Bambi boom awaits visitors at top Lakeland park

Spring visitors to a Lakeland holiday park are likely to witness wilder scenes than ever this year, thanks to a predicted explosion in the number of deer in its grounds.

Skelwith Fold Caravan Park says that with the conclusion of another relatively mild winter, fawns should be a delightfully common sight from April onwards.

The 130-acre holiday park near Ambleside is home to both red and roe deer, and their healthy population has continued to grow in recent years.

This is due not just to the less severe winters, says park director Henry Wild, but also to Skelwith Fold’s cold season feeding programme which helps keeps wildlife in good shape.

Also benefitting from the extra nutrition when grazing and foraging opportunities are scarce is the park’s colony of red squirrels and the abundant bird life.

“We have always had winter feeding stations throughout the grounds which we keep regularly topped up after holidaymakers leave in November,” said Henry.

“This continues through until March when buds and leaves appear, but deer remain a common sight around the grounds as they have become somewhat accustomed to the presence of humans.

“It means that guests will often glimpse small herds just yards from their window, and I think that this spring is going to be particularly exciting for fawn-spotters.

“We’re hoping guests will share some of their photographs and videos with us as this will help in our efforts to ensure that the deer are remaining healthy,” added Henry.

All employees at Skelwith Fold are members of the park’s conservation team which has been responsible for a raft of different initiatives aimed at protecting its flora and fauna.

Recent measures include the restoration of the park’s historic wildlife tarn, the maintenance of a reed bed to naturally clean waste water, and moves to protect the beleaguered honey bee.

This year, the Wild family was once again presented with the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level for its role in caring for the natural environment.

Skelwith Fold provides caravan holiday homes for private owners, plus pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes, as well as luxurious two-person Hideaway forest capsules for rent.

More information is available on Skelwith Fold’s website at www.skelwith.com