A KIELDER waterside park has been recognised for its environmental excellence for the 14th consecutive year.

Northumbrian Water’s Landal Kielder Waterside has been awarded the David Bellamy Conservation Gold Award.

Parks are judged on four main factors – wildlife management, reducing use of energy, water and other resources, recycling and supporting local communities.

Landal Kielder Waterside, which provides 50 luxury lodges, was commended for its commitment to nurturing and improving the biodiversity of the site.

It has focused on hedgerow planting this year and has added an additional 100 metres of hedgerow on site, bringing the Kielder Waterside hedgerow total to just under 590 metres.

Kielder Waterside has also planted an additional 600 native trees around the site which, once mature, will provide local wildlife such as the endangered red squirrel with a source of food before the winter months arrive.

Presenting the award on his father David’s behalf, Rufus Bellamy said: “Kielder is a very special place that is one of the jewels of Northumberland and is, without doubt, one of my and my father’s favourite places to visit.

“Both the forest and Kielder Water itself are beautifully peaceful and full of wonderful wildlife and I’m delighted to be able to say that the team at Kielder Waterside work incredibly hard to conserve this.”