Tresco Blog | All the latest from Tresco, Isles of Scilly

Dinners, Lunches & Picnics…It’s all about the Food

By Tresco | Published: June 14, 2013

Experiencing elegant plates of food that sing of foraging stories from your day…wild food guide Rachel Lambert tells us why a foraging break on Scilly could change your palate forever.

Over the last few years, ‘gourmet’ has started to become associated with the forage-able foods on the Isles of Scilly – a far cry from its previous survivalist connotations (memories of the deprivation facing the two last families of Samson island living off potatoes and limpets come to mind). Foraging has indeed become popular again across the UK, and here on the Islands is no exception, except of course the food & the foraging available here is exceptional, that is. The Isles of Scilly are rich with pickings again.

You may well have spotted guests to the islands with stylish baskets, being leisurely guided to pick accompaniments for their supper. Though can wild food really be that good? Well, it can be, especially with an inspired collaboration between forager & wild food guide Rachel Lambert & talented Head Chefs and their teams; Richard Kearsley at Hell Bay and Glenn Gatland, Head Chef at the Flying Boat Club. This combination in skills of foraging and cooking has enabled a special experience to be put together; an opportunity to both taste your way round the islands and experience the uniqueness of four different restaurants and their interpretation of wild flavours.

Embark on a 4 day Food and Foraging autumnal break, and each day will be punctuated with lunch or dinner incorporating the wild tastes of Scilly. What’s more, you’ll be able to experience Tresco, Bryher and St Martins from a truly foodie perspective – gathering ingredients that chefs at Hell Bay, the Ruin Beach Cafe, the New Inn and The Flying Boat Club will transform into lunch, a taster buffet, a 5 course dinner and a Gala wild food dinner. In addition to this, you’ll experience a morning from an insiders’ view of the Abbey Garden’s kitchen garden, plus a food tutorial at the Flying Boat Club.

A perfect balance between gentle exercise, learning and eating? We hope so. The foraging walks, for example, average one mile an hour – an amble rather than a walk really – and are around two to two and a half hours long. Making them accessible to most. Oh, and in case you were wondering, children are often the best foragers, so do bring them along! As the days unfold into each other, up to 25 different plants will be foraged all in all; from hedgerows, fields, moorland, coastal areas and from the sea herself.

Having walked, listened and picked for your supper, the rest of your time can be spent as you choose. Perhaps a sauna, swim in the indoor swimming pool or a more energetic session in the gym or on the tennis court, perhaps. There is of course the option to relax and just enjoy the view too.

Beware foraging sessions and free time, the anticipation when approaching each new set of serviettes and cutlery seems to build each day – how will those seeds be transformed into anything edible you may ask? Rest assured that the chefs have all been trained in the potential of each ingredient, and your foraging guide has a vast experience herself in creating canapes, main course and desserts from a range of wild foods.

Feeling refreshed from the day’s outing & glowing with a sense of satisfaction from learning about the edible flora all seems to add to the atmosphere as the foodies and foragers re-group for each feast. By the final evening your wild surroundings will have translated themselves into soups, tartlets, side dishes for steak or seafood, sorbets, ice creams, mousses…the list goes on. You’ll be recognising ingredients in the hedgerows as you wander down to the harbourside and colourful flowers in the distance now hold promise of bright salads or floral infusions for desserts. On the ride home your newly found knowledge can somewhat be used in landscapes across Europe, though even more special are those dishes never to be seen again, made from the unique blend of plants available on the islands. Furthermore your palette for tastes will have expanded to new horizons and lingering on your tongue will be the memorable delights of wild, edible Scilly.

