PIONEERING GREEN HOLIDAYS

PIONEERING GREEN HOLIDAYS

SUSAN AND DEREK Dickson (centre) were given two top spots by judges at the Cumbria Business Awards

The husband-and-wife team behind a popular Windermere holiday park say that they were left reeling after learning that they had scooped two top awards in one swoop. Susan and Derek Dickson of Park Cliffe heard the couple’s five-star park near the shores of Windermere had taken first place in the Best Family Business of the Year category.

Susan and Derek were then invited back to the stage again and told that Park Cliffe had triumphed in the Green/Ethical Business of the Year category, beating hundreds of other eligible enterprises to the title. “We were rather knocked for six when we realised that we would be taking two trophies home!” said Susan who, with Derek, has owned the park for just over 15 years.

“Our daughter Abi and son Jack play an important part in the running of Park Cliffe, and the family business award is a credit to how much they make this a real team effort. “Abi and Jack also share our love for the natural world, and our concern to make the holidays we offer as green and environmentally friendly as possible.”

Set in 25 acres of countryside above the shores of Windermere, Park Cliffe provides holiday homes to rent and own, glamping facilities, and pitches for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes. Last year, Susan and Derek welcomed local MP Tim Farron to officially open a major new green energy project undertaken at Park Cliffe by the couple.

Representing a £200,000 investment, it features over 200 high-efficiency solar panels which will save 21 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year. The installation, known as a solar array, is capable of generating around 100Kw of power, and is designed to produce electricity even on the most overcast of days. More initiatives to reduce the park’s carbon footprint and to protect its indigenous wildlife and native plants are planned for 2024, said Susan.

FIVE OUT OF FIVE FOR WATERSIDE

FIVE OUT OF FIVE FOR WATERSIDE

WATERSIDE HOLIDAY GROUP scored top marks in a Which? holiday stay survey

 

Waterside Holiday Group has come up trumps in a survey of the UK’s best value holiday parks by consumer champion Which? The company, which operates holiday parks in Dorset and Cornwall, scored 87 per cent in a survey of more than 2,200 stays.

Waterside Holiday Group scored five out of five stars in every category, including quality of accommodation, facilities, and value for money. Visitors highlighted their appreciation for the company’s choices of luxury caravans, as well as accommodation features including widescreen televisions and private hot tubs.

Dave Bennett, CEO of Waterside Holiday Group commented: “We are thrilled to have received such an incredible score as part of a renowned nationwide survey, which reflects genuine visitor reviews. “We have invested heavily in all our holiday parks to ensure we offer a five-star holiday experience to our guests, with exceptional quality accommodation, facilities, and customer service.

I would like to thank everyone at Waterside Holiday Group for their hard work in helping us continually achieve excellence across our parks.” Waterside Holiday Group has made multiple enhancements to its parks over the past two years, including introducing a range of luxury holiday homes with hot tubs and updated dining areas across sites.

The company has also continued committing to sustainability improvements across its parks, including the creation of natural habitat areas using native plants and species, introduction of beehives and installation of solar panels.