Botanist helps leisure group grow country park success
A YORKSHIRE leisure group is undertaking a multi-million pound investment programme, including the creation of 100 new holiday homes, at an historic country park.
Nature trails created with help from celebrity botanist David Bellamy will also feature as part of the first phase of the transformation of 600-year old Witton Castle Country Park, near Bishop Auckland.
The country park was acquired by Bridlington-based leisure and tourism operators Shorewood Leisure Group two years ago.
The fully-serviced pitches for holiday homes, which are available for log cabins or static caravans, come with car parking and landscaping to form a new holiday area on the site, which will be known as Castle View.
Other improvements in the £1.25m phase one regeneration of the 338-acre country park include commissioning a new written history for the grade two-listed castle.
The castle dates from the 14th century but has been burned down twice before being rebuilt in its present form in the 19th century.
Parts of the building will also be redecorated and there are plans to improve trout fishing from the 21 acres of lakes operated by Bishop Auckland District Angling Club.
Shorewood Leisure Group, which was founded in 1989 by chairman David Allison, has planning consent to increase capacity to 475 holiday homes and 186 touring caravans.
Work on the £1m second phase of impreovements, which will create a further 100 pitches in a woodland setting, to be known as Castle Wood, is underway and due to be completed by the end of this year.
Shorewood Leisure Group aims to create 100 more pitches each year at a cost of £1m and aims to achieve capacity by 2013.
An initial four jobs are being created with the completion of the first two phases of the regeneration scheme with others to follow in hospitality, conservation and grounds maintenance as work continues.
Neil Wilson, Shorewood Leisure Group’s managing director, said: “We acquired Witton Castle, which was in need of regeneration, as a long-term investment and have huge ambitions for this country park which is in a superb setting and has wonderful potential as a holiday destination.
“With nature trails, a cycle route and fishing, we believe it is a fantastic place to holiday and use as a base to explore the north east.”
Mr Wilson added: “The last two years have been a turning point for UK tourism. People who chose to holiday in the UK because of the recession, weak pound or environmental concerns over flying have discovered how much this country has to offer in terms of scenery, history and wildlife.
“This, and our expertise in this sector, is why we have such confidence in regenerating Witton Castle Country Park into a leading tourist and leisure destination in the north east.”
Shorewood Leisure Group, which is based at Marton Hall, Sewerby, has a leisure portfolio employing 90 staff at properties including holiday leisure parks near Hull, Hornsea, Bridlington, Guisborough, Berwick and East Lothian and Percy Golf and Country retreat, Swarland, Morpeth.
Witton Castle, which was licensed by the Bishop of Durham in 1410, was once owned by former Tory MP and under secretary of state for defence, Lord Lampton, the fifth Earl of Durham.
