Disco night at the Mermaid Tavern has been a Sark institution for decades and much loved by locals and visitors alike. What few have ever known though is that proprietor Dorothy Taylor has been donating the entrance fee along with money collected in the pub’s charity boxes to the St John Marine Ambulance Service since the 1960s. In the past 50 years she has donated about £100,000 to the service including £38,000 that has been given to the current vessel, the Flying Christine III. In early June Dorothy was officially thanked for her fund raising when the Flying Christine visited Creux Harbour and Captain Peter Voute presented her with a special award in recognition of her efforts. The discos take place throughout the summer on Tuesday and Saturday nights. Congratulations to Dot and thanks to the Sark Scribe for the photograph.

Pictures L – R Dorothy Taylor with her award, Flying Christine III

Anyone passing the Island Hall on Wednesday night may have been forgiven for thinking that a major emergency was taking place as both of Sark’s ambulances and all three fire tenders were parked outside. It was however the launch of ‘Sark to the Rescue’ a Calendar Girls style 2014 calendar featuring members of the island’s fire, police and ambulance service. The calendar has been produced by Sark-based photographers Sue Daly and Lydia Bourne and each of the 12 photographs were taken at key locations around the island including Point Robert Lighthouse, the Harbour Cafe, the Seigneurie, the Harbour Cafe, the Coupée, the Mermaid Tavern and the island’s prison. Half of the money from each calendar will be donated to Sark’s Emergency Services and the rest will be given to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, the charity that the original Calendar Girls themselves supported. The boardroom was packed for the launch where the images were shown on the large screen. Over two hundred calendars were sold and new recruit to the fire service Pippa Curtis raised £362 with a raffle. The calendar is for sale at £10 at the Island Hall, Gallery Stores, Sark Souvenirs, the Visitor Centre and Sark Glass Take Two. It can also be posted. Email Lydia on bournephotography@live.co.uk to order your copy.

Pictures by Sue Daly L – R Sue & Lydia with the calendars, Emergency vehicles at the Island Hall

Sir Barry Cunliffe and his team of archaeologists from Oxford University are back in Sark for the ninth year running to continue their exploration of Sark’s ancient history. The main dig sites are in Edric Baker’s Tanquerel Fields opposite the Mill, an area believed to have been a very large Bronze Age settlement dating back to 1400 BC that was more or less continuously occupied for around five hundred years. In their first week the team have uncovered the remains of drainage ditches and post holes of buildings, pottery and axes from Normandy and Brittany, part of a copper ingot thought to have originated in the Alps and three beautiful amber beads. Sir Barry is delighted with the finds so far, which, along with discoveries from previous years, indicate that Sark, far from being isolated, was part of a great Atlantic network of communication. This week the team will be undertaking an exploratory dig around the old wall to the south of the Seigneurie which lies in an area known to have been an early Medieval settlement. The aim of the excavation is to date the wall that is thought to have been built some time between the 10th and 12thcenturies AD. Members of the public are invited to the Tanquerel Fields site on Friday 21st June when Sir Barry will be giving a talk at 4pm about the team’s work and discoveries this year.

Pictures by Sue Daly L – R Sir Barry at work, One of the dig sites, Some of this year’s finds,  The Medieval wall at the Seigneurie

The seabird breeding season is in full swing here in Sark with birds busy feeding chicks or incubating eggs all around the coastline. Some, like the fulmars, shags, oystercatcher and the island’s three species of gull, live here all year round. Others, such as the puffins, razorbills and guillemots, just come ashore for a few weeks to breed spending the rest of the year far out at sea. By the end of July their chicks will have fledged and the young birds and adults will leave so now is the best time to see these fabulous birds. The largest guillemot colony in the Channel Islands is on Les Autelets off the west coast of Sark and there are good views of the birds on their ledges from the footpath above the window in the rock. For the closest views though you’ll need to take the sea aboard George Guille’s boat Non Pareil for one of his round the island wildlife watching trips. With years of experience in Sark waters George is able to get close to the birds and is extremely knowledgeable on their biology and life styles. Other species often seen are peregrine falcons, buzzards and gannets.

Pictures by Sue Daly L -R Puffins, Guillemot, Razorbill, George’s boat

Last weekend saw the second of the Saturday Courtyard Markets that are held outside the Visitor Centre. There were stalls selling jewellery, plants, bric-a-brac, gift items, homemade cakes and locally produced arts and crafts. The markets take place every other Saturday throughout the summer.

Picture by Sue Daly – The Courtyard Market

Moth and butterfly expert David Wedd from Alderney Wildlife Trust was here last week to talk to pupils at Sark School about setting up ‘Sark Wildlife Watch’, a junior natural history club. ‘Wildlife Watch’ is an established programme run by the British Wildlife Trusts to encourage aspiring young naturalists through a series of activities, challenges and awards. In his presentation David also showed some of the projects undertaken by children in Alderney. As well as learning about their local flora and fauna the children also take a leading role in the running of the club, choosing their own topics and organising events. As an example of the sort of wildlife based activities that could take place here David set up moth traps two nights running to give the children an idea of the huge variety of moths living in Sark. Dozens of species were found in the traps the following mornings, lured by the light. The children helped identify the moths before releasing them.

Pictures by Sue Daly L – R

Setting up the trap, Inspecting the catch, Ashley with a may bug, A poplar hawk moth on Kai’s arm.

