Cornwall holiday park creates a real buzz in green awards

Honey bees and butterflies have helped a family’s Cornish holiday park to wing its way to victory in a national environmental awards scheme.

Tehidy Holiday Park near Redruth has been declared a winner of the prestigious 2019 David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

The world-famous botanist said that business owners Richard and Julia Barnes were very well-deserving long-time winners of his annual accolade.

The couple bought the park almost 15 years ago, and committed themselves to running it along sustainable lines whilst creating a safe haven for wildlife.

Richard said that the award, made after an inspection by Professor Bellamy’s assessors, was a great inspiration to their work to protect the natural world:

“We are looking all the time at ways to benefit the beautiful environment in which we live, and to make the park as welcoming to wildlife as it is to guests,” he said.

“This year we’ve made great strides in banning single-use plastics, and have started selling beach goods donated by guests at the end of their stay in return for a donation to charity.

“In fact, many families choose Tehidy because of its unspoiled tranquil surroundings and are very supportive of what we do to protect our natural heritage,” added Richard.

Visitors to Tehidy can bring their own touring caravans, motorhomes or tent, rent a luxury holiday caravan or cottage, or glamp in a fully equipped timber wigwam.

Helping the park win this year’s award are the extensive plantings of wild flowers which provide vital foraging for pollinators such as honey bees and butterflies.

David Bellamy also praised Tehidy’s use of shielded illumination to help visitors enjoy the night sky, and its focus on local produce in the park shop which reduces food miles.

He also applauded the park’s management of its hedgerows as habitats for wildlife, the planting of native trees, the harvesting of rainfall to provide irrigation, and the use of solar energy.

Tehidy’s community involvement was also highlighted including its charity fundraising and the training given by Richard to local youngster taking part in the Dartmoor Ten Tors challenge.

In addition to his award, David Bellamy also gave the park four extra commendations for protecting honey bees, creating new hedgerows, planting wild flowers and being a “good neighbour”.

There is more information about Tehidy and its range of accommodation options on the park’s website at www.tehidy.co.uk