News and Events

Oaklands Park

21/01/2010

Birds, bats and butterflies have helped a looe holiday park to wing its way to victory in a major environmental award scheme

Oaklands park has won the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level-and was described this month by the world-famus botanist as a 'wildlife wonderland'

For tyhe past seven years, manager Mick Clegg and his team have worked to ensure that the top-rated park provides VIP treatment for both wildlife and human guests

Areas of ancient woodland are carefully maintained on the park, creating a natural haven for animals and birds, including deer, hedgehogs, badgers, foxes, pheasants any many other species

Many different types of birds are also encouraged by the placing of feeders throughout the grounds, and the creation of habitats-and bat boxes have helped increase their population

David Bellamy praised the parks extensive planting of flowers with high pollen-bearing blooms which attract a wide range of butterflies, including both common and less familiar species

He has applauded the successful efforts of Mick and his team to maintain the parks long banks of traditional Cornish hedging, alongside of which a wildlife corridor has been established.

Oaklands commitment to the natural world has done much to make it a major attraction for buyers of luxury lodge homes on the park.

It currently comprises 125 luxury caravan holiday homes-and recently unveiled a new seperate development of timber-built lodge homes

All of the park homes on the park make extensive use of energy and water-saving features-and rainwater is harvested throughout the grounds in water butts for irrigating

Professor Bellamy wass impressed too with the parks decision to create chippings from its wood prunnings to use as mulch, and to allow some larger sections of timber to decay naturally in order to promote insect life as an extra feeding resource for birds

He also commended Oaklands use of down-lighting which minimises light pollution and allows holidaymakers to enjoy the night sky-plus the extensive recycling facilities on the park

Holiday home owners are additionally encouraged to make use of public transport to visit nearby attractions and the park also has a 'buy local' policy when it comes to employing building contractors and other services

David Bellamy made his award to the park after it had undergone an independent audit from wildlife and conversation experts who highlighted the couples exceptional achievements

Oaklands is one of the Nations family who have been operationg both holiday and residential park developments in the West Country for over 50 years

The park is also an active member of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust which hopes soon to carry out an extensive audit of the flora and fauna at Oaklands