MPH 2008

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From Times Online

May 1, 2008

Green Spaces: April's nominations

The judges select their favourite nominations of the month - get your votes in and join the green party

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Vote in the 2008 Green Spaces Travel Awards

Green experts Anna Shepard, Toby Sawday and Richard Hammond will sort through your choices each month and pick their favourites.

The nominators featured in The Times and Times Online each month will win a copy of Alastair Sawday's Green Places to Stay. We'll put the places on the longlist to the test towards the end of the year.

A shortlist and the awards will follow, with one being a readers' choice. Kate Quill, Assistant Travel Editor, and Steve Keenan, Online Travel Editor, and Kathleen Wyatt, Travel Editor of The Times, complete the panel of judges.

These are the judges' favourites from the nominations received in April:

Titanic Spa, West Yorkshire

Nominated by: Sophie Day, London
Read the judges' verdict and view the video

I would like to nominate Titanic Spa, Linthwaite, for it's heartfelt approach to eco-friendly spa breaks.

Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales

Nominated by: Sue Longden, Bolton
Read the judges' verdict

My green space is the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales, especially walking the coastal path from Morfa Nefyn southwards towards Bardsey Island.

Nkwichi Lodge, Manda Wilderness, Mozambique

Nominated by: Alexia Woolsey, London
Read the judges' verdict

I have watched this lodge develop from nothing over the past 8 years and am constantly amazed at how much has been achieved whilst being completely sustainable and green, and benefitting a local community which had nothing before the lodge was sited there. Nutrition, schooling and health care of the local community has benefited enormously.

All monies are ploughed back into the community projects and decisions are made by the community for the community, with guidance only coming from the initial investors who set the trust up.

I spent 3 weeks there last year. What none of the guests probably realised is the immense effort and time it has taken for this place to come into existence. The friends who set it up have thought of everything, from bringing in Halo in the surrounding villages to remove landmines, to encouraging guests to visit the farm and see how the locals are being taught to look after themselves sustainably through growing their own food and providing the lodge.

I have stayed in other green lodges, but have never seen anything that comes close to this in terms of providing long term hope, education and health for the local community whilst maintaining a green credential.

MORE READER NOMINATIONS

Kenilworth Common, Warwickshire

Nominated by: Margaret Vickery, Kenilworth

It is less than 5 minutes walk from my house (therefore no carbon footprint) but I can spend over an hour walking within this woodland without retracing my steps once. Although surrounded by roads and houses the Common is a haven of peace and tranquillity, yet there is much wildlife to observe: birds, butterflies, wildflowers and many tree species, including wild cherry and crab apple. I always feel refreshed and invigorated after returning from my walks and feel so lucky to have this Common on my doorstep.

National Botanic Garden of Wales

Nominated by: Hywel Davies, Carmarthenshire

I just love the Lake side walk, and my "Thinking" space is the furthest lake, just superb.

Napo Wildlife Centre, Ecuador

Nominated by: Fausto Cornejo, via email

I nominate the Napo Wildlife Center, because it is a 100% community run lodge and all the money goes directly to the Kichwa Community of Añangu

Hadrian's Wall Path

Nominated by: Mick and Pauline Greenwood, via email

We see a lot of green areas in the UK because we like walking and once a year usually in May we do a week long walk. We have walked in Scotland twice, in Yorkshire and the Lakes but last May we walked the Hadrians Wall Path.

We finished in Bowness on Solway which is only a small village but we were so impressed with both the area and the B&B that we have been back for a few days in March this year. There are superb views north across the Solway firth to Scotland and south to the hills of Lakeland.

The road alongside the Solway can be followed in either direction for views across the saltmarsh and a couple of miles out of the village is the RSPB reserve of Campfield Marsh. For those wishing to walk a bit there are paths on the reserve that lead across the Solway Moss. We sat in the hide on the reserve and watched a hare run past and listened to wild geese overhead.

There are places to stay in the village and a pub selling good food but a good way to visit for a day would be to base yourself in Carlisle and take the bus that follows the estuary for some distance on a section of road that can flood at high tides.

This is a green way to travel, on public transport, and feels a bit adventurous as well. Carlisle of course can be reached by train including the stunning Settle-Carlisle line. Our B&B was Wallsend House, the Old Rectory and we had local eggs for breakfast. A totally relaxing place for a break away from the rat race.