park news

Don’t just leave footprints – leave behind something that will last a little longer...
Monday 18th May 2009

Everyone who stays with Hoburne falls in love with Sammy Seahorse. Now, at Hoburne Torbay, you can help his friends and relatives stay happy and healthy in their homes along the Torbay coastline...

Seahorses live in seagrass beds growing in the shallow waters close to the shore but these habitats are very vulnerable and can be damaged by pollution, fishing, boats, jet skis – and even by people walking on the long, grass-like leaves. The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) tries to safeguard these areas as part of its work to protect the natural environment of Torbay. Now Hoburne has teamed up with the TCCT to help raise funds by introducing a Visitor Payback Scheme. Families staying at Hoburne Torbay can make a small donation from just £1 when they book or pay the balance on their break. This helps towards the cost of preserving the surroundings they enjoy on their holiday – the scenery, beach and marine life that everyone attaches an emotional rather than financial value to, but that do cost money to manage and maintain. Donations are used to support the work of the marine rangers based at the Seashore Centre on Goodrington Beach, close to the Holiday Park.

Money raised also enables the rangers to lay on weekly afternoon children’s activities at the Seashore Centre during the school holidays – a number of these will be exclusively for Hoburne guests. The activities are suitable for children aged five to 14, accompanied by adults.

Visitor Payback Schemes are set to become increasingly popular to help preserve the places that we enjoy now for the next generation of visitors.

Kate Foster, head of resources at the TCCT, said:

“We are thrilled that Hoburne Holiday Parks has had the vision to support a visitor donation scheme that will encourage guests to help us, a local charity, in our work looking after the bay.  Our sites are free to explore and we need to work with local businesses like this so that we can continue to offer a quality visitor experience to families coming here for their holidays.”