Triple triumph for family’s blooming lovely Windermere park

3 October 2018 Local area

Park Cliffe has scooped gold accolades in three categories of the annual Cumbria in Bloom contest.

Helping visitors to enjoy a truly colourful stay in Cumbria has won three top prizes in the 2018 Cumbria in Bloom awards for Park Cliffe in Windermere.

The family-run business scooped gold accolades in the holiday parks, best in district, and overall tourism categories of the closely-fought annual contest.

Park Cliffe, said the judges, had created a colourful, creative and superbly designed floral setting which is bound to enhance the pleasure of holiday guests.

The awards mark the achievements of business owners Susan and Derek Dickson, and their ground staff at 25-acre Park Cliffe which sits above the eastern shores of Windermere.

Susan and Derek have owned the park for just over a decade, and have made its flower displays a major feature to which many guests regularly return.

Park Cliffe provides pitches with far-reaching Lakeland views for touring guests, as well as glamping accommodation and holiday homes to rent and buy.

According to Susan, the park’s colourful outlook is the result of a year-round effort by its team:

“Our talented staff show great imagination in their choice of blooms and the way they are displayed, and have even made use of guests’ abandoned barbecues for planters!” she said.

“We try and maintain a kaleidoscope of colours right throughout the four seasons so that the park will be looking its best whenever visitors arrive.

“Many of the flowers are selected because of their high nectar-bearing blooms, and this helps provide foraging for honey bees and butterflies as well as other pollinators,” added Susan.

Earlier this year, Park Cliffe was handed another bouquet when it was shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Cumbria Tourism Awards 2018.

Two years ago it took the top spot in the competition and became the Cumbria Tourism park of the year, beating more than 100 other Lakeland parks to the title.

Its many other accolades include the gold David Bellamy Conservation Award, a five-star quality award from VisitEngland, and a five-pennant AA Gold Park Award.