Cornwall family’s holiday park takes best in England title

Trethem Mill Touring Park in Cornwall has been crowned as England’s top holiday park in April’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017.

The family-run business in St Just-in-Roseland beat around 3000 other parks to take the overall gold award in the holiday park category of the competition.

Trethem Mill’s “best in England” title follows on from its earlier success in achieving top gold plaudits in both the Cornwall and Southwest Tourism awards.

Stepping up to receive the VisitEngland accolade at April’s glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Waldorf in London were the park’s owners Ian and Jane Akeroyd.

The couple, together with their son Jake and Ian’s father Derek, are this year celebrating their 25th anniversary at Trethem Mill.

The family are all involved in the running of the park, together with recent new employee Theo Forman who has joined the team in a full-time grounds and maintenance role.

Based on the Roseland Peninsula in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the park has won a wide and loyal following from holidaymakers in search of peace and tranquillity.

Set in 12 acres of landscaped grounds, it provides generously spaced pitches with views over the surrounding countryside for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

Ian and Jane’s care for the park’s natural environment has led to Trethem Mill receiving the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Professor Bellamy praised the park’s extensive areas of high nectar-bearing flowers that provide vital foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators,

Nesting boxes and other wildlife habitats have been created, rainwater is harvested for irrigation, and low-level illumination helps enable guests to enjoy the night sky.

Jane said that winning the overall title of best park in England was a fantastic achievement, and that many of the park’s regular guests had already come forward to offer congratulations:

“Providing a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere for people to enjoy their stays has always been high on our list of priorities, and we always try to exceed expectations,” she said.

“These points are often mentioned in our online reviews from customers, including the increasing number of families who come to Trethem Mill from mainland Europe.

“Hospitality and quality of service also form two important criteria in the VisitEngland awards, so naturally we are delighted that the judges were impressed with what we’ve created here.

“I hope our award will also benefit other Cornwall tourism businesses by highlighting what a wonderful part of the world this is to enjoy a holiday!,” she added.

More details about Trethem Mill can be found on its website at www.trethem.com

There were also honours for the two other holiday parks which made it into the finals of the VisitEngland awards. They are Park Cliffe in Windermere, Cumbria (www.parkcliffe.co.uk) and Poston Mill in Peterchurch, Herefordshire (www.postonmill.co.uk