Holiday Parks flying the flag for Honey Bees

When you’re next thinking of heading out into the countryside on a camping, caravanning or holiday home trip, why not visit a park that’s doing something to help Honey Bees? Thanks to an on-going link-up with the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme (DBCAS) this is really easy to do.

2019 is the fifth year of the BBKA’s Honey Bee Friendly Park Project partnership with the DBCAS (which works with 570+ parks across the country to help them become more environmentally friendly). Most of the parks in the scheme have taken the Honey Bee Friendly Pledge. This commits them to doing what they can to provide the forage plants that bees need, to provide homes for bees and to spread the word about bee conservation. Last year, over 400 did enough for their David Bellamy assessors to class them as Honey Bee Friendly.

Among the great work that’s being done are projects to plant wildflower meadow areas. Last year, the scheme recorded an average of 0.5 ha of wildflowers per park or almost a football-field’s worth each. Many park teams have also been getting busy learning about beekeeping, working with their local beekeepers and even becoming beekeepers themselves.

 

For example, at Tregatillian Park, in Cornwall, they sell produce from their allotments to buy bee-friendly plants for their owners’ gardens. The collection point for the people to get their free pollinator plants is also an information site providing guidance on planting, bees, wildlife and flowers. The park has also been busy planting trees, improving their meadow areas and doing lots of other bee-friendly habitat creation work.

“We wanted to enhance natural habitats to encourage bees and other beneficial insects,” says Park Warden, Haley Bailey. “Luckily, there were areas of the park that were unused and were perfect for this new projects. It has been a great success, we’ve seen more species of animals, from bees and dragonflies up to deer, visiting the Park.”

 

Meanwhile, at Riverbend in Wales, the park team have lovingly restored a traditional telephone box into a wildlife information point. They have also turned a formerly unkempt corner of the park into a beautiful, communal Bee and Butterfly Garden that boasts a wealth of plants that attract bees, butterflies and other insects.

“We built an area with sleepers, raising it three feet off the floor, and filled it with lavender,” Park Managers, Angie and Lindsey explain. “Then we started on the surrounding area and filled as much as we could with plants and flowers that butterflies and bees love.  About three months later our garden was in full bloom - you would not believe how many butterflies and bees have visited.”

To show your support of what the parks are doing, why not choose a Honey Bee Friendly Park when you next venture out into the British Countryside? Below is the list of parks that have taken the Honey Bee Pledge. Be sure to look out for the Logo and Honey-Bee Friendly Certificate when you visit!