You could join Rachel on our foraging break this autumn – for more details click here

Gorse flower panacotta – one of the treats you could be sampling during your foraging break

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The Merry Month of May at the New Inn

By Tresco | Published: May 18, 2013

New Inn receptionist Rachel Young tells us a bit about what’s going on at the pub this month…

Noxious rocking out last Monday – photo courtesy of Ellie Tabron

We’re already half way through the month and so much has already happened!
There is always an exciting build-up to May due to the first weekend being the busiest in the islands’ calendar as we host the World Pilot Gig Championships and this year 130 gigs took part. The beach on St Mary’s was a riot of colour, bursting with gigs and crews who had made the long journey over to Scilly.

Due to their training, in and out of the pub, we had fantastic results from the Tresco & Bryher crews over the weekend. The ladies crew in the Alfie Jenkins came 18th in the world, the men’s A crew 26th and the men’s B crew 44th.
Although Tresco itself is relatively quiet at this time we were happy to welcome so many visiting crews who ventured along Tresco channel to the pub for refreshments on the days leading up to and after the championships.

Ben Waters and family stayed at the pub over the weekend and he and his 12 year old son, Tom, entertained us with their boogie woogie rock’n’roll on Saturday night and Sunday lunchtime (actually outside in the sunshine) which was absolutely fantastic.
Tom is a very talented saxophonist who now accompanies his dad on a regular basis and by the age of 9 had already played alongside The Rolling Stones and other amazing artists!

On Monday the 13th we joined forces with Gallery Tresco to celebrate Art Scilly Week and after an evening exhibition people moved along the path to the New Inn for live music from local Tresco/Bryher band ‘Noxious’.
They have played together now for over 10 years and as you can imagine they just keep getting better and better; they really engage with their local audience and get them dancing (sometimes on the ceiling!).

Now it’s festival time and our cellar is well stocked with 23 Real Ales ready for our wonderful 4 day event. We have brilliant bands booked each day and are really looking forward to seeing the 27 St Martin’s residents due over on Saturday night all dressed as Elvis!

We end the month, on the 29th, with a ladies gig race which finishes between the Tresco & Bryher quays and look forward to another chance to dance the night away with Noxious. After the Czar Ladies crew winning their race this week hopes are high that they will bring home the trophy.

So if you’re bored and have nothing to do pop along to the New Inn where there’s always something going on……….and if it happens to be quiet why not try out our new selection of Single Malt Whiskeys! Only 37 to choose from!!!!!

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Row, row, row your boat; the World Pilot Gig Championships 2013

By Tresco | Published: May 10, 2013

The Alfie Jenkins men’s crew
L-R: Andrew Hulands, Gareth Tibbs, coxswain Steve Parkes, Jamie Parkes, Ross Christopher, Jake Newton, Will Ash

This year’s gig championships couldn’t have fallen on a better weekend weather-wise. While Saturday started out slightly grey the islands were bathed in sunshine for the rest of the weekend, meaning pink noses and cheeks aplenty for both rowers and supporters come Sunday evening (although celebratory beverages could be partially to blame for any rosy glows!). As always Scilly played host to crews from both mainland UK and abroad, with the bright orange clogs of the Dutch clubs becoming quite a talking point, and in total 133 gigs spent the weekend nestled side by side along the Strand on St. Mary’s.
Tresco and Bryher rowing club fielded one women’s and two men’s crews this year. The men’s and ladies’ A crews were both rowing the Alfie Jenkins, a relatively new purpose-built racing gig, while the men’s B crew were in the Emperor. All three crews achieved fantastic results over the course of the weekend, securing themselves enviable positions after the first race, from St. Agnes to St. Marys, which governs the layout of the groups for the coming weekend. This year the groups ran from A – K, and at the end of the Saturday the ladies were in Group C, the Alfie Jenkins boys in Group B and the Emperor boys in Group D.
Sunday brought 2 more heats and a lot more sunshine, although the TBRC crews managed to keep their cool and all put in a sterling performance throughout the day. The men’s A crew finished 26th out of 127 crews and were the 2nd men’s crew from Scilly overall, beaten only by the St. Mary’s crew in the Emma Louise. The men’s B crew came an impressive 44th, proving a real threat to fellow Group D competitors which in the final heat included 4 other Scilly crews. The women came a fantastic 18th out of 125 gigs, storming their way out of group C on Sunday morning and settling comfortably in the middle of Group B. A great weekend was had by all and Tresco & Bryher Rowing Club have certainly set the scene for what looks to be a strong gig season for all 3 crews.

