This year, the King personally approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that Camp de Reves Glamping receive the award in the sustainable development category.
There were 197 organisations nationally recognised across four categories.
‘It’s great to be recognised and to promote Guernsey as a winner of the award,’ said co-founder Jane Barnes.
‘It will be a good lead in for other sustainable links on the island too, such as wild swimming and other activities exploring the beautiful beaches and environment we have here.’
The family-run glampsite opened in July 2020.
Once home to husband and co-founder Danny Barnes’ landscaping business, the site is situated in St Peter’s and offers three shepherd huts and five safari tents overlooking the west coast beaches.
‘Sustainability was always our ethos of the whole build,’ said Mrs Barnes.
‘We’re in such a beautiful location surrounded by wonderful nature and sea views – everything about it needed to stay the same. We needed to blend with the environment.
‘We don’t poison, we don’t use pesticides on anything and we’ve planted so many trees. We get lots of wildlife and birds of prey here.’
From planting thousands of indigenous trees to maintaining its organic butterfly meadow and growing organic fruit and vegetables, the team’s commitment to sustainability extends across the whole business – as specified and proven in its ‘rigorous’ application for the King’s Award, which took them ‘well over a week’ to complete.
‘The process was long but worthwhile,’ said Mrs Barnes.
‘We saw the award advertised in the Guernsey Press and it sounded like something that we could apply for.
‘It was a hugely rigorous and lengthy task. It drilled into every part of the business but it was actually a really good process to go through. It made you think from different angles.’
Having won the award, Camp de Reves has been granted the right to use its emblem, a recognised symbol of excellence in the sustainable business, for the next five years, and Mr Barnes will attend a Royal reception hosted by the King at Windsor Castle in June.
‘We’re absolutely over the moon, we’ve ordered a King’s flag to fly,’ said Mrs Barnes.
‘We’ve always believed in our place, but to be recognised is everything.’
Lt-Governor Lt General Richard Cripwell will visit the site formally to present the award.
‘I am delighted to see a Guernsey-based company receive the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise – a first for our island and I hope this marks the start of many more such awards,’ he said.
‘I am also very pleased that Camp des Reves has been recognised for its sustainable development, something that His Majesty was particularly interested in when he visited Guernsey last year.’
Guernsey companies were encouraged to enter through a collaboration between the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development and Government House. The Lt-Governor regularly visits a range of Guernsey businesses, to meet the people who work in them and to understand the nature of the island’s economy.
n Originally launched as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the late Queen Elizabeth II conferred the first awards in 1966. The recent name change reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue recognising and promoting outstanding business.
To find out more about The King’s Awards for Enterprise, visit: www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise. Advice to local companies on the application process is available from the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce. Applications for the 2026 Award open today and close on Tuesday 9 September.
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