Conservation inspiration: natural allies
Welsh park reaps the benefits of partnering with its local nature reserve
ONE OF THE BEST ways in which parks can help the natural environment is to form partnerships with local conservation organisations or projects. In many cases this involves helping practical conservation work on a local nature reserve.
One Gold-award-winning park that has shown just what can be achieved is Morben Isaf, which has worked with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to help support its work on the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve. The reserve is a healthy mixture of bog, swamp, wet woodland and scrub supporting a plethora of animals and plants. Including the magnificent Osprey, which bred on the reserve for the first time in 2011.
“We are situated in the midst of a number of nature reserves and taking part in the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme helps us maintain focus and plan our work to suit the natural environment around us,” says Sarah Lewis, park manager at Morben Isaf in Wales. “Many of our holiday home owners and visiting tourers are enthusiastic bird watchers and nature lovers. We are therefore keen to promote conservation is all aspects of our business and are keen to raise awareness of and help with local projects whenever possible.”
“Participating in the scheme means that we always evaluate ideas and plans to ensure that the ethos of conservation is applied at all times,” Sarah adds. “We have certainly seen rewards. The variety of wild and bird life seen on park is amazing and has in turn resulted in new business as more customers are attracted by it.”
“Many comment on the ability to balance the quality of being a 5-star holiday park whilst working in harmony with and enhancing the natural landscape around us. Our customers also appreciate our commitment and work with us to meet the standards and requirements set by the scheme. Staff, holiday home owners and visitors all contribute to making our park a repeat Gold award winner, of which we are very proud.”
Seeking inspiration for new ways in which your park can help protect the natural world? In these articles, Rufus Bellamy, head of the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme, highlights some of the latest initiatives being taken. For more ideas, visit http://stayuknews.co.uk/conservation/
