With the support of David Bellamy we created our own award “Conservation Ambassador”. Elaine Gandy was presented with her award by Sophie and Alex Ward.

The David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme is one of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK.

Merlewood is honoured to have been recognised as a “Gold Award Winning Park” for each consecutive year since and including 2000 and is a proud recipient of a “Special Distinction Award for Conservation”!

The scheme started in 1996 and the first awards were made in 1997. The idea behind the awards has been to celebrate what the best parks are doing for the British countryside and to encourage others to follow their lead.

The Parks that take part in the scheme are all regularly assessed by the scheme’s team of local wildlife experts.

THE ASSESSORS LOOK AT STEPS PARKS ARE TAKING TO:
• Manage their land as a haven for wildlife
• Reduce their use of energy, water and other resources
• Reduce, reuse and recycle the waste they produce
• Support their local communities

David Bellamy uses the assessors’ reports to make his awards each year. Three levels of excellence can be achieved : Gold, Silver and Bronze. Professor Bellamy also reserves the right to issue on occasion “Special Distinction Awards” to those Parks which have gone “the extra mile” in innovation in creating conservation initiatives; Merlewood being one of them.

Merlewood is also part of the “Honey Bee Pledge” which shows that the Park is committed to bee conservation.