Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, is one of the three finalists to be shortlisted for the Sustainable Tourism Award at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017.

Battlesteads was named the winner of the three categories at the North East England Tourism Awards in November 2016 – Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Pub and Taste – and was subsequently put forward along with the winners from all of the other UK regions to the VisitEngland judging panel.

The eco hotel’s outstanding green credentials shone through, and it will now go up against the Blencathra Centre in Keswick and the National Marine Aquarium in Devon at the final of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, with the winner announced at a ceremony on 24 April.

Katie Meyrick-Scott, general manager of Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, said: “Winning three golds at the North East Tourism Awards was a fantastic achievement, but to reach the final three of the national awards in the sustainability category is amazing news. Over the past 10 years we’ve worked hard to create a sustainable tourism experience that provides inspiration to both our guests and the rest of the hospitality industry, and it’s fantastic to see that rewarded with the recognition from VisitEngland.”

In 2016 Battlesteads won numerous industry awards for its commitment to sustainability, including the Hotel Catey Award for Best Sustainable Hotel, the AA Hospitality Award for Eco Hotel of the Year, the People.Energy.Action award for eco-friendly travel business and the Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice Award for Best Green Hotel.

Award-winning Northumberland eco hotel, Battlesteads, is offering guests and local visitors the chance to try their hand at something new, with a packed calendar of experience days over the coming months.

From floristry workshops to polytunnel growing for beginners, the experiences available at the Wark hotel in March and April will appeal to green-fingered guests as well as anyone looking to experience something new.

Celebrating Mother’s Day on Saturday 25 March, Kate Norris from Northumbrian Flowers (and Battlesteads’ head gardener) will be inviting guests to learn how to create and wrap a beautiful bouquet of flowers, including British-grown flowers and foliage, at a short floristry workshop.

The workshop, which starts at 12pm, will include a glass of fizz and canapés on arrival and will be followed by a sumptuous afternoon tea, with Kate on hand to answer any further questions about flower arranging. Tickets are £55 per person.

For keen gardeners and those more interested in growing produce they can use in the kitchen, the Polytunnel Growing for Beginners experience day on Saturday 1 April will provide the perfect introduction to growing your own vegetables, herbs and salads.

Running from 9am – 4.30pm, the full-day event will also be presented by Kate Norris, who first started Battlesteads’ polytunnel growing systems back in 2007. Kate will cover the best design for polytunnels, which herbs, salads and vegetables will grow best, crop rotation and soil care, water management, maintenance and care and seasonal variations, with a practical session sowing seeds to take away.

Polytunnel Growing for Beginners will also include a tour of the Battlesteads grounds, materials for seed sowing, refreshments and a delicious three-course lunch with garden produce, all for £80 per person.

Katie Meyrick-Scott, general manager of Battlesteads Hotel said: “We know that guests visiting Battlesteads love having the opportunity to get stuck in to hands-on activities, and love learning new skills, which is why throughout 2017 we are organising regular experience days covering a huge range of topics and skills. Our head gardener Kate has fantastic expertise in gardening and floristry and can’t wait to help locals and visitors from further afield to try something new.”

Other workshops coming up at Battlesteads include a photography composition masterclass on Saturday 18 March and hot and cold smoking courses every Friday.