World-famous botanist and TV personality, Professor David Bellamy has a golden endorsement for a green North East holiday destination.
Northumbrian Water’s Landal Kielder Waterside has been awarded the David Bellamy Conservation Gold Award for the 14th year running.
The award, which is supported by the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, is presented to businesses that are committed to environmental excellence and parks are judged on four main factors - wildlife management, reducing use of energy, water and other resources, recycling and supporting local communities.
Winning the award for the 14th consecutive year Landal Kielder Waterside was particularly commended for its commitment to nurturing and improving the biodiversity of the site.
The park has focussed on hedgerow planting this year and has added an additional 100 metres of hedgerow on site; bringing the Kielder Waterside hedgerow total to just under 590 metres. The hedgerows are managed for wildlife, being cut every other year and/or being layered rather than cut.
Kielder Waterside have also planted an additional 600 native trees around the site which, once mature, will provide local wildlife such as the endangered Red Squirrel a source of food before the winter months arrive.
Presenting the award on his father David’s behalf, Rufus Bellamy said: “Kielder is a very special place that is one of the jewels of Northumberland and is, without doubt, one of my, and my father’s, favourite places to visit.
“Both the forest and Kielder Water itself are beautifully peaceful and full of wonderful wildlife and I’m delighted to be able to say that the team at Kielder Waterside work incredibly hard to conserve this.
“The site is managed in as environmentally sensitive a way as possible and every opportunity is taken to help guests get a sight of the many beautiful species that make Kielder their home.
“It’s a true haven for wildlife and for that I say ‘thank you’.”
Heidi Mottram, Northumbrian Water’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Landal Kielder Waterside has won the David Bellamy Gold Award for conservation every year since 2004 and this is an incredible feat of which we are very proud.
“We’ve worked very hard to make significant improvements that protect and enhance the local wildlife for the benefit of all, and we do all we can every day to encourage our visitors and staff to ‘think green’ on site.
“We’ve adopted many green technologies and initiatives and have installed energy efficient equipment in all of our lodges and onsite facilities. We work with Northumberland Wildlife Trust to help us manage our dedicated wildlife areas and will continue to do all we can to make sure that award number 15 will be ours next year!”
Set on the shore of Kielder Water, the largest man-made lake in northern Europe, Landal Kielder Waterside provides 50 luxury four and five star lodges.
Kielder Water & Forest Park, which spans 250 square miles, is also home to the largest forest in England.
It was voted the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and awarded Gold tier designation by the International Dark Sky Association due to its unspoiled skies and minimal light pollution.