From the Lancaster Guardian

Marketing Lancashire hosted almost 400 tourism and hospitality partners and colleagues at the new orangery at Stanley House Hotel & Spa, where guest presenter Tez Ilyas, headline sponsor UCLan and destination sponsor Blackburn with Darwen Council celebrated the winners of the 2021 awards.

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Moss Wood caravan park in Cockerham was unable to stage its usual Easter celebrations this year as, like all parks, it had been closed by the pandemic.

But now its annual event, which would have taken place over the 11/12 April weekend, is being time-shifted into next month, October.

And the highlight will be a treasure hunt designed to get holiday guests out-and-about in the local region, visiting shops, attractions, and other enterprises.

Flashback to last April’s Easter event at Moss Wood which drew many visitors

The family-run park’s Henry Wild said the lighthearted challenge is designed to benefit other businesses hard-hit by a loss of income from visitors this spring:

“Moss Wood’s revenues fell substantially from late March until holiday parks were allowed to re-open again in July,” he said.

“The impact of this was also felt by many other traders in the region who have come to rely on custom from people enjoying a holiday in rural Lancashire.

“That’s why we are using the treasure hunt to encourage holiday guests, on bike or by car, to discover some of the fantastic enterprises on our doorstep.

“We hope it will also promote the idea of keeping tourism local, rather than travelling to more distant destinations such as the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales.

“Shorter journeys benefit the environment, and help keep communities safe,” added Henry.

Moss Wood – which Henry’s family has owned for over 40 years – last year took first place in the “responsible and sustainable” category of the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

This month it was also announced that the park had once again been named as a winner of the David Bellamy Conservation Award it its top gold level.

Features include a 1.5km nature discovery trail, a 3000 square-foot wild flower wilderness providing foraging for honey bees and butterflies, and a spring-fed lake hosting many aquatic species.

“We realise that we’re a little late with this year’s Easter event, but it’s still going to be a great day – and the only thing missing will be the daffodils!” said Henry.

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Henry Wild appears on BBC North West Tonight to discuss how and when holiday parks such Moss Wood Caravan Park may be able to reopen following the coronavirus lockdown.

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Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster is featured by Marketing Lancashire in its “See You Soon, Safely” initiative aimed at visitors across the UK.

The campaign launch is accompanied by a photograph of Moss Wood’s warden Virginia Walker holding a poster which looks forward to when the park will re-open.

Henry Wild, a member of the 40-year-old family-run Cockerham business, says that he is keen to deliver two key messages in association with Marketing Lancashire:

Parks provide safe distancing in fresh air surroundings says Henry Wild

“Firstly, we are signalling our hope that Moss Wood will soon be allowed to re-open soon, even if this is in a phased way with holiday caravan owners being the first back.

“Parks such as ours are ideal for social distancing as pitches are five or six metres apart, and holiday caravans are entirely self-contained with their own bathrooms and kitchens.

“Hazards such as air conditioning aren’t present – but what you do have is bountiful supplies of clean country air and space in which to exercise and relax in safety.

“Obviously we can only re-open when the government considers it safe to do so, but our other message is that there is a lot riding on that decision being taken soon.

“We are having to dig deep into our pockets to maintain the park whilst our income has plummeted, and clearly this is not a sustainable situation.

“But there is also a serious spin-off for many other businesses in the area around here, many of them smaller family-owned enterprises like ours.

“Shops, pubs, cafes and attractions have all been cut off from the lifeline of tourism spending on which they depend, threatening both their survival and the jobs they sustain,” added Henry.

In Lancashire, he points out, more than 61,000 people are employed in tourism-related sectors, and the county’s 69 million annual visitors boosts the region’s economy by £4.4 billion.

“After the lockdown is over, people will be craving the chance of a holiday – especially in the open countryside where they can re-connect with nature in beautiful surroundings.

“That’s precisely what rural Lancashire can provide in abundance, so we are saying: come back when it’s safe, and get life back on an even keel in the best way possible!” said Henry.

A regular winner of nature and conservation awards for its many wildlife projects, there is more information about Moss Wood at www.mosswood.co.uk

See the original article at Stay UK News here.

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Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster has teamed up with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust for its “30 Days Wild” project taking place across the county.

The park is inviting customers to come forward with their ideas on how to best to celebrate the natural world and to help animals and plants to flourish.

