Hawthorns Caravan Park of Nether Kellet near Carnforth, has scooped the Gold Conservation Award for protecting and enhancing its natural surrounding environment.
Owners Deryck and Monika Wright have turned Haw-thorns into a natural haven for wildlife.
The pair have also planted hundreds of indigenous trees and created a natural pond, which has drawn rare birds and become a breeding ground for the threatened Great Crested Newt.
Butterfly plants have also lured the rare High Brown Fritillary to the park, which has 90 privately-owned holiday homes, facilities for touring caravans and tents, and was named most improved park in England in a Calor Gas awards competition last year.
Mr Wright said they were “delighted” with the award and how it recognised the work that had made the area pleasant for everyone and the animal world too.
He said: “We wanted to be able to walk outside into the park and enjoy the environment and not just have rows and rows of military-style caravans.
“The holiday homes are in environmental colours and blend in with the foliage and we have made little enclaves and everyone has their own little bird box, tree or bat box.
“Many of our clients are from industrial areas south of Lancaster and the Lakes where wildlife is non-existent so it is nice for them to be able to walk out through the park.” The park’s pheasant, called Fred, has become so used to his home that he regularly poses for photographs and shows no fear when approaching residents for food.
Professor Bellamy said: “Many parks like this have created wildlife wonderlands and I think it’s time they were given deserved recognition for their big commitment.
“Britain’s parks are bursting with bio-diversity. They are the nation’s get-away-from-it-all locations, and also a major contact point between people and the countryside.
“Therefore they are very important centres of education, and a wonderful place to go and experience wrap-around nature.” The award was presented after a detailed audit of the park’s environmental policies, and comments made by holidaymakers.
The couple’s future plans for Hawthorns include the reintroduction of species of wild flowers once common in the area, including the protected Blue Orchid and Purple Orchid.
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