PROFESSOR David Bellamy has named Angrove Country Park, near Great Ayton, as one of the UK’s greenest places to take a holiday and awarded the owners a special accolade for protecting the natural world.

Angrove Country Park is now a proud holder of the David Bellamy Silver Conservation Award, which celebrates holiday parks with forward-looking environmental policies and ensuring that developments are still a haven for wildlife.

Earlier this year the park was a finalist in The Rural Business Awards, shortlisted in the Best Rural Diversification category.

The family-owned business is headed by Alan Petch, whose family have farmed the land since 1922, and his partner, Louise Taylor.

Their vision for an environmentally friendly holiday park, with eco lodges and an eatery, came to fruition 18 months ago, and has produced an idyllic tranquil space and a habitat for wildlife, in 33 acres of North Yorkshire.

They began their journey by planting 4,000 trees, and grasses and flowers to attract butterflies. The local scouts built bird boxes for the hundreds of birds, the paths are Yorkshire stone and the G &T House is completely plastic free. All the work has been completed by local businesses.

They are now fully self sufficient on solar power, and have car-charging points which are free residents and to people who drop into the café.

Alan Petch, said: “We pride ourselves on having built a holiday park that makes it feel like we are miles from anywhere, yet we are only a 15 minute walk from the village of Great Ayton and a 25 minute walk from the market town of Stokesley.

“We have wide open skies with little light pollution, the birds and wildlife are thriving and people want to be here, whether it is sitting on the patio at The G & Tea House enjoying a meal or drink or watching one of the resident barn owls fly overhead, whilst relaxing in a hot tub.

“This award is a real recognition for the entire team and for all the hard work that goes into improving and managing our conservation policies. To have the importance of this recognised, is just great.”

Angrove Country Park has also been designated as a honey bee friendly park in recognition of the bee friendly planting across the whole park and the on-site bee hives.