Second Queen's Award for Clinton Devon Estates
Friday 9th July 2010
For the second time in five years www.clintondevon.com has been presented with the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category.
The land management business, responsible for 25,000 acres across North and East Devon, is believed to be the longest established business ever to win the award.
With a history dating back 500 years to 1519, Clinton Devon Estates has proved that, rather than being locked in the past, it’s at the very forefront of visionary business development.
John Varley, Estates Director for Clinton Devon Estates, said: “This award acknowledges, for the second time, our responsible stewardship and our effectiveness in managing a very complex countryside business based around a 500 year old estate.
“Through the sensible development and careful conservation of our land, we are providing a fertile environment for business success while effectively preserving it for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.”
Among the businesses created and developed on the Estates are the Liverton Business Park in Exmouth, two organic home farms in East Devon, a high-quality wooden gates business and the South West’s premier equestrian venue, Bicton Arena.
Clinton Devon Estates also uses wood from its sustainable forests to produce woodchip which fuels the biomass boiler at its Rolle Estate Office and similar boilers at Devon County Council and the alligator enclosure at Paignton Zoo.
During a visit to Clinton Devon Estates’ head office, the Rolle Estate Office at Bicton Arena near Budleigh Salterton (Thursday 8th July 2010), Devon’s Lord Lieutenant Eric Dancer, the Queen’s representative in the county, presented Lord Clinton with a crystal bowl. The company is also entitled to use and display the Queen’s Award Emblem for a period of five years as a symbol of its quality and success. Winners will attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace later this month.
The 2010 award citation commends Clinton Devon Estates for demonstrating “significant ongoing achievement in all aspects of sustainability, with an array of new initiatives aimed at enhancing its environmental stewardship role, operational transparency and resource optimisation......Equally commendable is its desire to not just develop best practice, but disseminate this within its sector and beyond.”
Clinton Devon Estates’ successful business enterprises allow it to reinvest profit in managing the land for generations to come, including the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Estates also plays a part in helping to sustain local communities by providing sports grounds, primary school and community allotments, affordable housing and business premises in many areas across North and East Devon.
ENDS
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