A HOLIDAY park has won a major environmental award thanks to its work protecting the natural world, particularly its butterflies and honeybees.

The Holgates Ribble Valley Holiday Park, near Clitheroe, has been named as the winner of the David Bellamy Conservation Award thanks to a number of features including an abundance of high nectar-bearing flowers which provide vital foraging for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Michael Holgate, whose long-established family business owns the park, said that his staff played a huge part in securing the accolade.

He said: "Everyone at Holgates Ribble Valley shares our love of the natural world, and our team members have a vital role in helping us to put our plans into action and contributing their own ideas.

"The park attracts holiday guests who want to enjoy tranquil, unspoiled surroundings, and their support has also been important to us since we acquired the park two years ago.

"Since then, we have spent over one million pounds in improving our park in the Ribble Valley, including measures to make it equally as welcoming to wildlife as it is to holiday guests.

"We would be delighted if this award helped all local businesses by highlighting rural Lancashire as a great place to enjoy a holiday in beautiful natural surroundings."

The David Bellamy awards, founded 25 years ago, are recognised as one of the tourism industry's most prestigious environmental accolades.

As well as the nectar baring flowers, award assessors highlighted a raft of recent initiatives at the Ribble Valley park, including the planting of hundreds of native trees and hedging.

They also praised the use of low-level lighting so that guests can enjoy the night sky, plus the steps taken to reduce energy and water consumption.

Mr Holgate said: "Our family is originally from near Blackburn, so this area is very special to us and we were so pleased to have the chance to acquire a holiday park in the Ribble Valley.

"Now, after two years of hard work by us and our team, we are massively proud that our environmental achievements have been considered worthy of this top award."

To find out more about the holiday park, visit: www.holgates.co.uk.