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Tag

Maldives

Environment, Travel

An Invitation to Protect Our Oceans: Underwater Gardens

Remember the two coral frames we sponsored through Reefscapers at the Four Seasons in the Maldives? Following my last blog, “Finding our Sustainable Footprints from Local lanes to Distant shores,” where our group discussed ways of ‘offsetting’ our travel abroad, I wanted to revisit these little underwater gardens that we sponsored in 2022 and 2023 putting them uppermost in our minds as a small example of a way to ‘pay back’ for our travel footprint.

As you know if you read my blogs regularly, I truly believe that even small actions, like sponsoring a coral frame, can ripple outwards and contribute to something beautiful and vital. It’s a simple choice you can make while exploring our beautiful planet; sponsoring a coral frame can directly fuel the restoration of these underwater gardens, offering a tangible way to bring life back to our precious oceans.

Let’s dive into the progress of our adopted reefs.

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April 21, 2025
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Environment, Travel

Finding Our Sustainable Footprints, From Local Lanes to Distant Shores

Our little corner of Chorleywood gathered together on a cold March evening, for a thoughtful discussion on something that touches all our lives: travel. With a focus on sustainability, we delved into the nitty-gritty of our local transport options and broadened our horizons to consider the impact of our holidays.

It was an uplifting discussion, with many different opinions and inputs. Here are our outcomes….

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April 14, 2025
3402
Environment, Travel

From Frozen Shores to Glasgow Glory: Winning Best Documentary at the Glasgow Film Awards!

We are absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to announce that our documentary,’ ANATARCTICA. A Life Changing Experience’ has won the Best Documentary award at the prestigious Glasgow Film Awards! This recognition from the Glasgow Awards, celebrating the best of Scottish film and beyond, is a monumental achievement for our small team, and for the vital work of the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) and the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC).

But just what is the work these organisations are doing? Why was my visit there a life changing experience and why did it compel me to want this documentary to be made?

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March 6, 2025
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Environment, Travel

Whales, Barnacles, and Leftover Rivets: A Sculptor’s Journey to South Georgia

Imagine this: you’re in a sculptor’s studio tucked away in the Scottish Highlands. It used to be a schoolhouse, but now it’s the birthplace of something truly incredible. Michael Visocchi, the sculptor in question, is working on a massive piece, a whale memorial in fact, called “Commensalis” that’s destined for a far-flung location – Grytviken, an abandoned whaling station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Just live, this BBC World Service programme pulls together not just challenges of the sculpture itself, but the journey so far and some of Visocchi’s concerns as well as learning much about South Georgia from Alison Neil, South Georgia Heritage Trust’s Chief Executive and the organisation behind the whale memorial concept.

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January 24, 2025
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Travel

43,100 Feet ‘Spa Experience!

That ‘First Class’ Emirates A380 Flight

Always wondered what it’s like to fly First Class to Maldives, transitioning through Dubai, with Emirates? We did too and well, life really is too short not to experience it once, given the opportunity.

Showering at 43,100 feet in a plane is certainly a far cry from the cramped, uncomfortable long haul flight of our normal Economy Class, so I was looking forward to this experience. But would it really stand up to my scrutiny and was it worth the extra, significant, cost?

Read on to get the answer…. oh and watch the videos, that’s a good way to come with me for this Emirates First Class experience.

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October 4, 2024
3845
Environment, Travel

Landaa Happy Eggs

… multi-international chickens, beautiful gardens build staff moral

Sustainable Tourism at Four Seasons Maldives Series, 7 of 7

I am ‘shouting out’ about resorts where I can see they are truly focussed on leaving the world better than they found it. 

A fun topic for this last in the series, but still has purpose. Four Seasons have a very rounded approach, its not just the environment they have a commitment to but people as well and they are well known for the emphasis they put on their staff welfare.  Here is a little insight into one of the staff areas at Landaa Giraavaru and how they came to have Landaa Happy Eggs!

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August 7, 2023
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Environment, Travel

Eliminating R22 Gas…

… and a 22% energy saving

Sustainable Tourism at Four Seasons Maldives Series, 6 of 7

I am ‘shouting out’ about resorts where I can see they are truly focussed on leaving the world better than they found it. 

Always looking for ways of becoming more energy efficient, essential air conditioning for the staff quarters, installed over 14 years ago was a potential advocate for significant savings. But a considerable undertaking when you consider they have approx 450 permanent staff plus external third party staff to accommodate.

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July 29, 2023
4151
Environment, Travel

Being a Good Neighbour, when it comes to Plastics

… 16.7 tons of it!

Sustainable Tourism at Four Seasons Maldives Series, 5 of 7

I am ‘shouting out’ about resorts where I can see they are truly focussed on leaving the world better than they found it. 

You couldn’t really say Landaa Giraavaru has neighbours, not in the traditional sense of being right next door! There are some mainly residential islands that are reasonable close though, with Kamadhoo the closest at just under 3 kms away, Kendhoo and Dhonfanu 11kms.  

Which makes it even more noteworthy that they help their neighbouring islands when it comes to plastics.

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July 24, 2023
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Environment, Travel

A New Use for Scrap Glass?

… the ultimate ‘recycling and re-using’ idea!

Sustainable Tourism at Four Seasons Maldives Series, 4 of 7

I am ‘shouting out’ about resorts where I can see they are truly focussed on leaving the world better than they found it. 

Removing much of the ‘stuff’ that creates waste, especially plastic waste, is the strategy at Landaa Giraavaru. The Landaa Spring – covered in the previous blog and video in this series – is a prime example, fresh island water in refillable glass bottles = no single use plastics from that source. Swapping out plastic bottles in guest bathrooms for cute refillable containers and removing plastic bottles from mini bars, means they already have made big headway into reducing waste, with little coming from guest rooms. But at Landaa Giraavaru they go a lot lot further than this.

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July 17, 2023
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