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Annual General Meeting 40 members of the Brecks Tourism Partnership attended
the AGM on Thursday 7 December. Thanks go to Ron Van Straalen,
General Manager of Woodland Comfort Inn, Northwold for
providing a great venue and a fabulous lunch. Strattons Hotel
provided members with a Brecks Apple Cake and Poppylot Farm donated
cheese for the occasion.
The following members were elected to the Steering
Group:
Lord Iveagh was re-elected as Chairperson and Paul Hill was
re-elected as Vice-Chairperson Elected Members: Mary Flint, Anne
Greenfield, Jenny Lock, Brendon Moore, Barbara Nelstrop, Jan
Pritchard, Vanessa Scott, Ron Van Straalen
Co-Opted Members: Thetford Access
Group, Breckland Council, Peddars Way National Trail, Norfolk County
Council, Forestry Commission, Suffolk Tourism Association, Forest
Heath District Council, Keystone Develoopment Trust, Natural
England, Countryside Agency, East of England Tourist Board, Suffolk
County Council.
Guest speakers included: Vanessa Scott, Strattons Hotel, Swaffham
who enthused all present to embrace local produce. She said
that the support of the BTP gave her the confidence to use The
Brecks as a "brand/marque" to promote
her business.
Kerry Ixer, Screen East gave members
information on making the most of the filming industry. All tourism
businesses can register free on http://www.screeneast.co.uk/
Peter Holborn, Countryside Management Leader, Suffolk
County Council gave a presentation on the Regional
Recognition Study. The BTP has played a major role in the
"Recognition for the Brecks" report which looks at securing a
sustainable future for The Brecks and reappraises the importance of
the area for its future management, promotion and governance. The
East of England Regional Assembly's statement in the draft regional
spatial strategy said that "The Brecks was a very distinctive
area which is considered to need much more recognition and
concerted action to conserve and enhance its special qualities and
to contribute to the regions' social and economic wellbeing."
The Brecks Partnership commissioned EUROPARC Consulting
to undertake a major consultation exercise which involved two
workshops and telephone interviews. An electronic copy of the final
report with recommendations is available - contact The Brecks
Partnership team on 01842 760116
Lord Iveagh, Chair of the BTP gave a brief
summary presentation to delegates:
"December 2006 sees the closure of the £0.5million European
funded Cultural Package programme which has promoted sustainable
tourism in The Brecks over the past three years. The package was
match funded by EEDA, SCC, NCC and Breckland Council.
Funding has also been received from local authoriies including
Forest Heath, Breckland, St Edmundsbury and Kings Lynn and West
Norfolk in April 2006. The financial contribution by members of the
BTP was also very warmly welcomed and nearly £3,000 was secured
which has enabledthe project to continue during 2006/7.
Lord Iveagh concluded that he very much looked forward to
chairing the Steering Group of the BTP and representing the
sustainable tourism interests of BTP members on the wider Brecks
Partnership group .
Who's Who in Tourism in The Brecks
A copy of the contact details of over 200 tourism businesses
across The Brecks was given to all attendees at the AGM. If you
would like a copy, please telephone Karen Halsall on 01842
760116.
Art Project
In Balance, the new Brecks Sculpture was unveiled on 16 October
at Brandon Heath Country Park. Over 50 businesses attended the
unveiling. The artist Keith Rand said that his
sculpture represents the strong linear sense of the forest and
heath landscape in The Brecks and its diverse
wildlife.
Practical Volunteering in The Brecks
The Brecks Countryside Project volunteer programme is available
now by contacting Abby Stancliffe Vaughan on 01842 761569 or by
email on brecks.project@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk.
You are invited along to make friends and influence places on the
1st Saturday of every month. Volunteers meet at Kings House 9.30 am.
Tasks usually finish around 1.00 pm. Just turn up!
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Issue 11, Winter 2006
Dear Brecks
Tourism Businesses,
2006 has been an interesting and challenging year for The Brecks. The "Regional Recognition for The Brecks" report was a major project to secure a sustainable future for the area. The East of EnglandSustainable Tourism continues to flourish with considerable benefits for the economy of local businesess and our communities. The Come Alive in The Brecks leaflet,
an updated Where To Stay in The Brecks leaflet and the weekly
refreshed website www.brecks.org
have promoted the area across the UK and overseas.
May we take this oportunity to wish you
all a very Merry Christmas and a peacefull and healthy New Year and
say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all of your loyal and committed support
throughout the year.
Lynne, Abby and Karen (The Brecks
Partnership).
Come Alive in The Brecks
Visitor Guide
The 2007 edition is now being produced.
85,000 copies will be printed in February and distributed throughout
the UK. Copies will be delivered to you so look out for the man
in a van with grumpy dog! If you wish to receive extra copies please
contact Karen Halsall on 01842 760116 or email brecks.tourism@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Destination Brecks 2000 copies of the new Where to stay in The
Brecks have been printed. If you would like a copy you
can download it from www.brecks.org, or
contact Karen. Go Green for Profit
Training The East of England Tourist Board will fund up to 70% of a
training course for small and medium sized businesses, including
customer care courses, until August 2007. Contact Jenny Shephard on
01473 825626 or email: jshephard@eetb.org.uk for a
training needs analysis.
Local Produce
It recomends informing customers (if eggs are not boxed and labelled Grade A), that the eggs are from your own hens. Members' News
Ancient House, Museum of Thetford Life opened
its doors again in October after 2 years of redevelopment. Entry is
free over the winter so why not make time for a vist next time you
are in Thetford.
Welcome to new BTP members:
Fantastic Days and Living Tank Museum, West Tofts.
They offer historic military vehicle off road driving and
hovercraft experiences. Also clay pigeon shooting. Suitable for all
mid teen to adult ages and abilities. Prebooking essential.
Corporate clients and groups welcome. T: 01603 812680 www.fantastic-days.com
Anglia Karting: Go karting for all the family.
Corporate events, clay shooting and family fun. T: 01760 44177 WWW.anglia-karting.co.uk
Top Events
Visitor attractions put on fabulous eventsin 2006, if
you have organised events for 2007, please do upload them
onto our website. www.brecks.org. If you
require any help with the process, contact Karen on 01842
760116
Don't forget to check the website for events and
other imformation throughout the year.
PR
Do you have stories and points of
interest concerning your business that we can use as PR for The
Brecks ? Let us know, and we will be more than happy to
pass them on to our media contacts. And finally......  Can you identify this visitor attraction? The answer can be
found on www.brecks.org.uk |
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