The Emperor Boys in the thick of it

And lean! The AJ girls in action

The Alfie Jenkins girls
L-R: Kate Clement, Richenda Gurney, Emma Bagnall-Oakeley, Edit Toth, Michelle Oyler, Susanna Gates and coxswain Martin Jenkins

The Emperor boys
L-R: Tomas Chytra, Zoltan Gal, Wayne Shaw, John McMurray, Peter Kiss, Jon Taylor and coxswain Susanna Gates

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Fundraising Efforts at Tresco & Bryher School

By Tresco | Published: April 29, 2013

Tresco & Bryher Primary School children brightened up the island the other day when they toured Tresco selling cakes in order to raise funds for charity. Their chosen cause, International Animal Rescue, works to help save orang-utans in Indonesian Borneo from endangerment. After having spent the day baking the pupils visited homes and workplaces on Tresco equipped with sweet treats and placards informing the island community both about their chosen cause and the problems caused by the destruction of the rainforest.

When asked about their fundraising efforts, Emily Hobbs said, “It was fun making the cakes with Daddy at home and I liked going around the island telling people about what’s happening to the rainforest”, while Cullen Oyler commented “We want to help the orang-utans because they can’t help themselves”.

The children raised a whopping £155 for the charity and even got a thank you on the International Animal Rescue Facebook page, which you can view here.

For more info on the charity, visit their website

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Birdman David Rosair….after 40 years, why I still love Tresco

By Tresco | Published: April 23, 2013

Who would have believed that this year I would be celebrating forty continuous years of visiting my favourite island in the world? Thinking back, perhaps I was still in proverbial short trousers, running around the island, utterly captivated by the sheer magic of the place, along with the rare birds of course! Forty years, and why you may well ask. Well I shall try and explain…

Back in 1973, I set foot on Tresco from one of the Association ‘launches’, maybe it was the Sea King, and immediately made my way along with the merry birding throng all the way up towards Cromwell’s Castle, where a very rare vagrant from America – a Myrtle Warbler (today know as Yellow-rumped Warbler) – had been found the previous day following a strong trans-Atlantic gale. Needless to say no sign of the warbler, so I made my way slowly back down to the Great Pool and went into the very old (even then) hide below Simpson’s Field and watched various migrant waders including Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper & Little Stint. Captivated by the birds, the Pool, the reeds and the autumnal colours, I thought to myself, ‘this is magic’! I returned the next day to the Great Pool with a small band of dedicated birders and yes, sure enough, there was the warbler flycatching amongst the sallows near the old entrance to the Abbey Garden. Well, I was getting hooked on this island Tresco.

Over the seventies I continued to visit Scilly, always favouring Tresco as a special birding destination, and began to meet up with some of the residents, pleasantly passing the time and slowly building up acquaintances as one does.

With the passing of time during the eighties I decided to commence Birdwatching Tours on a professional basis and boldly ventured into the Island Hotel, setting up the first ever Birdwatching Tour in the autumn with Ivan Curtis, which was quickly followed the next spring with “Birds, Flowers & Butterflies”, eagerly motivated and wonderfully spurred on by Mike Nelhams (thank you Mike!). And so it came to pass that every spring and autumn I was returning to Tresco, excited as ever when I stepped off the helicopter and immediately feeling at home, being warmly welcomed by Robin at the New Inn, passing the Tresco Stores and saying “Hullo” to Rose, popping into the Estate Office to arrange to see Alasdair, the list is endless.

