Abergele holiday park makes waves in green awards

Staff and the family owners of a holiday park near Colwyn Bay have been congratulated by botanist David Bellamy after triumphing in a national environmental awards scheme.

Ty Gwyn Holiday Park in Abergele has been declared a winner of the prestigious 2019 David Bellamy Silver Conservation Award.

Professor Bellamy said that the Owen family, who have been welcoming visitors since 1938, were giving both nature and holiday guests a VIP welcome at Ty Gwyn.

The park, just a short walk from the beach and adjoining the Wales Coastal Path, has put in place a raft of conservation measures in recent years.

Angharad Owen, who runs the park with her brother Rhodri, said that the award was a great inspiration to their work to protect the natural world:

“We are very proud of our green credentials, and are always looking at new ways to run the park along sustainable lines in partnership with nature,” she said.

“Our holiday home owners are very supportive of what we do, and many chose Ty Gwyn because of its tranquil location close to some of Wales’s loveliest natural scenery.

“Recently we installed a solar energy system which will reduce our carbon footprint even further, and we’ve plenty more plans over the coming months,” added Angharad.

As well as reducing the park’s reliance on mains electricity, the 86-panel solar system will save the business over £4,000 a year and pay for itself within six years.

Helping the park win its David Bellamy award are its many high nectar bearing wild flowers which provide vital foraging for pollinators such as honey bees and butterflies.

Professor Bellamy also praised Ty Gwyn’s management of its hedgerows as habitats for wildlife, and the siting of bird and owl boxes as well as “bug hotels” in the grounds.

He applauded too the focus on locally sourced produce in the park’s restaurant, open to both holiday guests and local residents, which reduces food miles.

In addition to his main award, David Bellamy also gave the park two extra commendations for protecting honey bees, and for managing its hedgerows for the benefit of wildlife..

There is more information about Ty Gwyn and its holiday homes at www.tygwynpark.co.uk