BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN THE UK

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN THE UK

The UK is braced for a once in a decade influx of the painted lady butterflies, with the potential for millions of them arriving here in the UK from Southern Europe.

The butterfly is a common immigrant that migrates in varying numbers from the continent to the UK each summer, where its caterpillars feed on thistles.

The last mass immigration of the painted ladies was in 2009 when approx 11 million descended across the UK.

How We Can Help Butterflies Thrive

Gardens  can act as important stepping stones between nature reserves and other natural habitat by offering abundant supplies of nectar. Butterflies will visit any garden, if they can feed from suitable nectar plants. A well thought out garden can attract up to 18 species of butterfly

Tips on how to attract butterflies:

1. Butterflies like warmth so choose sunny, sheltered spots when planting nectar plants.

2. Choose different plants to attract a wider variety of species.

3. Prolong flowering by deadheading flowers, mulching with organic compost and watering plants well to keep them healthy. Plants that are well watered produce more nectar for hungry butterflies.

4. Don't use insecticides and pesticides, as they kill butterflies, as well as ladybirds, ground beetles and spiders which are all pollinating insects.

The Best Plants for Summer Nectar

Buddleia

Verbena Bonariensis

Lavender

Perennial Wallflower

Marjoram

So why not do your bit to help the butterflies and plant some of the above. If you have a holiday home on our Park why not fill a planter with some lovely lavender! 

Claire

Reception

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Alex's Blog

ALEX'S BLOG

THE SUMMER IS FAST APPROACHING WITH BINGO RUNNING MOST NIGHTS. 

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANNOUNCING ONTO STAGE SOME FANTASTIC ACTS THAT WE HAVE BOOKED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THESE INCLUDE, DUO'S, MAGICIAN, COMEDIANS, COMEDY VOCALISTS AND SINGERS.

THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE AN ELVIS TRIBUTE ACT ON SATURDAY EVENING, SO I AM HOPING FOR A GOOD TURN OUT AND HOPE THAT THE WEATHER STAYS FINE!

AT PRESENT I AM WORKING ON A PUNCH AND JUDY SCRIPT, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE COMPLETE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THEN I CAN GET THIS UP AND RUNNING FOR THE KIDS TO WATCH!

WE HAVE SOME NEW FILMS FOR THE CINEMA AND THIS EVENING WE ARE SHOWING KINGSMEN THE SECRET SERVICE AT 8.45PM. IF YOU ARE STAYING ON PARK AND ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS EVENING THEN COME AND JOIN US AND WATCH THIS FILM!

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE

ALEX

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RAIL ALE TRAIL

RAIL ALE TRAIL

If you are looking for something a bit different to do whilst on your holidays here in Whitby, and are a lover of real ale, why not follow the Rail Ale Trail.  It's something different to do without spending the day stuck in a car driving round.

The Rail Ale Trail is a different way of seeing the countryside from Middlesbrough through the scenic Esk Valley to the Heritage Coast and and on to Whitby.

This is a pub crawl with a difference.  Rather than just going from pub to pub in the same street, you get to visit the many beautiful villages along the way.  Just jump on the train and jump off at the next stop.

If your starting in Whitby then you have quite a few pubs to choose from:

The Station Inn
The New Angel (Weatherspoons)
The Little Angel
The Elsinore
The Resolution
The Buck Inn
The Endeavor
The Duke of York
The Board Inn...............................
To name but a few!

The next stop on From Whitby is Ruswarp.
Here you will find the quaint Bridge Inn, situated right on the river next to the iron railway bridge.

From Ruswarp it is on to Sleights, the second biggest village in the country!
From the station in Sleights it is a 20 minute walk up the hill to The Plough, where you will get a nice friendly welcome.  If you're feeling a bit peckish, why not have a bar meal whilst you're there, as the food is really good!

Then it's just a nice stroll back down the hill to the station where the next stop is Grosmont.
If you're a train lover then this is the place for you!  You can sit in the beer garden at the front of the The Station Tavern and pass the day away watching all the steam trains pass through.

From Grosmont it is then on to Egton/ Egton Bridge, where you have a choice of four pubs, two at the bottom and two at the top of the hill.  The Postgate and The Horseshoe are at the bottom of the hill, so if you don't fancy the walk up the hill then these are the pubs to choose!

From Egton it is then on to Glaisdale and the Arncliffe Arm,where, if you feel like it you can stay the night, have some good food with a nice pint in front of a log fire and scenic views.

From Glaisdale it is on to Lealholm and the Board Inn which is situated right next to the river.  The Board Inn is a  dog and child friendly pub which has a decking right next to the river.  It also comes with the CAMERA seal of approval.

After Lealholm, it is then on to The Duke of Wellington in Danby, another pub that has the CAMERA seal of approval.  After Danby you then have The Fox and Hounds at Anthorpe, and then its on to Castleton where you have a choice of The Eskdale Inn at the bottom down by the cricket pitch and the river, or The Downe Arms at the top.

From Castleton it is then on to Commondale and  the The Cleveland Inn, then Glebe Cottage Tea Rooms at Kildale, finishing off at The Dudley Arms in Battersby.

Now if you didn't fancy starting this journey on the train, you could always get yourself a designated driver to drive you from one pub to the next.

If you find yourself with a spare day and are not sure what to do, then this is definitely something to do.  What better way to see the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors than by following a trail of pubs along the Esk Valley Railway!

