BUZZ OF EXCITEMENT FOR LANCS PARK

AN INTERPRETED NATURE DISCOVERY trail on the park allows youngsters to make many wildlife discoveries

Honey bees and butterflies have helped a family Lancaster holiday park to wing its way into the finals of this year’s Lancashire Tourism Awards. Moss Wood Caravan Park in the village of Cockerham has been nominated in the “ethical, responsible and sustainable” category for its successful efforts to protect the natural world.

Now the final hurdles for the park will be a “mystery shop” from an industry professional, and a face-to-face interview with the awards’ judging panel. The winner will be revealed at next February’s glittering awards ceremony of the Lancashire Tourism Awards in Blackburn, attended by tourism professional from across the region.

Moss Wood, which is owned by the Wild family, has already had its environmental policies and green tourism credentials put under close scrutiny in the competition. Judges noted that the park recently became home to its second colony of 80,000 honey bees after installing two traditional timber hives in its grounds.

Their thriving future is assured thanks to the many high nectar-bearing blooms at Moss Wood, including a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness planted by the park. The bees share their food sources with a wide range of butterflies and other pollinators, and there are plans to harvest the honey for sale in the park’s shop.

The park also encourages holiday guests and members of the local community, especially children, to engage with nature and to protect wildlife. Available for them to explore is a 1.5km nature discovery trail, and two spring-fed lakes which act as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, water fowl and a host of other different aquatic species.