Green Grass of Home Now Even Greener

TUESDAY, 29 JUNE 2010

Forget Springwatch and get closer to the countryside with a ‘green’ camping holiday this summer. Woodovis Park (www.woodovis.com) in Devon has notched up further eco credentials by digging an on-site 180 foot borehole. A David Bellamy Conservation Award is also in the pipeline, further recognition of the independently-run holiday park’s commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural world.

Woodovis Park also holds a Dartmoor First Award in recognition of its commitment to sustaining Dartmoor and its special qualities. The first assessment for the David Bellamy Conservation Award took place last week, with the grading to be announced in August. Situated on the edge of Dartmoor in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated World Heritage Site, five-star Woodovis Park offers the ideal low carbon family holiday in a beautiful setting.

Green camping
With the park’s very own borehole under way, Woodovis is digging deep to provide guests with a sustainable holiday option. A raft of measures already in place to reduce the impact on the environment include:

- Energy efficiency - Where possible, light bulbs in holiday homes and outside lights are all low energy bulbs, with timers or light sensors on all outside lights. In the facilities block thermostatically controlled heating has been installed as well as Dyson Airblade hand dryers, which use 80% less energy.
- Solar power – the on-site swimming pool is solar heated.
- Water conservation - Dual flush or flow reduction mechanisms have been fitted in all holiday homes and sensors in the urinals. All taps and plumbing is regularly maintained to avoid leaks and dripping taps, and signs remind guests to turn taps off when not in use. Where possible rainwater is used to water plants.
- Waste reduction – All glass, paper, cardboard and plastic is recycled. The park’s purchasing policy includes buying local, buying in bulk and using refillables where possible.
- Keeping it local - A wide range of local produce is stocked in the on-site shop, from local fresh free range eggs to Devon made jams, pickles, chutneys and vinegars.
- Loving the landscape - Hundreds of native plants have been introduced to the park.

Woodovis Park has introduced a special low carbon family holiday package to encourage guests to keep down their mileage once they’ve arrived at the park. Not a lot of traveling, high adventure all within 15 miles. Highlights include:

- On the park - Use of swimming pool, spa and sauna
- On the park - Water walking every Sunday morning
- On the park - Archery every Wednesday evening
- 2 miles away - Half day Tree Surfing in the Tamar Valley, an adrenaline pumping, heart thumping birds eye experience
- 4 miles away - Half day canoe trip on the River Tamar, go with the flow through the Tamar Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- 4.5 miles away - Indoor climbing barn, 1.5 hours indoor rock climbing session with qualified instructor and all equipment included
- 7.5 miles away - Horse riding on Dartmoor from Cholwell Stables
- 15 miles away - Granite Trail cycle route with cycle hire for the day. Bikes can be delivered directly to Woodovis Park, with a host of other cycle trails nearby to enjoy including the new Drake's Trail between Tavistock and Plymouth

The package includes a week's self catering in peak summer holiday season for a family of four in a luxury holiday home with breakfast of freshly baked loaf of bread and four croissants/pain au chocolat provided each day, use of the swimming pool, spa and sauna on the park and activities including Water Walking, Archery, one day's Cycle Hire, Horse Riding on Dartmoor, half day Canoe session on the River Tamar, half day Tree Surfing and one and a half hours Indoor Rock Climbing. Price from £860 for a family of four.

For more information and to book visit www.woodovis.com

Source: www.prlog.org