West Dorset

PYTHON PITCHES PARK INTO NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Posted on November 12, 2024

THE 14-FOOT SNAKE was discovered resting in the grass, image from Simon Kewley.

A West Dorset holiday park has made headlines after an unexpected guest recently found in its grounds was identified as a fully grown Burmese python. The 14-foot snake was discovered resting in the grass at Monkton Wyld Holiday Park near Charmouth by two holiday guests who thought at first it was a large branch.

Pictures and a video of the python, which appeared to be perfectly content in its new five-star park surroundings, featured across national media. But Bella – as she was affectionately christened by staff – couldn’t be given residential status by park owners Joanna and Simon Kewley, and help was called in.

In a four-hour operation, Bella was safely captured by professionals from a nearby reptile rescue centre who later reported her to be in good health and receiving proper care. Joanna and Simon first started welcoming guests to their family farm in the early nineties, and have since gone on to receive a host of quality awards for their park.

They include David Bellamy “Blooming Marvellous!” conservation scheme accolades for their work to protect native wildlife in the park’s 26-acre grounds. Bella, the latest species clearly attracted to living conditions Monkton Wyld, is thought to have been abandoned by its previous owner, and is now enjoying life in her new home.

Monkton Wyld Holiday Park
www.monktonwyld.co.uk

WISH YOU WERE HERE – Monkton Wyld

Posted on April 26, 2022

WISH YOU WERE HERE

Picture postcards from Monkton Wyld, West Dorset…


Monkton Wyld, near the coastal village of Charmouth in West Dorset, should be rightly proud of its quarter-century of providing families with first-class holiday experiences. Joanna and Simon Kewley first started welcoming guests to their family farm in the early nineties, and its idyllic location and friendly atmosphere quickly won them a large following.

Over the years, the couple have invested much time and energy into ensuring that the park offers families the perfect surroundings for a memorable Dorset holiday. The holiday park is situated in West Dorset’s Area of Outstanding National Beauty, only three miles from the World Heritage Jurassic Coast line of Devon and Dorset. Joanna and Simon have created many wildlife habitats in their 26-acre grounds where wild flowers flourish and provide foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

They have always been keen to run their park along sustainable lines and have been presented with the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level for many years. The tranquil atmosphere is maintained by the park’s division into small paddocks for camping, caravan and motorhome guests who come from across Britain and mainland Europe. The summer camping field offers wonderful spacious camping for families and friends. A level rally field offers a great destination for small and larger groups with a number of 10amp pitches are available.

As well as pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents, Monkton Wyld has a small but prestigious development of luxury caravan holiday homes. The 17C farmhouse sleeps up to nine people and pets are welcome to a four bedroom, holiday bungalow. A fully stocked shop is available on site for all those essentials and little luxuries. The site currently have three different food vans visiting weekly. Fish and Chips, Wood-fired pizzas and a Pie and Burger Van.

 

Monkton Wyld
Tel. 01297 631131
www.monktonwyld.co.uk

 

Plans Approved For Major New Holiday Park

Posted on March 19, 2014
Plans Approved For Major New Holiday Park

The new Silverlake park will include up to 1,000 state-of-the-art holiday chalets, plus a country club & spa.

Plans Approved For Major New Holiday Park

Plans for a major new holiday park development have been given the go ahead by West Dorset District Council.

Up to 750 jobs are expected to be created, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds of construction investment, with the building of Silverlake on the site of the existing Warmwell Quarry near Crossways in Dorset.

Habitat First Group, which also owns award-winning and highquality sustainable holiday accommodation in the Cotswolds, is planning to build up to 1,000 holiday chalets and lodges, a country club and spa, while protecting hundreds of species of wildlife on the 560 acre site, as well as reinvigorating the local economy.

Will Vicary, managing director of Habitat First Group, commented: “We are pleased that the councillors have approved our request for outline planning permission. We are planning to create a truly unique concept for Dorset which boosts the economy, protects and manages the environment and benefits the local community with a long-term strategic plan for the quarry.”

A key component of the project is to protect and encourage wildlife at the site, with species surveys having been carried out to identify the key areas of ecological importance for breeding birds, reptiles, otters, water voles and bats for example.

As well as the development of the site itself, which is well concealed from its immediate surroundings, the plans include a focus on supporting the local tourist economy with the use of buses linking Silverlake with Moreton station, Dorchester, Weymouth, Poundbury and the coast, as well as the creation of cycling and foot paths so as to discourage car use. Will Vicary added: “We have been highly consistent in our vision and our approach of working closely with the local community.

Silverlake delivers nature conservation and landscape management at the highest level and firmly ties in with the key objectives in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework and West Dorset District Council’s local planning strategy.” Silverlake is expected be a key economic driver for the future of the West Dorset economy, encouraging inward investment, local spending and further employment. The construction stage alone is predicted to generate £470 million over a 20 to 30 year period, of which over half would be spent with local businesses.