Mercia Marina's bee conservation drive has landed it a Special Distinction in this year's annual David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme.
The Trent & Mersey Canal marina has received confirmation of its sixth Gold award in six years from the scheme co-founded by TV naturalist Professor David Bellamy (pictured) in 1996 in conjunction with the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA).
Special distinction
But this year, for the first time, the 74 acres marina has received a Special Distinction Award following the launch of Save Our Bees (SOB), an ongoing volunteer-led project designed to reverse the worrying decline in the bee population.
In a letter to the marina, Rufus Bellamy, son of Prof Bellamy and national adviser on conservation and environment for the BH&HPA, wrote:
"Congratulations on your well-deserved award and many thanks for your dedication to the environmental cause."We love the way that this has involved volunteers in lots of bee-friendly planting, bee ‘open days' and in the production of a comprehensive and informative report and Bees Galore booklet in conjunction with your local wildlife centre and the Bumble Bee Preservation Society."
Prevent bee population dying out
The SOB group was launched by Mercia Marina boaters Jane and Neil Wakeham, (pictured) inspired by a national call to action by the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme to holiday parks across the UK to join the fight to prevent the UK bee population from dying out.
With full support from the marina, volunteer numbers quickly grew and SOB has held several awareness and fund raising events throughout the year.
'Buzzing with excitement'!
Robert Neff, General Manager of Mercia Marina, explained:
"We're buzzing with excitement after hearing we've been awarded a Special Distinction Award this year.
"Jane and Neil were the driving forces, but from our point of view it was a community project.
"The marina promoted it, funded it and tried to make sure volunteers stayed interested. But the real benefit for us was seeing our community getting involved and working together."
Recognises work
The awards scheme recognises holiday parks for work they have done to protect or enhance the natural environment or wildlife. It awards bronze, silver and gold accreditations, and analyses everything from planting schemes and wildlife management to waste recycling, light pollution and the cleanliness of toilets.
Amongst other things, the marina received praise this year for its wildlife trails, support of local produce and construction of two otter holts.
600 sought accreditation
Mercia Marina is one of around only 20 venues in the UK to have won six consecutive Gold Awards, out of almost 600 that have sought accreditation.
Prof David Bellamy, who is president of the scheme, said of this year's award:
"I am delighted to see that Mercia Marina has introduced more bee friendly planting throughout its park and that it always has wildlife conservation at the heart of its plans."The bee conservation project sounds amazing—please give all the volunteers involved a massive vote of thanks from me. As a result of all this hard work, the marina is officially a ‘Honey Bee Friendly' park. Well done!"