Forest Edge news, media, press, events & awards

NEWSFLASH 9 May 2010 !!! Forest Edge the WINNER of the AA Travel best Self-catering cottages in South Africa Award - for the 3rd year in a row!! We are grateful to our guests for their feedback and to our staff for being willing to go the extra mile. This means that Forest Edge will now enter the AA Travel Hall of Fame.

See news & specials via Facebook/Twitter below; join our giftclub for freebies or fast-track to these news bits:

• Forest Edge prize winners
• Forest Edge in the Media and Forest Edge press releases
• Forest Edge Awards & Events
• Forest Edge Upgrades and Projects

Guests earn entries into a draw when they give feedback on their stay. We keep a prioritised To-Do list including this feedback, which we then tackle passionately, within cashflow and manpower constraints (see Upgrades and Projects below). The prize is a 3-night stay which is valid for 1 year, transferrable, not redeemable for cash, not valid for Peak or Low-Peak or for value-adds and it can be extended at listed rates. The most recent winner of this lucky draw:

• 31 Jan 2010 - Karin Igesund from Somerset-West

Every 100th person to tell a friend (and this friend) will receive a 20% discount voucher on a Forest Edge stay outside of Peak/Low Peak. The most recent winners of these vouchers are:

• Jan 2010 - Surina Schoeman from Hartenbos, was a 100th confirmed person to tell a friend, Lynette Louw from Paarl, about Forest Edge

Also, congrats to Lucy van Kesteren, who won a weekend break prize at the Helping Angels charity fund raiser in Dec 2009. The other sponsors & organisers also received a discount offer.

Another way in which YOU can win, it to contact us if you can link to our website from your website or blog.

Forest Edge in the news - if you see us featured anywhere new, kindly let us know:

• FEB 2010: AA TRAVEL sends a photographer to put together 360 degree video tours of Forest Edge
• Jan 2010: THE EDGE Newspaper's spread on Millwood Magic featuring Forest Edge
• Jun 2009: ESSENTIALS MAG's Fun family holidays at a fraction of the price featuring Forest Edge
• Nov 2008: Forest Edge features on Kyknet TV program insert
• Apr 2008:  go! magazine's guest letter to the editor re Forest Edge
• Feb 2008: COUNTRY LIFE's Millwood feature with info on Forest Edge
• Jul 2007: COUNTRY LIFE's 21 Warm Winter Escapes incl Forest Edge
• 2 Dec 2005: THE STAR article on Rheenendal & Forest Edge
• Oct 1999: COUNTRY LIFE's Front Page article on Forest Edge
• 1996: Braham van Zyl writes in DIE BURGER on Forest Edge & area

At Forest Edge we continually look for ways to improve, partner and give:

• 9 May 2010: a national WINNER in 2010 AA Accommodation awards - third year running !!
• Jan 2010: Forest Edge launches a 1km Edu-Eco-History trail that has proven a hit with adults and kids alike. We also name and mark most of our trees and shrubs.
• Dec 2009: Forest Edge builds a new earthen dam to store water for irrigation and that may double as a swimming hole once full. We also rebuilt our soakaway.
• Oct 2009: Forest Edge obtains 3-star grading with TGCSA and upgrades road signage accordingly.
• 1 August 2009: Our brand new Forest Edge Reception and Entrance gate has been completed and furnished for our guest's comfort. Thank you to our valued guests for your input and patience in this regard.
• 10 May 2009: a national WINNER in 2009 AA Accommodation awards - second year running !!
• 11 May 2008: a national WINNER in 2008 AA Accommodation awards!
• Jun 2008: Forest Edge re-opens the upgraded & refurbished 3 "old" cottages
• Sep 2007: Forest Edge launches 2 more cottages
• Feb 2007: a SEMI-FINALIST in 2007 AA Accommodation Awards
• 26 June 2006: Forest Edge supports SAPS with a donation at JSE event
• 18 June 2006 : Forest Edge at the Kyalami Outdoor Expo
• 10 June 2006 : Forest Edge helps a local entrepreneur to launch a laundry in the local Keurhoek community
• 26 May 2006: Forest Edge supports HIRS Leadership Forum
• 7 May 2006: one of 5 national FINALISTs in 2006 AA Accommodation awards
• August 2005 : Forest Edge AA QA'ed: Highly Recommended for the first time
• June 2005: Forest Edge gets new owners and we work hard to get it to a new standard: introducing onsite presence, upgrading roads and signs, reinstating TV reception, adding a jungle gym and communal bonfire area; reintroducing donkeys; adding showers, hammocks and a library; replacing cutlery, cookware and linen.

Our current top priorities are:

• To create secluded, lush garden retreat areas on Forest Edge - safe from the donkeys' appetites
• To continue lobbying the authorities for the reasonable right to erect our signage on the N2, which was approved but in a way that is unnecessarily and exorbitantly costed
• To do floor and deck maintenance on our cottages
• To concrete-strip our internal roads

Major projects and upgrades completed in the year ending Feb 2010:

• We built our new entrance road and automated entrance gate
• We built our new reception/kiosk/office to replace the temporary buildings
• We created a win-win-win relationship with Sanparks around the issuing of Drupkelders permits
• We obtained 3 star grading
• We installed CCTV cameras in and around reception for our and our guests' protection
• We created a self-guided edu-eco-trail on Forest Edge
• We built a wooden privacy fence along our entire eastern border
• We upgraded our woodcutter grave area with information board and bench
• We replaced old galvanized water tanks and upgrade water catchment system
• We upgraded our signage from the Rheenendal and Bibbieshoek roads
• We continued adding to our gardens (what the donkeys don't eat!)
• We created the Forest Edge facebook page
• We grew our giftclub & newsletter by 80%
• We grew our last-minute discount announcement service by 100%

THANKS TO OUR VALUED GUESTS FOR YOUR TIME, FEEDBACK AND INPUT INTO OUR BECOMING.