Park name

County

Home Farm	Anglesey
Kingsbridge	Anglesey
Minffordd	Anglesey
Ty Hen	Anglesey
Tyddyn Isaf	Anglesey
Argyll	Argyll
Loch Eck	Argyll and Bute
Stratheck	Argyll and Bute
Sunnybrae	Argyll and Bute
Craig Tara	Ayrshire
Cunninghamhead Estate	Ayrshire
Hurleyford Farm	Berkshire
Floods Ferry	Cambridgeshire
Erwlon Farm	Carmarthenshire
Llety	Ceredigion
Morfa Bychan	Ceredigion
Quay West	Ceredigion
Fir Trees	Cheshire
Lindow Court	Cheshire
Manor Wood	Cheshire
Ballyness	Co Antrim
Bradley Burn	Co. Durham
Crimdon Dene	Co. Durham
Drovers Way	Co. Durham
Finchale Abbey	Co. Durham
Kingsley	Conwy
Lyndale	Conwy
Plas Farm	Conwy
Ayr	Cornwall
Carnon Downs	Cornwall
Cosawes	Cornwall
Crantock Beach	Cornwall
Dolbeare	Cornwall
Eden Valley	Cornwall
Gainsborough	Cornwall
Gwel an Mor	Cornwall
Hengar Manor	Cornwall
Hentervene	Cornwall
Holywell Bay	Cornwall
Leycroft Valley	Cornwall
Little Dinham	Cornwall
Little Winnock	Cornwall
Looe Bay	Cornwall
Lower Treave	Cornwall
Martha's Orchard	Cornwall
Mother Ivey's Bay	Cornwall
Newquay	Cornwall
Newquay View	Cornwall
Notter Mill	Cornwall
Padstow Holiday Park	Cornwall
Padstow Touring Park	Cornwall
Perran Sands	Cornwall
Polruan	Cornwall
River Valley(Penzance)	Cornwall
Riviere Sands	Cornwall
Ruthern Valley	Cornwall
Sea View Holiday Village	Cornwall
Seaview International	Cornwall
St Ives	Cornwall
St Margarets	Cornwall
St Minver	Cornwall
Stonerush Lakes	Cornwall
Tehidy Holiday Park	Cornwall
The Park	Cornwall
Tolroy Manor	Cornwall
Tregatillion	Cornwall
Trethem Mill	Cornwall
Trethias	Cornwall
Trethiggey	Cornwall
Trevarth	Cornwall
Trevella	Cornwall
Trewan Hall	Cornwall
Watergate Bay	Cornwall
White Acres	Cornwall
Widemouth Bay	Cornwall
Wooda Farm	Cornwall
Bassenthwaite	Cumbria
Castlerigg Hall	Cumbria
Church Stile	Cumbria
Esthwaite View	Cumbria
Fell End	Cumbria
Hall More	Cumbria
Hawkrigg Lune Valley	Cumbria
High Close	Cumbria
Hill of Oaks	Cumbria
Hillcroft	Cumbria
Lightwater Tarns	Cumbria
Lowther	Cumbria
Nepgill	Cumbria
Park Cliffe	Cumbria
Sandgate	Cumbria
Silver Ridge	Cumbria
Skelwith Fold	Cumbria
Skiddaw View	Cumbria
Southwaite Green Mill	Cumbria
Waterfoot	Cumbria
White Cross Bay	Cumbria
White Gate	Cumbria
Woodclose	Cumbria
Feughside	Deeside
Presthaven Sands	Denbighshire
Ashbourne Heights	Derbyshire
Beech Croft	Derbyshire
Darwin Forest	Derbyshire
Mercia Marina	Derbyshire
Merebrook	Derbyshire
Bideford Bay	Devon
Bittaford Wood	Devon
Bovisand Lodge	Devon
Castle Brake	Devon
Challaborough	Devon
Churchwood Valley	Devon
Cofton Country	Devon
Devon Cliffs	Devon
Dornafield	Devon
Forest Glade	Devon
Harford Bridge	Devon
Hazelwood	Devon
Hedley Wood	Devon
Hele Valley	Devon
Ladram Bay	Devon
Langstone Manor	Devon
Leafy fields Glamping	Devon
Moor View	Devon
Newberry Valley	Devon
Noteworthy Farm	Devon
Oakdown	Devon
Ross	Devon
Ruda	Devon
Smytham Manor	Devon
The Old Rectory	Devon
The Thatches	Devon
Torquay	Devon
Upton Lakes	Devon
Warcombe Farm	Devon
Whitehill Country Park	Devon
Woodwards Lakes & Lodges	Doncaster
Back of Beyond	Dorset
East Fleet	Dorset
Eype House	Dorset
Golden Cap	Dorset
Graston Copse(was Coastal)	Dorset
Harrow Wood Farm	Dorset
Highlands End	Dorset
