This week at the Hoseasons conference near Dundee, both Darwin Forest and Sandybrook went through as finalists for the best holiday lodges and park in the Heart of England. Even better, Darwin Forest secured the overall title of best park in the Heart of England. Each year the competition for this award hots up, so Darwin can be very proud to retain its crown - for the third year in a row.  This award follows hot on the heels of the recent news that Darwin Forest has retained the David Bellamy Gold Environmental Award for the thirteenth year in a row. 

We are delighted that our efforts to continually improve the parks have resulted in both Darwin Forest and Sandybrook being awarded 5 star Holiday Park status for the first time.  Even better, the lodges have also qualified for the coveted Rose Award.  A big thank you to all our staff who have helped make this possible.

We have recently introduced the new Sudbury lodge at Darwin Forest, with its cosy and contemporary interior.  Following feedback from guests, this 6 berth lodge has two double bedrooms (suitable for two couples) and a twin - so when friends go away there is no need to squabble over who will get the double bed!   The Sudbury lodge is available at the same rental price as the Peveril Skyline. 

Overnight snow at Darwin Forest last weekend, brought with it two very elegant visitors, that we suspect was the work of some of our guests.  Let’s hear from you if this was your handiwork - what artistic guests we have!  

Pulling out all the stops, we have been able to open Little Monkeys play centre a couple of weeks early.  Entry is being restricted to guests staying on the park for now, until more car parking can be made available. So come and play in the new £1m purpose built centre - just £3.50 per child (which is discounted for those staying on the park) for up to 2 hours of fun.

To help with a little seasonal cheer during these times of freezing temperatures, we are offering guests to Darwin Forest (over 16 years) complimentary access to the sauna, spa and steam room.  This would normally cost £3.75 per person and this concession applies until the end of January.   Guests at Sandybrook already enjoy complimentary access to the sauna and spa of course.   

Darwin Forest has special reason to celebrate after scooping the award for Britain’s best holiday lodge park at Hoseasons annual awards ceremony.  The ‘Best in Britain’ award for Lodges and Parks is presented by Hoseasons based upon customer feedback covering over 440 parks, for which they act as booking agents.  It is a reflection on Darwin Forest’s ‘exceptional quality and outstanding customer service’.  Rest assured that we will be trying even harder to live up to the expectations that come with this prestigious award!  A big thank you to all our employees and guests who helped make this possible.

A regular visitor to Darwin Forest, Kenny Wharton from Stockton on Tees, has a particularly keen interest in birds.  On his breaks at Darwin Kenny has managed to photograph robin, jay, long tailed tits, blue-tit, great tit and this marvellous example of a nuthatch.  A selection of some of his favourite Darwin photos, including snowy scenes, beech landscapes and squirrels can be found on this website  http://www.panoramio.com/user/1652645/tags/Darwin%20Forest   Thanks for the lovely bird pictures Kenny - we are already looking forward to seeing the results from your next visit!

Darwin Forest is proud to have won the coveted Gold David Bellamy award for the environment - for the 12th successive year.  Blooming marvellous!!

Exciting news from Darwin Forest Country Park is the fact that a marvellous new children’s Play Centre is being built for opening in early 2010. Construction work has begun, but we can assure you that everything possible is being done to ensure the minimum possible impact on holidays. The site of the Play Centre is where the Staff Car Park was, behind Reception, which means that it is in a place that has never been accessible to guests. All the rest of the park remains available for you to enjoy. Once complete, the new indoor Play Centre will provide a superb all weather venue for our younger guests.  In the meantime, we thank guests for their patience during these works.