Holiday Park news round-up: Expansion plans, financial success & environmental awards

A North Lincolnshire holiday park is set to expand its offering to guests after receiving a seven-figure loan from HSBC.

Coastfields Leisure has bought 12 acres of land to expand its Skegness Fields Park, doubling it in size, to create 105 static pitches and 15 touring pitches, reports the Skegness Standard.

Further funding was received from HSBC to diversify the business by building a food and leisure complex at the Grange Leisure Park in Mablethorpe. The new facility will provide residents of Mablethorpe and surrounding areas with a wider choice of leisure, dining and entertainment options.

Successful year for holiday park operator

An independently-owned holiday park operator in Hampshire has enjoyed a successful year after posting a rise in turnover and pre-tax profit.

Shorefield Holidays operates five self-catering holiday parks in Hampshire and Dorset, providing holiday chalets, caravans, holiday lodges and touring and camping pitches.

The family-owned business reported turnover of £22.8m for the year ended 31 October 2015, up from £22.4m a year earlier, Insider Media report.

Pre-tax profits also grew, rising from £3.4m to £3.8m.

Owners buzzing after receiving environmental awards

The introduction of 250,000 honey bees have helped a Bournemouth holiday park operator scoop a top environmental award.

Back of Beyond touring park in St Leonards has been praised by botanist David Bellamy for its “outstanding efforts” to provide a safe haven for the beleaguered bee.

Owners Martin and Vickery Bowery installed eight hives on their 30-acre park to help stem the decline of the honey bee, reports the Bournemouth Echo.

And they can now proudly boast their David Bellamy Conservation Award and its top gold level for the third year in succession after their efforts paid off.

Couple create perfect park for stressed out guests

A couple who ditched their London IT careers to run a Devon holiday park say they’ve created the perfect place for guests to relax and unwind.

Adrian and Karen Coppin bought Mill Park, near Ilfracombe, last year and opened their doors to the public in March.

The 30-acre coastal park, they say, is the ideal location to get away from it all. Set in a secluded wooded valley, the park provides pitches for motorhomes, tents and touring caravans, plus a range of luxury glamping options.

The couple, both in their mid-40s, say their aim was to attract visitors whose demanding jobs leave precious little time for unwinding and relaxation.

“Mill Park is a truly magical place to stay where you are completely enveloped in nature – and where the outside world seems a thousand miles away,” Adrian told Caravan Times.

“When Karen and I worked in London, we would often seek out somewhere for a short break where you could feel the stresses melting away immediately.

“We thought it would be great if we could provide something similar for people wanting an away-from-it-all experience, and decided to take the plunge.

“The feedback we’ve received so far from guests has been fantastic, and we’ve now received bookings right the way through until the end of the season!” added Adrian.