Larkfield	Dorset
Littlesea	Dorset
Longthorns	Dorset
Rockley	Dorset
Rowlands Wait	Dorset
Sandford	Dorset
Sandyholme	Dorset
Sea View (Dorset)	Dorset
Wareham Forest	Dorset
Warmwell HP	Dorset
West Bay	Dorset
Weymouth Bay	Dorset
Woolsbridge Manor Farm	Dorset
Loch Ken	Dumfries and Galloway
Southerness	Dumfries and Galloway
Belhaven Bay	East Lothian
Aldbrough	East Yorkshire
Far Grange	East Yorkshire
High Farm Country	East Yorkshire
Reighton Sands	East Yorkshire
Sand Le Mere	East Yorkshire
Scampston	East Yorkshire
Skipsea	East Yorkshire
Skirlington Leisure	East Yorkshire
South Lea	East Yorkshire
The White House	East Yorkshire
Mortonhall	Edinburgh
Eastland Meadows	Essex
Elm Farm	Essex
Fen Farm	Essex
Mersea Island(Cosway)	Essex
Osea Leisure	Essex
The Orchards(Essex)	Essex
The Star Inn	Essex
Valley Farm	Essex
Waldegraves	Essex
Cairnsmill	Fife
Craigtoun Meadows	Fife
Elie	Fife
St Monans	Fife
Pen-Y-Glol	Flintshire
Tree Tops	Flintshire
Briarfields Motel	Gloucestershire
Croft Farm Water Park	Gloucestershire
Green Meadows	Gloucestershire
Tudor	Gloucestershire
Whitemead Forest	Gloucestershire
Bala	Gwynedd
Garreg Goch	Gwynedd
Greenacres & Carreg Wen	Gwynedd
Hafan y Mor	Gwynedd
Pale Wood	Gwynedd
Tyn Y Mur	Gwynedd
Hayling Island	Hampshire
Red Shoot	Hampshire
Shamba	Hampshire
Shorefield	Hampshire
Arrow Bank	Herefordshire
Borders Hideaway	Herefordshire
Fairview	Herefordshire
Linton Park	Herefordshire
Woodside Country Park	Herefordshire
Takeley Park	Hertfordshire
Nethercraig	Highlands
Grange Farm (IOW)	I O W
Old Mill	I O W
Whitefield Forest	I O W
Compton Farm	IOW
Allhallows	Kent
Hawthorn Farm	Kent
Little Satmar	Kent
Meadow View	Kent
Quex	Kent
Bay View Lancs	Lancashire
Crook O'Lune	Lancashire
Hackings	Lancashire
Hawthorns	Lancashire
Holgates Silverdale	Lancashire
Hollins Farm	Lancashire
Little Orchard	Lancashire
Merlewood	Lancashire
Moss Wood	Lancashire
Old Hall(Lancs)	Lancashire
Rawcliffe Hall	Lancashire
Riverside(Lanc)	Lancashire
South Lakeland Leisure Village	Lancashire
Willowbank	Lancashire
Woodlands (Lancs) Pilling	Lancashire
Wyre Vale	Lancashire
Wyreside Farm	Lancashire
Daleford Manor	Lancs
Eastham Hall	Lancs
Fold House	Lancs
Moorlands (Lancs)	Lancs
Netherbeck	Lancs
Scout Cragg	Lancs
Ashby	Lincolnshire
Butlins Skegness village	Lincolnshire
Golden Sands(lincs)	Lincolnshire
Highfields Country  Fishing	Lincolnshire
Holivans	Lincolnshire
Orchards  Park (Lincs)	Lincolnshire
Seacroft	Lincolnshire
Skegness Water	Lincolnshire
Sunnydale	Lincs
Seton Sands	Lothian
Kingfisher (Yorks)	N. Yorks
Anchor	Norfolk
Beeston Regis	Norfolk
Breydon Water	Norfolk
Caister	Norfolk
California Cliffs	Norfolk
Cherry Tree	Norfolk
Clippesby	Norfolk
Cobbleacre	Norfolk
Deers Glade	Norfolk
Dower House	Norfolk
Forest Park	Norfolk
Hopton	Norfolk
Ivy Farm	Norfolk
Kelling Heath	Norfolk
Kessingland Beach	Norfolk
Langmere Lakes	Norfolk
Manor Park	Norfolk
Pinewoods	Norfolk
Sandy Gulls	Norfolk
Searles Leisure Resort	Norfolk
Seashore	Norfolk
the Old Brick Kilns	Norfolk
Vauxhall	Norfolk
Waveney River Centre	Norfolk
Waveney Valley Lakes	Norfolk
Wild Duck	Norfolk
Woodhill	Norfolk
Plassey	North Wales
