The Trelowarren Estate, near Helston, has been highly commended at the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards for being the world's first ecologically led timeshare development.

The estate was a finalist in the "Best for Innovation and Technology" award after installing a seven-tonne biomass binder boiler. It generates a massive 300kw of heat from 350 tonnes of wood coppiced every year from Trelowarren's forests.

Sir Ferrers Vyvyan, owner of the estate. said he was pleased with the results: "We were surprised and delighted to be recognised internationally not only by such august bodies as The Times, Geographical Magazine, The World Travel Market and Responsible Tourism, but also to be voted by the travelling public."

Sir Ferrers inherited the estate in 1995 when it was very overgrown. He decided to develop the idea of timeshare properties designed and built to the highest ecological standards.

The awards body said: "Trelowarren fulfils the traditional role of providing higher occupancy and therefore increased spending in the local area but also ensures environmental considerations are taken into account at every level, from a local/green build policy to sourcing 80 per cent of its ingredients from within the ten square miles of The Lizard."

The timeshare interiors have been equipped with furniture designed by Lady Vyvyan, using brands such as Conran, Heals and Fired Earth, and are environmentally friendly.