Tresco (and don’t forget the sister island Bryher and the super Hell Bay Hotel with my long standing friend Philip!) is like nowhere else. It’s not just the splendid wildlife, unusual birds, fabulous spring flowers, puffins and seals; it’s far more. The atmosphere, the warmth, the super people, the walking, the lack of driving anywhere, the colours – the list goes on!

It’s not difficult to see why Tresco really is the “Jewel in the Isles of Scilly crown”. Don’t take my word for it – come and see for yourself. Join me on a Birdwatching & Wildlife Tour, spring or autumn, Sea Garden Cottages, New Inn or Hell Bay. I intend, God willing, to carry on visiting Tresco for the next ten years. As I have often been quoted as saying “It’s my favourite island in the world”

David Rosair

Holidays on Tresco and Bryher with David

Island Ventures email: drosair@aol.com

www.islandventures.co.uk

A pair of oystercatchers and a ringed plover

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Island yoga with Lucy Aldridge

By Tresco | Published: April 8, 2013

Lucy Aldridge, Iyengar yoga teacher, also leads classes on Tresco every Wednesday.

If you’re looking for a post-Easter boost then look no further than a break spent in the company of Lucy Aldridge, one of the UK’s youngest qualified junior intermediate Iyengar yoga teachers. Last year’s holiday on Tresco was both fun and hard work in equal measure. Lucy’s chat is light-hearted and encouraging; her desire is to help every student access the best in themselves. The discipline of this particular type of yoga may be exacting, but also very rewarding, and can be enjoyed by newcomer or experienced student alike.
The pre-breakfast session includes a thorough warm up with limbs being stretched, followed by the more gentle of poses. Evening sessions are for extending that little bit further, holding the asana a bit longer, and then progressing onto the more challenging poses. As the days go on the asanas become more familiar and change quicker, giving a brisk workout which is energising rather than tiring.
The five day break is more than just about yoga, as the sessions are neatly scheduled before breakfast and dinner giving the students the whole day to discover the joys of these delightful islands.

For more information on Tresco’s yoga breaks…

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Tresco Farm – well done Paul!

By Tresco | Published: April 5, 2013

Despite the cold weather, the new calves on Tresco are doing well with help from farmer Paul Christopher and his right-hand man Jake Newton. Earlier in the year, we had a visit from Philip Warren, artisan butcher and cattle judge. We asked him what he thought of the cattle and the farm. This is what he wrote:
“I was on Tresco to look at the cattle. I have to say I was astounded. Coming from one of the U.K top stock producing areas, little did I expect to behold a group of cattle, not only of this standard, but I feel I could take anyone to any part of the U.K. and not see any bunch of cattle to better them. They were of a quality rarely found in maybe ones or twos, this, while the land needs to be well farmed, can only be done by the skill and dedication of a true stockman.
I have to say Paul Christopher is, in my opinion, surely one of the top men I have ever come across. The value to a farm of a person with such skill and commitment cannot be overvalued.
This is my true and honest opinion of what I experienced on a truly wonderful visit to a magical island.”
Congratulations Paul – well-deserved praise from an expert!

Paul Christopher and friends.

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Introducing Emma, Charlie and Iain, the 2012-13 Garden Students

By Tresco | Published: March 24, 2013

Emma, Charlie and Iain at the end of a long working day.

Every year the Elizabeth Hess scholarship sponsors three lucky green-fingered individuals to spend a season working in the world-famous Tresco Abbey Gardens, amongst some of the most exotic plant-life in the UK. This year, Charlie Ive, Iain Middlebrook, and Emma Bagnall-Oakeley are the chosen three. Here they tell us a little bit about what led them to gardening and to Tresco.