Akebar	North Yorkshire
Blue Dolphin	North Yorkshire
Goodenbergh	North Yorkshire
Langcliffe	North Yorkshire
Lebberston	North Yorkshire
Lindale	North Yorkshire
Middlewood Farm	North Yorkshire
North Bay	North Yorkshire
Northcliffe  & Seaview	North Yorkshire
Old Hall(York)	North Yorkshire
Patrington Haven	North Yorkshire
Primrose Valley	North Yorkshire
Raywell Hall	North Yorkshire
Ripley	North Yorkshire
Sleningford Watermill	North Yorkshire
Whitby	North Yorkshire
Winston Bridge	North Yorkshire
Wood Nook	North Yorkshire
York House	North Yorkshire
Allendale	Northumberland
Berwick H C	Northumberland
Causey Hill	Northumberland
Clear Sky	Northumberland
Cresswell Towers	Northumberland
Haggerston Castle	Northumberland
Low Haber	Northumberland
Ord House	Northumberland
Riverside Leisure(Hexham)	Northumberland
Seldom Seen	Northumberland
Waren Caravan & Camping	Northumberland
Milestone	Nottinghamshire
Sherwood Hideaway	Nottinghamshire
Dolgead Hall	Powys
Dolguog Estate	Powys
Fforest Fields	Powys
Garth	Powys
Morben Isaf	Powys
Red Kite	Powys
The Pines	Powys
Warren Parc	Powys
Glenview	Scotland
Grangemuir	Scotland
Loch Lomond	Scotland
Red Deer Village( was Craigendmuir	Scotland
Tantallon	Scotland
Tayport Links	Scotland
Fernwood	Shropshire
Glen	Shropshire
Mill Farm	Shropshire
Bath Chew Valley	Somerset
Doniford	Somerset
Holiday Resort Unity	Somerset
Retreat	Somerset
St Audries Bay	Somerset
Thorney Lakes	Somerset
Waterrow	Somerset
Westermill	Somerset
Silver Trees	Staffordshire
Cliff House	Suffolk
Dunwich Cliffs Estate	Suffolk
Haw Wood Farm	Suffolk
Heathland Beach	Suffolk
Pakefield	Suffolk
Peewit	Suffolk
Camber Sands	Sussex
Chestnut Meadow	Sussex
Deanland Wood Park	Sussex
three Ponds	Sussex
Beach	Wales
Brandy Brook	Wales
Brynowen	wales
Clywedog	Wales
Fishguard Bay	Wales
Fron Farm	Wales
Gorse Hill	Wales
Irfon river	Wales
Kiln and Penally court	Wales
Llanunger Fach	Wales
Lydstep Beach	Wales
Maes Glas	Wales
Meadow House	Wales
Noble Court	Wales
Ocean Heights	Wales
Peniarth	Wales
Rhinog	Wales
Rhosgoch	Wales
Riverbend	Wales
Shillingford	Wales
Silver Bay	Wales
Stone Pitt	Wales
Timber Hill	Wales
Trecco Bay	Wales
Ty Mawr	Wales
Avon	Warwickshire
Island Meadow	Warwickshire
Wootton Hall	Warwickshire
Church Farm	West Sussex
Sumners Ponds	West Sussex
Wicks Farm	West Sussex
Upwood	West Yorkshire
Lillybrook	wiltshire
Stonehenge	wiltshire
Coppice Leisure	Worcestershire
Leedons Park(Broadway)	Worcestershire
Lickhill Manor	Worcestershire
Lincomb Lock	Worcestershire
Offenham	Worcestershire
Ranch	Worcestershire
Severnside	Worcestershire
The Springs	Worcestershire
Weir Meadow	Worcestershire
Little Lakes	worcs
Emral	Wrexham
Cayton Bay	Yorks
Barmston Beach	yorks
Blue Rose	Yorkshire
Burton Constable	Yorkshire
Burtree Lakes	yorkshire
Cowden	Yorkshire
Croft Park	Yorkshire
Falls	Yorkshire
Flamingo Land resort	Yorkshire
Hillside	Yorkshire
Hollicarrs	Yorkshire
Holme Valley	Yorkshire
Hornsea	Yorkshire
Longbeach Leisure	Yorkshire
Mauston & Springmoor	Yorkshire
Rivers Edge	Yorkshire
Thornwick	Yorkshire
Tockets Mill	Yorkshire
Weir	Yorkshire
Withernsea Sands	Yorkshire
Woodhouse Farm	Yorkshire
Wrens of Rydale	Yorkshire