At the end of June, the entries will be assessed by Rufus Bellamy, organiser of the David Bellamy Conservation Awards of which Moss Wood is a top gold recipient.

According to Henry Wild, whose family has owned the park for over 40 years, it will be a fantastic opportunity to focus on how everyone can play a part in protecting the natural world

Moss Wood is in the heart of tranquil countryside in rural Lancashire

“We hope, of course, that Moss Wood will be open again to visitors soon – but even if it isn’t, we’ll still be assessing ideas submitted by email or via our Facebook page.

“Whether it’s building a bug hotel, creating new animal habitats, taking a stunning wildlife picture, or planting wild flowers, we just want to see people becoming involved with nature.

“Grown-ups and children can submit one idea or as many as they choose – and Rufus Bellamy will be looking for those with the greatest flair and originality.

“The top three will be each be invited to name one of our park’s honey bee hives, and it will bear their plaque for the rest of its working life,” said Henry.

Last year, Moss Wood took first place in the “responsible and sustainable” category of the Lancashire Tourism Awards, and is now through to this year’s national VisitEngland Awards.

The park was praised for the way it encourages holiday guests and members of the local community, especially children, to engage with nature and to help protect wildlife.

Recent conservation initiatives include a 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a 3000 square-foot wild flower wilderness providing vital foraging for honey bees and butterflies.

There is also a spring-fed lake at Moss Wood which acts as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, water fowl and a host of other different aquatic species.

In addition, the park plays host to thousands of bees in hives on its grounds, and supports bee-keeping charities with the sale of its own artisan beer produced by a local micro-brewery.

“There has never been a better time than the present crisis to enjoy a closer relationship with nature, and to benefit from the positive feelings which result,” said Henry.

“Even if we can’t provide physical breaks right now, I hope our wild challenge will at least help to provide the mental holiday which we all deserve!”

Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. There is more information about the park at www.mosswood.co.uk

Judging the wild ideas will be Rufus Bellamy who co-ordinates the David Bellamy Conservation Awards

Read the original article at Stay UK News here.

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The family-run park took first place in the “ethical, responsible and sustainable” category of the awards, beating a strong line-up of contenders from across the North West.

It means that Moss Wood will now be fast-tracked through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence later this year in the same category.

The result was announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Arena on 07 November, attended by tourism and business chiefs from across Lancashire.

Stepping into the spotlight to receive the congratulations of judges were Henry Wild and his wife Hannah, accompanied by Moss Wood marketing co-ordinator Neil Darby

Judges said Moss Wood was helping children to engage with nature

Henry accepted the award on behalf of his father Syd who first started the park over 40 years ago, and who still plays an active part in its running.

Moss Wood, judges said, puts sustainability and care for the countryside at the heart of its business culture, bringing great benefits to the natural environment.

The park was also praised for the way it encourages holiday guests and members of the local community, especially children, to engage with nature and to help protect its wildlife.

Henry Wild said that everyone was absolutely delighted to have taken the top sustainability prize:

“We are very fortunate to be able to attract staff who share our enthusiasm for the natural world, and for doing everything possible to protect our flora and fauna,” he said.

“Their knowledge and skills mean we are never short of new ideas for safeguarding wildlife, and for helping youngsters to enjoy making new outdoor discoveries.

“Our family feels very privileged to live and work in this beautiful part of rural Lancashire, and I hope this award will help raise awareness of its very special qualities,” added Henry.

Judges made their decision after carrying out an in-depth study of Moss Wood’s sustainability policies, and hearing a presentation about its work from Neil Darby.

Neil said the park has been presented with the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level for over twenty consecutive years, recognising its raft of conservation initiatives.

These include a recently created 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a 3000 square-foot wild flower wilderness providing vital foraging for honey bees and butterflies.

There is also a spring-fed lake at Moss Wood which acts as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, water fowl and a host of other different aquatic species.

In addition, the park plays host to thousands of bees in hives on its grounds, and supports bee-keeping charities with the sale of its own artisan beer produced by a local micro-brewery.

Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. There is more information about the park at www.mosswood.co.uk

Back at Moss Wood, the park’s winning team members are (from left) marketing co-ordinator Neil Darby; seasonal warden Dave Dean; seasonal warden Sue Partington; groundskeeper Chris Peacock, and wardens Sandra and Ian Stokes

Original Article on Stay UK News here.

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