Emma:
I’ve been holidaying on Scilly for a while. I usually stay on St. Martin’s but have family who timeshare on Tresco so have spent plenty of time here too from a very young age. Walking along the Top Terrace in the Abbey Gardens all the sounds and smells are still similar to those I experienced as a child. I actually learnt to walk in the gardens; I was 2 years old, so quite late in learning to walk, but I hold that I needed a special place to bring it out in me! Despite the fact that I’ve been coming here for years I never get tired of the simple pleasures of Scilly; I could spend all day shell-collecting on the beach – it’s addictive! To a certain extent I feel that you see a different side of Tresco through living here, purely because you have more time to get to know people properly, but to be honest as a holidaymaker I always felt welcomed and included in the community.
I studied both horticulture and arboriculture prior to coming here, although before that I was intending to do a degree in classical civilisation! It was only after taking a gap year that I changed my mind and instead decided to pursue the horticulture route. I originally enquired about the scholarship when visiting 6 years ago, and was pointed in the direction of Jon Taylor, who was at that time a student, and who’s still working as a gardener here now. At first life got in the way, but as soon as the time was right I applied to come to Tresco.

Iain:
Horticulture was a bit of a career change for me, as beforehand I’d been doing analysis work for Nectar card! I spent some time working in my godfather’s nursery before partaking in an internship at Kew Gardens, which was where I spotted the poster advertising the Tresco Abbey Gardens scholarship scheme. At the time I didn’t have a concrete plan as to what I was going to do next, so thought I’d apply.
I’d never even heard of Scilly before I applied for the scholarship, but after seeing it advertised I managed to speak to a few people working at Kew who’d worked at the Abbey Gardens before. At the time I was also offered a one year traineeship at Kew, but I decided to come here for a year instead to experience something different.
Tresco is quite similar to what I expected, although the range of plants here has completely blown me away. I wouldn’t have thought it would be possible for some of the plants we have here to grow in the British climate. Island life is quite quiet so far, but I’m really looking forward to being here for the summer, and having just got some horticulture exams out of the way I may well be spending a few more evenings at the New Inn!

Charlie:
I’ve been involved in horticulture since I was 16, working my way up through the various courses and studying for a degree. I’d worked at garden centres, nurseries, and National Trust houses during this time too, so I’ve always been interested in it really. I applied for the Abbey Gardens scholarship as soon as I finished uni. I’d heard of the Scillies before but never visited, although I had been made to watch my grandparents’ holiday video, which considering it was about 2 hours long, including uncut footage of the flight across, was a pretty thorough introduction!
The plant range here is phenomenal – I’ve never been anywhere like it. Not only that but the community feel of the island is fantastic, and it’s been really nice to get involved in that. It’s almost got a 1950s feel to it; everyone knows everyone, and the closest I’ve come to that on the mainland really is saying hello to my next-door neighbours! I’m really enjoying taking part in the local sports, like the gig rowing and the cricket. The scenery here is amazing too – coming from the midlands I’m used to there not being a beach in sight, so it’s easy to appreciate being here when you’re surrounded by such beautiful beaches.

Throughout the season the garden students will be keeping us posted on what they’re up to in the Abbey Gardens and how they’re finding life on Tresco.

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Painting Tresco with Maggie O’ Brien in June 2013

By Tresco | Published: March 5, 2013

Wild Agapanthus on Pentle by Maggie O'Brien

Maggie has been teaching painting on Tresco for a few years and last year she teamed up with the New Inn and put together an excellent value five day break.
Working closely with Gallery Tresco means Maggie paints regularly on the Islands and knows all the best places to go to be out of the wind, catch the light on the sea and watch the late summer seed heads dancing in the dunes. Maggie explains:
“During our five days on Tresco our schedule will include visits to other Islands and the tropical paradise that is Abbey Gardens. We will paint amongst the shoreline cottages and in intimate coves backed by majestic pines. Tresco’s pretty harbours are a joy to work in whether your concern is the ‘big picture’ or a lone row boat.”

