BH&HPA MEMBER PARKS swept the board in this year’s Wales in Bloom awards, announced at a glittering ceremony in Wrexham this autumn.
Thornley Leisure Parks saw an astounding eight of its parks come away with prizes in the contest, including the title of “overall winner” in the category of parks with fewer than 100 units.
That accolade went to Maenan Abbey Caravan Park in the heart of the Conwy Valley, set in tranquil landscaped grounds near the ruins of the 13th-century Maenan Abbey.
Six gold awards and one silver award went to the other seven parks taking part in the competition which drew more than 100 entries from across Wales.
Family-owned Thornley Leisure operates ten parks in North Wales, Mid Wales, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, and each has its own gardening staff and seasonal planting crews.
“We have always believed that exceptional surroundings are more than just pretty – they reflect our commitment to quality, care, and community pride,” said group marketing manager Hope Carter.
“Thornley Leisure wants every park to look fabulous, from entrance to pathways to planted borders, and our guests, owners, and staff all share in the pride of a beautifully maintained environment.
“Awards like Wales in Bloom help show prospective guests and owners that we invest in every detail of our parks, bringing benefits to everyone,” added Hope.
Meanwhile, Tree Tops Caravan Park in Flintshire celebrated its taking of the overall Wales in Bloom category award for parks with more than 100 units.
The family-run business near Holywell has now chalked up 32 consecutive wins in the closely fought contest, beating hundreds of other eligible parks in Wales.
It means that Tree Tops is now in its fourth decade of victories in the annual search for Wales’s most colourful and environmentally responsible holiday park.
Tree Tops uses some 16,000 plants a year, many of which are produced from cuttings propagated in its own shrub nursery and then carefully spread out over the park’s 18-acre grounds.
They form themed areas ranging from formal gardens and a Japanese garden to a sensory garden and orchards featuring heritage apple, plum and cherry trees.
Tree Tops is run by Andy Walker alongside his parents Maureen and Harry, and it was Maureen’s parents who first started welcoming holiday guests onto their farm 60 years ago.
Today the park provides luxury holiday caravans for private owners from both sides of the Welsh border, and has accumulated a host of national and regional awards.
They include a top five-star quality grading from Visit Wales, and accolades for Tree Tops’ many initiatives to help safeguard its wildlife and the natural environment.
“Three generations of work have gone into our gardens, and my parents set the high standards to which we now aspire,” said Andy.
“Our aim is to try and ensure that our different plant displays have something special and often spectacular to offer throughout the four seasons of the year.
“It’s a big challenge which never gets any easier, and we owe a great deal to the imagination, flair and creativity of our inspirational park team,” he added.
There is more information about Thornley Leisure on its website at www.thornleyleisure.co.uk, and more about Tree Tops Caravan Park at www.treetopscaravanpark.co.uk
Both parks are members of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.
