Two companies have been rewarded for their commitment to the environment in the inaugural Conservation Awards, run by Durham Wildlife Trust and energy supplier npower. John Dean met the people behind the success.

THE moorland of Teesdale is home to a business whose owners have a burning desire to enhance the wildlife habitats on their land.

East Briscoe Farm Cottages recently won first prize in the business category of the Conservation Awards, which was open to businesses in County Durham, Darlington, Sunderland, Gates-head and South Tyneside.

The judges were impressed by the depth of commitment shown by husband and wife team Chris Tarpey and Emma Wilson, who run the self-catering cottages near Cotherstone.

They took over the cottages a year-and-a-half ago from Mrs Wilson's parents, Peter and Ann, who retired.

Mrs Wilson's parents had already begun extensive environmental projects, a policy that has continued under the new regime.

Interest in the environment runs deep for Emma and Chris, who moved from London, where Emma did marketing work for a conservation charity and her husband worked in computers but spent much of his spare time doing environmental voluntary work, including for Friends of the Earth.

The range of projects on the site include restoring ancient woodland for wildlife, reducing sheep grazing to protect wild plants, planting hedgerows, establishing a meadow management plan, reducing disturbance of waterways where the endangered native white-clawed crayfish live, rebuilding dry-stone walls and erecting bird and bat boxes. Otters also use the waterways.

The cottages also have a recycling and energy-efficiency programme and the couple are considering installing a solar panel.

Mrs Wilson said: "My parents, Chris and I all have a commitment to the environment and, when you look at the area where we live, there are things we can do too, such as restoring the woodland, which ensures a good habitat.

"We feel it adds value to the cottages and a lot of our visitors appreciate what we are doing."

Mr Tarpey said: "We both have a background in environmental work, so it seemed to make sense to carry that on when we moved to Teesdale."

* The cottages can be contacted on (01833) 650087.

INDUSTRIAL Newton Aycliffe is not a place you would expect to find a wildlife haven. But tucked away on a site off School Aycliffe Lane, the Wild Wood is exactly that.

Its success earned Hydro Polymers the runners-up spot in the Conservation Awards, the judges impressed by the company's commitment to biodiversity.

Wild Wood has been part of the site for decades and existed more than 50 years ago when the area was part of the old munitions factory off Aycliffe Lane.

In 1985, senior technician Mike Scarre submitted a proposal that the site be developed as a nature reserve, but he was ahead of his time and the idea was rejected.

However, by the late 1990s, with growing awareness of business's responsibility to the natural world, the idea was resurrected and the site now has a formal biodiversity management plan.

Mr Scarre, who was worked for the company at Newton Aycliffe for 45 years, during which time he has taken great interest in the Wild Wood, said: "It is a pleasant place for workers to come on a lunchtime, and we also invite school parties to visit and find out more about the area."

The wood is home to a wide variety of birds - including willow warbler, blackcap and whitethroat - animals such as foxes, and has a pond which has palmeate and smooth newts, frogs, toads, damselflies and five types of dragonflies, including the Emperor.

The project has attracted interest from other parts of the Scandinavian-owned group and from other companies.

Group sustainability manager Jason Leadbitter tours the world giving lecturers in which Wild Wood features heavily.

Chris Welton, PR and communications manager at Newton Aycliffe, said: "We regard sustainability as an important part of our business."

He said the message was part of the culture at Newton Aycliffe, with issues such as waste reduction, energy efficiency and habitat improvement a major consideration for employees.

Published: 01/02/2005