Moors Valley wins Bronze at VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence (April 2018)
Moors Valley Country Park has won Bronze in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
Staff and volunteers at the Park are celebrating following the announcement at a prestigious award ceremony, which was held at the elegant Bath Assembly Rooms this afternoon. Moors Valley had strong competition, from both Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire who took silver and National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire who took gold in the category.
In February this popular country park in East Dorset also received Gold in the South West Tourism Awards, which means that the park has had lots to celebrate already in 2018, which is also its 30th anniversary year.
Clare Gronow, Team Leader at the Park, and Tracey Churcher, Recreation Manager for the Forestry Commission accepted the award on behalf of the staff and volunteers at Moors Valley.
Clare Gronow said: “This award really puts country parks on the map; no longer are they just somewhere for people to go and walk their dog, but they are now recognised as a day visit destination in their own right, providing an amazing resource for millions of people to get out and about in their local countryside. I like to think that Moors Valley has been leading the way in this country park ‘revolution’, providing countryside recreational facilities of the highest standard, available to all and at an affordable price.
It has been a great privilege to work at Moors Valley over the last 30 years and this award really is the icing on the cake.”
Bruce Rothnie, Forest District Manager at the Forestry Commission was delighted with the news and said: “I’d like to congratulate all the staff and volunteers who work incredibly hard all year round to maintain and protect the forest. This is fantastic national accolade that will undoubtedly put Moors Valley Country Park and Forest on the map as one of the country’s finest tourist destinations, and a unique attraction that carefully balances visitors, wildlife and a working forest.”
Cllr Andy Skeats, Portfolio Holder for Community, East Dorset District Council, said: “What amazing news this is for everyone involved. To win first in a national award, against such strong competition, is testament to all the team who work so hard to ensure Moors Valley continues to be cherished by the local community, whilst extending a warm welcome to so many tourists every year.”
ENDS
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Editor’s Notes
VisitEngland Tourism Excellence Awards
Now in its 29th year, the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence is firmly established as representing the highest accolade in English tourism. All tourism businesses are eligible to apply, regardless of size or sector.