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Bumble Bee Conservation

BUMBLE BEES

BUMBLEBEES

BUMBLE BEES ARE ENDEARING AND FAMILIAR INSECTS. SADLY OUR BUMBLE BEES HAVE BEEN DECLINING BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, WHERE FLOWERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LANDSCAPE, LEAVING THE BUMBLE BEES LITTLE FOOD TO LIVE ON.

THERE ARE 250 SPECIES IN THE WORLD. MOST ARE FOUND IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. BRITAIN HAS 24 SPECIES BUT ONLY 8 ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN MOST AREAS. 2 SPECIES HAVE NOW BECOME EXTINCT IN THE UK. OVER THE LAST 80 YEARS THE BUMBLE BEE POPULATION HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY. THE REASON FOR THIS IS SIMPLE: THERE ARE FAR FEWER FLOWERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE TO PROVIDE BEES WITH POLLEN AND NECTAR THAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BUMBLE BEE

BUMBLE BEES ARE SOCIAL INSECTS AND LIVE IN NESTS OF UP TO 400 INDIVIDUALS. EACH NEST IS RULED BY A QUEEN AND LASTS FOR JUST 1 YEAR.

IN EARLY SPRING THE QUEEN EMERGES FROM HIBERNATION TO START HER NEW NEST.

1) HER FIRST TASK IS TO BUILD UP HER ENERGY RESERVES SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT SHE CAN FIND PLENTY OF POLLEN AND NECTAR-RICH FLOWERS.

2) ONCE SHE HAS FOUND A SUITABLE NEST SITE SHE WILL REAR HER FIRST BATCH OF EGGS.

3) A GROUP OF FEMALE WORKERS WHOSE JOB IT WILL BE TO FEES AND NURTURE THE COLONY TAKE OVER.

4) THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WITH THE QUEEN RARELY LEAVING THE NEST. TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER THE QUEEN PRODUCES MALE OFFSPRING, ALONG WITH NEW QUEENS.

5) AFTER MATING THE MALES DIE OFF, AS DO THE OLD QUEENS AND WORKERS. ONLY THE NEW, FERTILISED QUEENS SURVIVE TO HIBERNATE THROUGH THE WINTER AND ESTABLISH THEIR OWN NESTS THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

BUZZ POLLINATION

BUMBLE BEES ARE THE ONLY INSECT CAPABLE OF BUZZ POLLINATION. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE BEE GRABS THE FLOWER AND PRODUCES A HIGH-PITCHED BUZZ. THIS RELEASES POLLEN THAT WOULD OTHERWISE STAY TRAPPED INSIDE. TOMATOES ARE POLLINATED IN THIS WAY.

HOW CAN YOU HELP INCREASE THE BUMBLE BEE POPULATION?

THE BEST AND MOST SIMPLEST WAY TO HELP THE BEES IS TO PLANT BEE FRIENDLY FLOWERS. THESE CONSIST OF FLOWERS SUCH AS FOXGLOVES, LAVENDER, GERANIUMS, HERBS AND WILD ROSES.

HERE AT WHITBY HOLIDAY PARK WE DO OUR BIT TO HELP ALL WILDLIFE THRIVE AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE TIME TO HELP CONSERVE THE BUMBLE BEE POPULATION TOO.

CLAIRE

RECEPTION

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WATER BUTTS - SAVING WATER

WATER BUTTS  -  SAVING WATER

We need all the water we can save at no costs especially at this time of year to water our plants.

Have you thought about getting a water butt?

You could put it at the bottom of your garden or even on your decking of your holiday homes, caravans etc.

Every time it rains you will capture the rain and recycle onto your plants into the garden on those dry periods.  It saves time on having to get the hose pipes out.

Types of Water Butts:

There are several types of water butt available in the UK

It is important to note that this water should only be used for watering plants and not for filling paddling pools or water toys, these need a clean supply of treated water as there is a danger of untreated water being swallowed with the health risks that this implies.

We have got the gold award for the David Bellamy at Whitby Holiday Park and this all helps towards us getting the same this year and also helps you save on money and time.

Why not give it a try.

Blog by 

Sue Robey

Whitby Holiday Park

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Ian's Blog

I can not believe we are into June and half way through the year already!!

It doesn't seem like 5 minutes ago Santa was struggling to get down the chimney with all me presents and the Reception was just a shell!! The sales area looked looked like Bob the Builder was having a field day digging trenches ready for the new motorhome hardstanding pitches to form.
The office staff were moved into a temporary office in a portacabin... and yes we did let them out again!!
Luckily we had a very mild winter this year, so this allowed the maintenance staff  to move vans, paint the interior of buildings and repair things around the Park which can't be done while the Park is open.
everyone worked very hard to get the Reception and New Motorhome bases up and running in time for the 1st March.

We have had some very nice comments from customers about the improvements and hope they will continue, so if you haven't been and seen whats stopping you!! We also have a very helpful new Touring Warden (Steve) and a new enthusiastic Entertainer Alex who is full of fun!! Don't forget we now have behind the Golden curtain of delight the Cinema which has been open since the end of May!! Showing lots of films for the kids and adults alike! So if you enjoy a bag of popcorn in comfort and  watch a good movie then just book your van in with us when you can and chill out!

Ian

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