Painting by the shoreline on Bryher

Maggie is also keen that the holiday is not just for experts:
“Anyone who wants to paint with me is welcome from the complete beginner to the skilled artist wanting to paint with like minded friends. I am also happy to teach all media – a painting holiday can be a great place to try something new knowing that you will helped and supported.
Painting on Tresco is blissfully straight forward; everything is walkable and close at hand. It is also always perfectly possible to be completely alone on a beach with just the oyster catchers for company – great for the painter who doesn’t enjoy an audience!”
“My teaching is never ‘formulaic‘; my aim is to help each student find their own way of working and develop personal vision as well as skill. I demonstrate techniques one to one, to build not just skills but confidence and passion. I only work with small groups – a maximum of eight students ensures enough time and attention for everyone .”

Maggie O'Brien on Tresco

After the popularity of our 2012 painting holiday we are happy to announce the return of regular Tresco artist Maggie O’Brien to the New Inn in June 2013.
We are offering 5 nights starting Monday 10th June departing on Saturday 15th June 2013 and another 5 nights starting Saturday 15th June and departing on Thursday 20th June 2013.
Prices start from £825 per person.

All rates are per person and based on two sharing a double or twin bedded room. The package includes dinner, bed and breakfast, return Skybus flights from Land’s End to St Mary’s, transfers to Tresco, travel insurance, welcome reception, Tresco Abbey Garden entrance and VAT at the current rate.

There is a £250 supplement for single occupancy. Packages excluding painting tuition for non-participating partners are available from £600.

Please call 01720 422849 for availability and booking information. Should you have any questions about the painting tuition please do not hesitate to contact Maggie directly via email at maggie.obrien@btinternet.com or by phone 01736 811 172.

Posted in Gallery Tresco, General, New Inn | Leave a comment

Tresco Triathlon Organiser Peter Marshall shares his thoughts on the great event!

By Tresco | Published: February 18, 2013

And they're off...taking the plunge at Old Grimsby.

This year’s Tresco triathlon is scheduled to take place on the 30th of June. It’s good to have set the date early to give people plenty of time to get training and also catch those who are still running or biking after having set themselves the classic ‘get fit’ New Year’s resolution. The great thing about a triathlon is that it’s really open to everyone. Doing a relatively short distance in three different disciplines allows pretty much anyone to take part, even those without any prior experience.
The course is the same as last year, starting from the Ruin slip and swimming a route that takes competitors around Old Grimsby quay and back into Green beach. Competitors will then head to the transition area at the Community Centre to prepare for the cycling leg, during which they complete three 4-mile laps on the bike. After completing this it’s the run, which is a slightly shorter lap finishing up outside Timothy’s Corner. The quicker competitors will complete it in around 1hr 10mins, and the slower ones 1hr 40mins.
This year we’ve opened up the numbers a bit to allow for more competitors. We’ve set the limit at 60 places but if we have more interest we’ll try to accommodate more if possible. The Tresco triathlon this year will be raising money for Cancer Research UK. It’s a charity really close to home for Scilly at the moment, and it will hopefully give people even more incentive to take part.
This will be the fourth Tresco triathlon, and my 4th time competing, although I had to do it a day early last year because there was a lot to organise on the day itself. On the day, when you’re lined up at the start line on the beach, the atmosphere is amazing but I’d have to say my high point is finishing! The presentation takes place at the New Inn afterwards, and there’ll be a band and a BBQ as well, giving competitors a chance to celebrate and unwind.
For me, the Tresco triathlon really stands out among other triathlons purely because it takes part on Tresco. There’s a great community feel about it – lots of the locals either take part or help out on the day. Not only that but the course takes you around almost the entire perimeter of the island and I can’t really think of any better surroundings in which to do it. The fact that you’re swimming through clear turquoise sea, running up a beach of the finest sand imaginable and biking down roads framed with exotic flowers and plants almost takes your mind off the mileage you’re notching up!

Check out the New Inn’s special Triathlon Break for competitors and spectators…