Camping, at its best, has always been about getting a little closer to nature. Camp-sites and holiday parks are often in the most stunning locations and without careful administration can have enormous negative impact on the surrounding natural environment.

The David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme aims to reward camp-sites that can show an active, ongoing commitment to environmental concerns, something that affects all of us in the 21^st century. The scheme, which made its first awards in 1997, was founded by iconic British botanist, David Bellamy, now in his late seventies. 

Camp-sites can gain a gold, silver or bronze award which is judged on the following criteria:

-        commitment and effectiveness of managing the site as a haven for wildlife
-        the ongoing protection of animal and plant habitats
-        active schemes to minimize energy and water use
-        the implementation of recycling and waste reduction practices
-        educating and helping park guests to understand the natural world

Some of the parks had made enormous headway in the area of conservation long before the award scheme came along but its advent has given recognition and reward to the incredibly important work being done.

Conservation award parks include those that move away from the completely clipped lawn and neat borders look to allow havens for butterflies, birds, hedgehogs, small mammals, wild flowers, insects and other wildlife. Whole meadows and woodlands have been set aside on some camp-sites and nature trails abound. Many have educational interpretation boards while others have complete wildlife centres on site.

Some of the camp-sites work hard to show their guests the importance of the surrounding habitats and involve them in its protection. The reports suggest that rarely does this fail to achieve the desired effect. Children in particular are very responsive to these type of overtures and can be kept happy for hours with the many wildlife activities organised by some sites; pond dipping, bird spotting, nature ‘safaris’, I-Spy and organised night walks are some of the things on offer.

Other sites fulfil commitments with solar powered shower blocks, lodges built from recycled plastic and vegetable patches that guests can use and help with.

As the pressure becomes ever greater to preserve and manage our natural treasures, so too has the criteria for award qualification risen. This hasn’t prevented the continuing success of the scheme which now has more than 600 qualifiers. 2009 saw more than 50 new camp-sites earning their stripes and joining the scheme. Another encouraging fact is that many countries have been inspired by the David Bellamy Conservation Awards and have set up their own. The Gumnut award scheme in Australia is one of these. 

Auditors, many of which are from wildlife trusts, will make annual tours of parks to ensure standards are maintained and to assess new applicants. Apparently it is very rare for a park to be downgraded; climbing from bronze to silver to gold is much more the norm.

So, next time you are looking for a camp-site, do your bit for the green cause and book into a site that holds a David Bellamy award. Parks and camp-sites range from the tiny, privately owned type to large commercial concerns. Haven, one of the biggest holiday park companies in the UK is one of the scheme’s biggest stars with its own appointed, conservation and environmental concerns department.

In David Bellamy’s words each of the parks is about “stitching back their bit of biodiversity and environmentally-friendly order”.

And in case you are wondering, Mr Bellamy’s favourite park is Witton Castle, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

All of the camp-sites awarded by the scheme are listed at www.bellamyparks.co.uk