Fife holiday parks step up to green footprint scheme

Scottish holiday parks group Abbeyford Leisure is encouraging guests to leave their mark on a new plan to help safeguard South East Scotland’s natural heritage.

Called the Big Green Footprint Scheme, the initiative was recently launched across the region by the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

Abbeyford Leisure has become one of the first pioneers of the scheme by inviting its holiday guests to add a voluntary £1.00 donation when booking their stay.

By doing so, says the group, visitors staying on their Fife holiday parks will be helping to ensure that the local natural beauty is preserved for future generations.

Now Abbeyford Leisure hopes that other Fife tourism businesses will soon follow in its footsteps and encourage their own guests to donate.

With three award-winning holiday parks on the Fife coast attracting thousands of guests each year, the group’s annual donations could make a big difference.

The parks are Elie Holiday Park, just outside the seaside resort of Elie in Fife, St Andrews Holiday Park, and St Monans Holiday Park in the East Neuk of Fife.

Peter Davies, sales and marketing manager for Abbeyford Leisure, said the work of the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust was especially close to its heart:

“The Fife Coastal Path, which connects our three parks, is one of the charity’s main responsibilities, and is enjoyed by many of our guests every year,” he said.

“It’s a hugely important and much-loved feature of our coast, and it’s essential that the path and the surrounding wildlife habitats are properly cared for and safeguarded.

“The Big Green Footprint Scheme is an exciting and imaginative way to ensure this happens, and we’re delighted to become one of its founding champions,” added Peter.

The trust’s corporate funding officer, Karen Williams, said that Fife offers one of the most beautiful and cherished landscapes in Scotland, drawing millions of visitors each year.

But, said Karen, ensuring that the landscape was properly looked after and protected for the benefit of everyone – now and in the future – was a major task.

She added that she hoped that other local businesses would now note the “fantastic example” set by Abbeyford Leisure in supporting the new green scheme, and would follow in its footsteps.

There is more information about the parks owned by Abbeyford Leisure at www.abbeyford.com – and more about the trust’s work at www.fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk