:: Northcliffe and Seaview Holiday Parks ::

If you choose to stay on a David Bellamy Conservation Award then you’ve taken an important step to having a more environmentally friendly holiday. But there are loads of other things you can do to make your break on an award-winning park really green. So when you set off on your next trip, why not try these top ten eco-travel tips from Professor David Bellamy himself?

1. Go Green

The greenest way to get to your park is by public transport (or bicycle if you are really fit!). So ask your park for advice on how to arrive by train or bus. Of course, if you’re towing a caravan then you’ll have to drive, so see below for more advice. To get more information on green transport click here

2. Drive Green

You probably know the green driving drill by now: avoid hard acceleration, keep your speed down, make sure your car is properly serviced, check your tyre pressure and, most importantly, only make the car trips you need to make. To find out more about greener driving click here

3. Turn it off

Water is a valuable resource, so please help your park to save water by using taps and showers sensibly and remembering to turn them off. You can save up to 5 litres of water per minute by simply turning the tap off when you brush your teeth. If you use the park laundrette, then try and wait until you’ve got a full wash to do. For more information on how to save water click here

4. Switch it off

All parks in the award scheme are committed to saving energy, so help them by turning off the lights in your caravan or lodge and by using any heating equipment sensibly. Gas-powered patio heaters have been shown to be big energy users, so please put on a jumper or coat instead of switching them on! For more energy saving advice, click here.

5. Recycle it!

Most of us recycle at home now, so why not do the same on holiday? You should find that recycling is easy if you stay at an award-winning park, so please use whatever system has been set up. Remember that it is important to separate your waste properly, so check what’s meant to go in each recycling bin. For more recycling advice, click here.

6. Eat Local

Eating local food while you’re on holiday is a great way to get a true flavour of the bit of the UK you’re visiting. It’s also a great way to support the local rural economy and to cut down on the environmental impact of transporting your food from ‘field to fork’. Your park should stock locally produce food and should also be able to point you to the nearest farmers’ market, pub or restaurant that sells it. For more advice on eating local, click here.

7. Have a great green time

A holiday is a great time to get out and explore the countryside and award-winning parks are located in some of the loveliest spots in Britain. As part of your break, why not visit any local nature reserves to really immerse yourself in the best of nature. When you venture out please leave the car behind and use feet, bikes or public transport to get around. Remember to use the Countryside Code at all times – leave only footsteps and take only photographs! For more advice on enjoying the countryside, click here

8. Feed the birds

There is a lot you can do to help wildlife on whichever park you visit. You can start by feeding the birds, and keeping your cat belled and in at night. Keep an eye out for the wildlife you see on site and let your park owner know what you see. Many award-winning parks have wildlife trails or run wildlife watching walks – so why not give them a go? For more advice on helping birds, click here.

9. Be a green consumer

When you are shopping at the park shop, or out on your travels, keep a look out for green products such as organic and fair-trade food, free-range eggs and other ‘livestock-friendly’ food, recycled paper products and low-energy light bulbs. Your park should stock some of these, so ask them what they’ve got. And remember to use a good tough shopping bag, rather than the throwaway plastic variety. To find out more about how to be a green consumer click here

10. Support the countryside

By choosing a holiday on an award-winning park, you’ve shown that you are a friend of the countryside. There is a lot more you can do. Find out if your park supports any local conservation projects; lend your support too. Find out if there is anything practical you can do to help – many parks run conservation activity sessions (or even holidays) where you can try your hand at country crafts such as hedge laying. So why not lend a hand? To find out more about how you can support the countryside, click here

If you have already decided to take your holiday in the UK then you have already chosen a greener break and what a great way to support local tourism and the local economy. Many rural economies now almost totally rely on tourism.

We really hope you will decide to spend your holidays with us on Northcliffe & Seaview Holiday Parks.... and if you have already made that choice then please find some below some helpful tips on how you can enjoy a greener holiday:-

Leave the car There are so many greener ways to travel than by car once you’ve reached your destination.... following are a few options....You can travel by bus (bus stop 5/10 minute stroll from the parks) to Scarborough, Whitby or Middlesbrough. For those of you lucky enough to have a bus pass, not only is this greener but it is also cheaper. Click here to visit the Arriva bus website or click here for The Moors Bus. Whitby also has a train station (4mls) allowing you to visit a range of destinations without the hassle of driving. Click here to visit the train timetable website. Alternatively, if you’re staying local you can choose to walk or cycle to Robin Hoods Bay or Whitby & take in the beautiful scenery. Click here to visit Trailway’s Cycle Hire. Check out the cycle routes here. Check out a few of the local walks here.
Recycle – Re-use Recycling facilities on park mean that you can recycle your glass, plastic, paper etc hassle free. New for 2010 - you can now also use our compost bins. All the compost produced will then be used on the parks gardens
Local Shops/Business The importance of buying locally produced products cannot be over emphasized. There are many environmental benefits; for example, buying locally produced organic vegetable encourage farming without using artificial fertilisers or pesticides as well as reducing the distance you & the goods have to travel....so this means less pollution. Keeping money in the local economy helps the area grow & prosper Information regarding local business, places to eat & drink, farmers markets etc is available in the Tourist Information section in reception as well as on our web site on the Dine In or Out section....click on the link....for more information

Some more Green tips you can use at home or on holiday

Measure and reduce your carbon footprint

Measure your carbon footprint using a fun, free and easy to use carbon calculator and Act on CO2.

