The New Forest National Park Authority - tangibly promoting sustainable development!

Press Launch of The New Forest Open Top Tour Bus & The New Forest Breakfast

(Ron Lakey Pictured Left - Click on image to enlarge! Ron is the driving force behind the NF Marque!)

One of the defining moments of a film called Dead Poet's Society, set in a strictly run all boys private school in America is when the Teacher (Robin Williams) demands during an English class that the boys stand on their traditional old fashioned desks whilst reading poetry out loud. The point being made was about perspective and encouraging, in that case, the developing boys to strive to always see things differently. This; it was suggested would fuel their creativity and lifetime fulfillment.

As I tucked in to a 'Real McCoy' New Forest Breakfast, (wholly produced within the New Forest by New Forest Marque approved suppliers), this morning at the official press launch of the breakfast, The New Forest Marque and The New Forest Tour Open Top Bus, I found myself reflecting on that film and it made me realise something. You see press launches are always based on selling/ promoting a service or product to people like us so we can then cover them as a conduit to our respective audiences. Most of the time we will come back and describe the new offering in very literal terms such as: 'the breakfast was really really good quality and is made with only the very best ingredients. It tasted fabulous and I'd definitely have one again'; or 'the New Forest Marque' has provided the consumer with a real sense of quality assurance when ordering food and products'; or 'The New Forest Open Top Bus stops at all the places you'd want to get off at, is low emission efficient and promotes environmentally positive alternative travel, you can take your bike for free.' etc. etc

All the latter are absolutely true of course, but what they don't tell you is how they will make you feel. So in the spirit of the Dead Poet's I'd like to start with The Bus and say that when you climb up those steps and emerge on the top deck, everything does look different. I've been living in the Forest for many many years, but have never seen it from that perspective, nor have I actually had the time to watch my young son's face light up as he takes in the view either as I've usually been driving and focused on keeping under 40 or simply getting from A to B without considering the bits in between. So the fact that it's a great idea and a lot of people have worked very hard to bring it to fruition is of course laudible; but I feel the best compliment I can pay them is to tell them how it feels... and it feels wonderful!

How did I feel eating my New Forest Breakfast this morning then? I should say before answering that there were many of the providers present at this launch who suffered terribly in 2001 during the Foot & Mouth crisis, but who have since rebounded with avengeance. To that end, I felt like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall must feel in his River Cottage program, or Rick Stein when he shakes hands with his local fishermen, because I was provided with a tangible opportunity to support my local community, which most of us of course would like to do more often. I also feel compelled to champion the Breakfast's merits out loud, so I too can look my local Farmer in the eye, shake his hand squarely and wish him well; so that he continues to represent the very best of the community I inhabit wider and wider afield. JS

For more information about the New Forest Tour, please visit: www.newforesttour.info

For more information about the New Forest Marque, please visit: www.newforestproduce.com

For more information about the work of the New Forest National Park Authority, please visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk

For more information about the New Forest District Council, please visit: www.nfdc.gov.uk

Pictured above are Anthony Climpson OBE (NFDC), Emma Rigglesworth (NPA), Martyn Evans - 'suited' (NFDC) and far right Karen Evans (NPA) & Paul Fulford (NFDC)