Park to carry flag for Herefordshire in tourism Oscars

The family owners of a Peterchurch holiday park are celebrating after learning that they will be the standard bearer for Herefordshire in this year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Poston Mill received the top gold honour in the parks category of last year’s awards, beating nearly 2000 other eligible parks in England to the title.

Now they are hoping for a repeat performance after being named as the only holiday park in Herefordshire which will be competing in the national tourist board’s finals of the competition on 08 March.

The glittering awards ceremony will take place this year at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, and Poston Mill will be one of just five UK parks competing in the holiday park category.

The park will come away with either a gold, bronze, silver or “highly commended” award from the judges – and this year, the business is also in line for an extra honour.

That’s because it has also been shortlisted in the competition’s new “dog friendly businesses” category following a “mystery shop” by an awards judge and his two labradors.

Based in the heart of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley, Poston Mill nestles in 35 acres of tranquil countryside within sight of the Black Mountains.

It provides caravan holiday homes to own as well as cottages and holiday caravans to hire, plus pitch facilities for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

Poston Mill has come a long way since first being taken over as a basic farm-based park just over 20 years ago by husband-and-wife team Wayne and Sarah Jones.

The couple have invested much time and energy into creating a high quality environment which now draws thousands of guests each year from the UK and overseas.

Accolades received by Poston Mill include the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award which has been presented to the park every year for more than a decade at its top gold level.

The award celebrates the park’s successful efforts to protect and enhance the natural world, including the creation of wildlife conservation areas and the planting of many native trees.

Sarah Jones said everyone was thrilled to be taking part once again in the Excellence finals:

“The VisitEngland awards are as much about the quality of customer service provided as they are about the high standards which the park maintains,” she said.

“We care passionately about both of these, and do everything possible to ensure guests are given a warm welcome and enjoy the very best hospitality.

“We’re delighted that our reputation as a dog-friendly park has also been recognised in these awards because many of our customers are pet owners, and have become regular visitors.

“Among our Fido-friendly facilities are a dedicated dog-wash station with a fur-dryer, a special doggy welcoming pack, and ten acres of field in which they can romp,” added Sarah.

Poston Mill is a member of the Best of British group, a consortium of independent parks with proven high standards, and a member of Best Parks Marketing Collaboration.

There is more information about the park at www.postonmill.co.uk