Little surprise then that two of the most popular of Haven Holidays' 35 UK family holiday parks are Riviere Sands near Hayle and Perran Sands near Perranporth. Riviere Sands enjoys an enviable position with direct access to the South West Path and stunning views across the Hayle estuary to St Ives whilst some 26 miles further north along the coast path, Perran Sands is set amidst Cornwall's largest dune system overlooking the long stretch of Perran Beach and perfect for surfing.
Families and couples travel from all over the UK to holiday here each year, many returning time after time drawn by the gorgeous scenery, beaches and local attractions as well the wide choice of facilities, sports, activities and entertainment on the parks. There's always something to do - whether it's introducing the kids to fencing, getting involved in 'Messy Mornings' with your toddler, a round of Adventure Golf, a swim in an heated leisure pool or just sitting back and enjoying the entertainment.
But for General Manager June Donnery, who looks after both parks, one of the most important aspects of running park holidays is to ensure that it operates with minimal impact on the environment.
'So many people have voted for Cornwall in so many different holiday surveys and awards we truly believe it's our duty to make sure we can welcome visitors without damaging what it is they come here to enjoy.' June is passionate about ensuring that the eco-credentials of both parks are an integral part of everything she does.
Both parks have held a David Bellamy Conservation Award Perran Sands ten years Riviere Sands 5 years and both hold the prestigious 'Gold' Green Tourism Business Scheme award. For larger businesses this means meeting significant standards across a wide range of criteria from recycling waste and minimising utilities to working alongside local communities and keeping visitors informed about local flora and fauna.
A self-confessed sustainability geek, June is keen to encourage her team to get involved in green projects too. Before the current holiday season started Team Members at Riviere Sands carried out a litter pick on the Gwithian Towns and collected a staggering 45 bags of rubbish from this are and the beachfront.
And everyone is expected to get involved in the annual Big Green Weekend that provides a real show-case for their eco-endeavours, with all sorts of 'green' activities that involve holidaymakers and the local community as well as team members. From green fancy dress and recycled sculpture competitions to guided walks across the dunes led by Park Ranger Sarah Taylor a combination of fun activities and more serious events highlight the parks' ethos when it comes to the environment.
Continuing investment in both parks ensures that the product remains fresh and exciting for visitors - but June insists that the environment should be taken into consideration with any new building projects.
This year GBP 1.5million has been spent on a new touring facility. 'Camping and caravanning holidays have such a low carbon footprint,' says June. 'It's a fantastic way to get really close to nature and spend time outdoors and we wanted to make it as convenient and comfortable as possible for our touring guests.'
The new shower and washroom blocks have been designed to blend in with the sand dunes so the visual impact is as modest as their environmental footprint. Curved roofs are covered in grass and designed to harvest rainwater to make them self-watering. Water for the showers is solar heated and the exterior is clad in cedar which will fade over time to a silvery-grey to blend in with the natural environment.
Energy efficient under-floor heating, rooflights to maximise the natural light and high efficiency condenser boilers ensure that the buildings work to best environmental standards as well as looking attractive. Inside, the interior has been quirkily designed to make one block redolent of the camper vans much loved by local surfers whilst the other captures a 'beach hut' feel with lots of seaside brightly coloured beach hut cubicles.
What's more, Perran will be the first Cornwall Holiday Park to feature geo-domes as an alternative accommodation for touring guests. Following the success of their yurts (they have four) and a new village of safari tents, June commissioned a handful of geo-dome tents, complete with separate sleeping pods for children. Similar in shape to the famous domes of the Eden Project, the new tents will be fully furnished in 'shabby chic' style with a corner sofa and comfortable beds.
The 'seaside' theme continues at Riviere Sands where the new Cornish Cafe is decorated in natural timber cladding with mural of St.Ives bay- and stocks plenty of local produce, with Cornish cream teas and Cornish ice cream. It even features hand carved Cornish pasties as door handles - with a local artist commissioned for the job.
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