Bee enthusiast and campaigner Brigit Strawbridge will be giving a talk on Thursday 11th July at 5pm at the Island Hall explaining the importance of bees, their lifestyles and the problems they face. The programme of guided history and wildlife walks continues this month with Jan Guy’s ‘How Sark Works – Politics, Sewerage and Taxes’ on 24th June and ‘The Sea Round Us’ on 8th July explaining local navigation and pilotage, fishing and marine life. Visitor Office Karen Adams leads walks called ‘The Life and Work of Artists on Sark’ on 20th June and 4thJuly and rock pool rambles on 23rd July and August 1st, 8thand 20th and Sark Garden Walks take place every Friday afternoon at 2pm. La Seigneurie Gardens has a guided walk with one of the gardeners every Wednesday at 11.30am. Guided walks around the Gardens for groups of six or more can also be booked in advance on any day of the week. For more information on any of these walks and to book a place call the Visitor Centre on 01481 832345 or email office@sark.co.uk. The cabaret trio Fascinating Aida will be performing on July 4th at the Island Hall. The Sark to Jersey Rowing Race begins at 1.15pm from Dixcart Bay on Saturday 22nd June. Other events this summer include the Midsummer Flower Show on 26th and 27th June, Sark Folk Festival on 5th to 7th July and the Sheep Racing Weekend will take place from the 19th to 21st July.
Picture by Sue Daly
The Midsummer Show, 26th and 27thJune

Free ferry travel in 2013

Claim back the cost of your return ferry between Guernsey and Sark when staying for any 4 nights or longer during 2013.

• Present your Isle of Sark Shipping ticket receipt at reception prior to departure and we will deduct the cost of your ticket from your hotel accommodation account.
• This special offer is only redeemable at the Stocks Hotel reception desk.
• Subject to availability and booking restrictions. No cash alternative is available.
• For further details please telephone +44 (0) 1481 832001

* Lobster & Champagne (available from 21st March to 19th October)

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or purely looking for self indulgence, experience our special Sark Lobster & Champagne break.

• 3 night stay for two people.
• 3 course dinner with Sark Lobster (subject to availability) cooked to order on the day of arrival. * Please note if Lobster is unavailable we will offer a choice of other delicious fresh local seafood.
• Dinner, bed & breakfast for duration of your stay.
• A chilled bottle of Champagne in your bedroom upon arrival.
• Not available on Friday or Saturday night during July or August.
• Spring and Autumn price from £681 / July & August from £741.
• Each Additional day’s stay £215. / July & August £235 (prices for two people sharing).
• Extend your stay to 4 days and we will reimburse the cost of your Sark Ferry travel.
• Available for online booking or call direct on +44 (0) 1481 832001.
• Full pre-payment is required at the time of booking.

Discover Sark (available from 15th April to 30th September)

Explore Sark in full! With this special offer you’ll be able to find out and see more of the island.

• 3 night stay for 1 or 2 people sharing a superior double or twin bedded room (Upgrades available to luxury suites).
• Bed & Sark Farmhouse breakfast.
• Horse & carriage to meet you upon arrival.
• 3 hour guided walk.
• 3 hour scenic boat trip around Sark.
• Bicycle hire.
• Available from 15th April to 30th September, (excluding Friday & Saturday nights during July and August).
• Early and late season price from £696 for two or £648 for one / July & August  £756 for two or £708 for one.
• Extend your stay to 4 days and we will reimburse the cost of your Sark Ferry travel.
• Each Additional day’s stay – £189 for two persons or £182 for one. / July & August £209 for two or £202 for one.
• Subject to availability and booking restrictions.
• Available for online booking or call direct on +44 (0) 1481 832001.
• Full pre-payment is required at the time of booking.

SPECIAL 3 for 2 deal

We have an extra special offer if you stay at Stocks for 3 nights you only pay for 2!

This isn’t available on Friday or Saturday nights but the good news is that those nights count towards your 3 day stay. So if a Friday or Saturday is part of a minimum 3 day stay you will get a 1/3 discount on your third day.

Even better you will get a 1/3 discount on every additional day that you stay between Sunday and Thursday…..we aim to make it very difficult to go home.

Please note the following:

• Available for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast stays only.
• Full pre-payment is required at the time of booking.
• No refunds for cancellation.
• Twin or Double rooms can be booked online. Please contact us to book other rooms.
• Discount does not apply to extra room occupant charge.

To book call us direct on +44 (0) 1481 832001 or email reception@stockshotel.com

B&B for 2 nights £60.00 per person

Clos Princess is now offering a special June rate of £60.00pp B&B for 2 nights. Situated in the centre of the Island offering simple comfortable accommodation. Breakfast is served with eggs from our own hens and homemade jam and marmalade. HURRY OFFER ENDS 30th JUNE 2013

http://www.sark.co.uk/clos-princess-242/

Sark, Channel Islands, May 2013 – Sark Island Hotels Group today announced that it has received three TripAdvisor® Certificates of Excellence awards. The accolades, which honour hospitality excellence, are given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

“The Sark island Hotel Group is delighted to receive TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence for The Aval du Creux Hotel, La Moinerie Hotel and Hotel Petit Champ” said Dawn Manger, Group Hotel Manager of Sark Island Hotels. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and these accolades are evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.

Contact Central S.I.H. Central Reservation at 01481 832832 or email reservations@sarkislandhotels.com website www.sarkislandhotels.com or visit our Hotel Page for Sark http://www.sark.co.uk/where-to-stay/?accomtype=hotel