Stonerush Lakes and Southern Halt scoop gold in the 2019 David Bellamy Awards

The world-famous botanist said that Stonerush Lakes and Southern Halt were very well-deserving winners of his annual accolade, thanks to their many initiatives to help protect the natural world they have both scooped the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Since acquiring the parks over ten years ago, the Rowlandson family have committed themselves to running the sites along sustainable lines whilst creating safe havens for wildlife. Both parks provide privately owned luxury lodges built with timber from sustainable sources, and fitted with energy saving features including high levels of insulation.

The gold conservation awards were made after a detailed inspection of the parks by Professor Bellamy's assessors who described them as "wildlife wonderlands". Helping the parks wing their way to victory are the extensive plantings of wild flowers which provide vital foraging for pollinators such as honey bees and butterflies. David Bellamy also praised both parks' use of shielded illumination to help visitors enjoy the night sky, and the focus on locally sourced foods in Stonerush Lakes' Old Mill restaurant.

He also applauded the parks' management of their hedgerows and woodlands as habitats for wildlife, and the siting of bird boxes throughout the grounds.
Many different species of resident and visiting birds are also attracted to the lakes on each park which also act as a magnet for waterfowl, dragonflies and other aquatic life.

In addition to his award, David Bellamy gave the parks three extra commendations for creating new hedgerows, planting wild flowers and managing their woodlands. He also thanked the parks for waging war on single-use plastics which are now being phased out. It was clear, said Professor Bellamy, that Stonerush Lakes park and Southern Halt parks were making their outstanding surroundings equally welcome to both wildlife and human guests.