Your carbon footprint is the sum of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions created by your activities – usually calculated over the period of one year.

All sorts of things that most of us do on a regular basis - from running a car and using plastic bags and bottles to eating burgers from fast food outlets - contribute to the overall size of our so-called carbon footprint.

Find out how your footprint measures up against the national and regional averages and get your free action plan packed with useful ideas for cutting the amount of C02 you’re directly responsible for. Measure your footprint again in six months to see how much greener you’ve become. You’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to make a real difference to your life, your city and your planet!

Save your pennies by saving energy

We’re doing our bit and we’re committed to doing better. How about you?

Don’t overfill your kettle to make one cup of tea
Don’t leave your TV, PC etc on standby
Save water – have a shower or take a bath with a friend!
Fit at least one energy saving light bulb
Turn off unnecessary lights
Turn your thermostat down by 1°C – you won’t even notice the difference!
Turn off appliances at the mains
Fit draught excluders to doors and windows
User heavier curtains during the winter months
Buy A graded energy efficient appliances
Fit solar panels or a micro turbine
Sign up to the green tariff offered by your energy supplier
Hang out your washing on warm days instead of using the tumble dryer

Cut the amount of rubbish you produce

Say ‘no’ to plastic bags – take your own bags with you when you go shopping
Use both sides of every piece of paper
Use a mug instead of a plastic or paper cup
Report fly tipping to the Local Council
Avoid unnecessary packaging

Make sure your garden’s squeaky green

Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in the garden
Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings to keep aphids at bay
Save water – buy a water butt or recycle your bath water
Use plants suitable for your garden – don’t waste your time, money and water trying to nurture plants which just aren’t right for your garden (because of the soil, light levels, weather etc)
Invest in a wormery to create a rich compost out of your organic matter
Buy wood products – fencing, decking, planters etc – certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council to ensure the wood has been harvested in a responsible way
Avoid using tropical timber – its overuse is causing serious deforestation and an increase in C02 in the atmosphere
Avoid peat based products – its excessive extraction from natural wetlands destroys important wildlife habitats

Reuse and recycle everything you can think of

The average UK home throws away more than one tonne of rubbish every year. Here are just a few ideas for finding new homes for your unwanted clutter:

Hold a clothes or book swapping party
Re-cycle unwanted mobile phones, PCs etc – there are plenty of companies which can put your old IT and other equipment to good use. They might even pay you for it
Donate unwanted items to charity
Use your kerbside recycling collection
Use our recycling facilities or the local re cycling centre at Chomley Way.

Buy local produce

In the UK we import more than half of the food we consume. Buying locally grown, seasonal food means we reduce our food miles, use less packaging and enjoy fresher fruit and veg that doesn’t need freezing or chilling.

Check where your food comes from – read the labels
Use local shops selling local produce
Sign up to a local organic 'veggie box' delivery service – get the freshest organic fruit and veg delivered free direct from the farm to your doorstep at prices which often beat the supermarkets
Try growing your own - you don’t need a big garden. Tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, herbs, radishes, beans, courgettes, rocket and salad leaves can all be grown in hanging baskets or in patio pots

Get out and go wild

Ditch pricey indoor past times in favour of healthier more eco friendly leisure pursuits like rock pool rambling and bug hunting. Whitby is surrounded by some of the best countryside and coastline in the UK – and much of it is accessible without using your car.

Whether you’re mad about moths, batty about bats or you’ve been bitten by the creepy crawly bug, this area offers plenty of ways to walk on the wild side with fellow enthusiasts. Check out www.visitthemoors.co.uk.

This area offers wonderful (and free!) walking trails as well as many events offering a fascinating insight into the local flora and fauna.

Cut down your car use

Take public transport when you can
Get out and about on foot or on your bike – get fit while saving the planet
If you must use your car, drive efficiently and keep your speed down
Ease congestion – let at least one car in on every journey!

DIY the green way

Use eco-friendly paints
Avoid toxic products – try old fashioned remedies instead such as lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda as a cleaning material
Buy from charity shops and recycle pottery, glass and other household items.

Go on green holidays

Take only photographs and leave only footprints
Stay in the UK – there is lots to do & see
Travel efficiently – use the most direct route
Leave the car at the park and explore on foot/cycle or by local transport
Reduce the number of flights you take
Buy local crafts not mass produced souvenirs
Respect local customs and traditions