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Miss Nicola Badley, 21, has been appointed to the brand new role of Environmental Officer at Blue Sky Leisure, working for its tourism and hospitality businesses, Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Woodhill Park both located in north Norfolk, ZAKS Fine American Restaurants in Norwich and Poringland and its Park Homes operation Blue Sky Homes.

Nicola, who has settled in the county from Newbury, is a recent graduate from the University of East Anglia, with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Geography and International Development and will primarily be based at Kelling Heath Holiday Park.

She says: “I am very excited to be working for Blue Sky Leisure, particularly as they have a proven ethos on sustainability and the environment. This is my first post since graduating and I think I am very lucky to have gained this position as they are unheard of in the hospitality and tourism sectors. I will be developing new systems and strategies for environmental procedures and underpinning the great work already done to date.”

Ian Hacon, CEO of Blue Sky Leisure says: “We are delighted to welcome Nicola on board in this important role. She will be responsible for delivering the key strand of our vision – Passionate about Our Environment, and will work very closely with the rest of the Management team. We have a number of environmental initiatives underway at Kelling Heath and Nicola will primarily be responsible for implementing and executing environmental systems in this newly created role at Kelling then across the remaining Blue Sky Leisure locations.”

Kelling Heath has recently invested in a £180,000 refurbishment of one of its main amenity blocks to include solar and ground source heating and a water harvesting system, the park is continuing the ongoing programme of becoming carbon neutral, as well as, providing recycling schemes. Also there is an established red squirrel breeding programme and a wild flower meadow attracting rare Silver Studded butterflies.

The north Norfolk holiday park already holds a David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for a red squirrel breeding programme and management of its 250 acres of woodland and heathland.

Blue Sky Leisure recently appointed Adnams Ales across the group of companies as this producer is one of few which can comply with Kelling’s green and sustainable policies.

Kelling Heath Holiday Park has invested £180,000 in the refurbishment of one of its amenity blocks, installing environmentally friendly equipment which will harness the power of solar energy as well as saving the equivalent of six-and-a-half touring caravans full of water every year.

The North Norfolk venue is already internationally recognised for its contribution to environmentally friendly tourism, and has held a David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for the past eleven years thanks to initiatives such as its successful red squirrel breeding programme and management of its rare habitats.

Now Kelling Heath - whose 250 acres of woodland, heathland and wetlands are home to a wealth of flora and fauna - is underlining its green credentials by switching attention to its buildings and infrastructure. The newly refurbished shower block caters for around 100 touring pitches in the Park’s “blue” area, and could lead to a wider programme of improvements.

“Our emphasis is very much on protecting and conserving the environment we are privileged to preside over at Kelling Heath,” said park manager Mark Durrant. “We have always been extremely proactive in safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment.

“Now, with green tourism and environmental awareness at the top of everyone’s agenda, we thought it was time to see what we might also do to manage our resources in a more effective and environmentally sustainable way. This is the first time we have incorporated this type of sustainable technology, and we will be monitoring its success to see if it is something we could be applying in other areas – such as the health club, or the main lounge areas.”

The new shower block is due to be officially unveiled on Friday, July 18, by Rufus Bellamy, who in addition to being the son of the world-famous botanist is also the British Holiday and Home Parks Association’s adviser on conservation and environmental management. 

The new facility boasts three environmentally friendly features – rainwater harvesting, solar water heating, and ground source air exchange. The collection and use of rainwater is expected to save 119,600 litres of water a year – or enough to fill six-and-a-half Aventura 312 touring caravans! “Rainwater will be collected from the roof via the guttering and then directed into a 6000 litre holding tank underground,” said Mr Durrant. “From there it can be supplied through to all the toilets and urinals.”

Furthermore, it is estimated that solar heating for the showers could save enough electricity to prevent 5739kg of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere annually. “The solar panels are situated on a south-facing roof, and heat the water as it passes through the system, “ said Mr Durrant. “Should it need any further heating we have a modern, gas-efficient boiler to bring it up to the required temperature.”

Meanwhile the ground source heat exchange system makes use of the Earth’s ability to store heat underground in order to provide either heating or air conditioning as required. The new block will double the area’s previous shower capacity to 13, and incorporates separate toilet and shower facilities for disabled people.

The theme of environmental stewardship will be reinforced at the official opening when guests will be able to celebrate by raising a glass of Adnams. Kelling Heath decided the Suffolk brewer was the ideal beer supplier for the occasion as it boasts one of the greenest brewing operations in the country.

Kelling Heath Holiday Park in north Norfolk has won Caravan Magazine’s, ‘Back to Nature’ Award as part of its national 101 Sites Competition.

Readers were asked to nominate their favourite caravan sites and parks for various categories. The ‘Back to Nature’ Award was a brand new category to be introduced to the magazine’s competition which has been running for ten years.

Victoria Heath, editor of Caravan Magazine said: “The Awards demonstrate that those parks who have won are clearly hitting the right chords with our readers. The new award has been presented to Kelling Heath following the readers own nominations with a big award sticker which they will be able to display to mark the park’s latest achievement.”

Park Manager, Mark Durrant, commented: “It has been a great pleasure to receive this award from Caravan Magazine and means even more to us that it was our very own visitors who feel we deserve this accolade. Here, at Kelling Heath, we strive to be better and better delivering a quality and fun family holiday.”

Kelling Heath is currently investing in an environmentally friendly shower block which will harness the power of solar energy as well as saving the equivalent of six-and-a-half caravans full of water every year. This is going to be opened by Rufus Bellamy on Friday 18th July 2008.