them more widely accessible to local people, but they’re also a great way of encouraging visitors to return to Cornwall … to experience the country and enjoy the difference for which the county is well known.”