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Scottish Thistle Awards 2001 - Tourism and the Environment
Winner - BressaBoats
Visitor numbers are kept low to enable guests to enjoy and savour the experience. The
introduction this year of the underwater cameras has provided guests with a fascinating insight into
the watery depths below.
This entry has a strong environmental message, delivered with passion, knowledge and
humour, showing a profound understanding of the fragile nature of this remote Shetland area, and the
important need to minimise any detrimental impact. Twenty years experience of sailing these waters and
watching wildlife provides a wealth of experience and knowledge that Dr Jonathon Wills enthusiastically
shares with his visitors.
 BressaBoats started in 1992 to
offer visitors a close,
personal and memorable wildlife experience accompanied
by first class interpretation of the environment and a keen awareness of the necessary measures to minimise
impact.
Finalist - Finlaystone Country Estate
Finlaystone Country Estate is a good example of a strong partnership of owners, staff
and environmental agencies working successfully with and for the visitor. The garden and woodland of
the Renfrewshire estate are maintained and designed to enable public access and enjoyment, but not in
such a way as to compromise the natural environment. Recycling is an important aspect of the management
plan, and environmentally sympathetic practices also apply to the building on the estate, such as solar
panels in the tearoom. There is an excellent programme of events running throughout the year, which
cover a wide range of subjects and illustrate an ongoing effort to meet visitor needs and cater for
their interests.
Finalist - Scottish Seabird Centre
The Scottish Seabird Centre officially opened in May 2000 and has already welcomed
200,000 in its first year. The Centre provides visitors with a unique opportunity for a close encounter
with nature using innovative remote controlled cameras to view the birds intimately, without disturbing
them. Situated in a specially designed harbour-front building in North Berwick, the facility provides
a good breadth of interpretive information with a strong ecological message and a well-developed and
ongoing education programme. The Scottish Seabird Centre is a flagship attraction for the whole of Scotland
and is uniquely placed to encourage visitors to enjoy the many seabird reserves throughout the country.
Award Description
Scotland's natural heritage is its greatest asset, attracting millions of visitors
every year.
Scottish Natural Heritage, as custodian of this resource, is delighted to continue
its sponsorship of the Tourism and the Environment category, which rewards tourism based projects that
add value through sustainable use of the environment.
Judges were looking for tourism operators who use the natural heritage sensitively
to improve their customers'' experience and who are adopting environmentally-friendly management practices.
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