Inspiring Business by Sharing Success

Mercia Marina is celebrating after winning a series of top gold tourism and wildlife accolades.

Mercia Marina is celebrating after winning a series of top gold tourism and wildlife accolades.

The marina, in Willington, has won a Gold conservation award for the ninth year in a row from Professor David Bellamy’s Conservation Awards scheme.

The marina has also become one of the first recipients of the scheme’s new ‘Going Green Together’ badge.

Professor Bellamy sadly passed away in December 2019. His conservation awards scheme, co-founded in conjunction with British Holiday & Home Parks Association, also awarded the marina a Woodlands Badge and once again declared it a Honey Bee Friendly park with the help of the active volunteers from Mercia’s Nature Society.

The Gold accolade is given to parks in recognition of work to protect and enhance the natural world across Britain.

The awards scheme presents Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditations and analyses everything from planting schemes and wildlife management to waste recycling, light pollution and the cleanliness of toilets.

Alongside these prestigious awards, the marina has again achieved its five-star grading and gold award from Visit England marking the continuous commitment to improvements and standards that so many holidaymakers enjoy when visiting or staying at the marina be that in a luxury holiday lodge or boat.

Commenting on the highlights of the marina, the Visit England report stated:

“The strengths of this park are its comprehensive range of home, leisure, shopping and facilities, coupled with a year on year investment programme to enhance the customer experience.”

Tony Preston, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mercia Marina, said:

“Our commitment to encouraging wildlife is just one of the reasons why the marina has become one of the top tourist attractions in the East Midlands. We are also pleased that the work of our volunteers to boost the honey bee population has been recognised once again.”

The marina, in Findern Lane, Willington, is a major regional tourist attraction with over one million visitors a year.

Commenting at the time Professor Bellamy passed away, Robert Neff, general manager and partner at the marina, said:

"It was with a heavy heart that we learnt of the sad passing of Professor Bellamy.

"As the marina was described in one of his communications as a 'wildlife wonderland', we will remember his words and all he has done for wildlife and continue to invest in conservation, biodiversity and wildlife habitat creation here.

"We of course extend our deepest sympathy to Rufus Bellamy, his son, who is also greatly involved with the conservation scheme, and hope all remember this great man and television personality."

Picture Credit: Nathan Anderson-Dixon


< Back