by Joe Jeffrey
Family-run Oakland Holiday Park takes first place in annual awards
A Staffordshire holiday park has taken centre stage at the county’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards, gaining a top gold accolade.
Family-run Oakland Holiday Park, near the village of Brewood and currently run by Adam Breakspeare, was named as the overall winner in the holiday parks category.
Since acquiring the park over 30 years ago, the Breakspeare family have invested a great deal of time and energy into creating first-class surroundings.
Their raft of initiatives over the years has included the installation of a luxury indoor pool and sauna which is designed to make the smallest splash possible on the environment.
Heating for the pool water is provided by a highly efficient solar energy system, and large sky lights on the building’s roof mean that the use of artificial lighting is greatly reduced.
These and other conservation measures have led to the park once again this year being awarded the Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark (SEQM) following an in-depth sustainability audit.
The mark highlights businesses not only run on sustainable lines, but which are also helping to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the county.
Rainfall is harvested for irrigating the many shrubs and flowers planted throughout the park, many of which have high nectar-bearing blooms which draw butterflies and honey bees.
In addition, the family has installed many bird, bat and owl boxes throughout the nine-acre grounds which are set alongside the Shropshire Union canal – itself a magnet for bird life.
According to Adam Breakspeare, a large share of credit for the park’s success in the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards must go to the company’s staff. He said: “The criteria for these awards place a strong emphasis on the excellence of service provided to customers, and the quality of the welcome and hospitality provided. It is our whole team which delivers the high standards our guests expect.
“We will be continuing to invest in staff training and new facilities in 2016, and hopefully encouraging even more people to holiday in this wonderful part of the country,” added Adam.
The Staffordshire Tourism Awards, with a glitzy 1950s theme, took place at the county’s Drayton Manor theme park and were hosted by BBC TV presenter Joanne Malin.
