Holiday Parks in Dorset and Devon are recognised as major supporters of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site having raised more than £43,000 over the last five years towards education and conservation of the Jurassic Coast.
Through a Visitor Payback scheme, West Dorset Leisure Holidays who own and manage five successful parks have been providing Dorset holidays for many years have been leading the way with this initiative.
By encouraging visitors to make a small donation on top of the cost of their stay more than £31,000 has been raised at their Golden Cap, Graston Copse, Highlands End, Sandyholme and Larkfield Holiday Parks.
Their example has been followed at other parks including Durdle Door Holiday Park, owned by the Lulworth Estate, where, requesting a £1.00 donation on every booking has raised more than £2,000 in 2012.
Other holiday parks and campsites whose contributions are making a difference to Jurassic Coast experience include Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Oakdown Holiday Park and the Waterside Holiday Group.
Beneficiaries of this fundraising include the new Durlston Castle Visitor Centre, the Chesil Beach Centre, the Litter Free Coast and Sea Campaign and local schools, through teacher training and other educational initiatives.
‘Visitor Payback is a recognised way of fundraising for World Heritage and other sites of outstanding cultural and environmental interest. A small donation, of between £1.00 and £5.00 added to the bill is readily accepted by 90% of customers. People are drawn to organisations with strong charitable ethics’, explained James Weld, Chairman of the Jurassic Coast’s fundraising arm, the Jurassic Coast Trust.
The Visitor Payback approach is part of the Jurassic Coast Business Partner scheme, which recognises businesses that share the vision and values of the Jurassic Coast and who raise funds to help achieve this vision. The package of benefits includes a money can’t buy web listing and link on the official www.jurassiccoast.link , networking and educational events with the World Heritage Team and use of the Jurassic Coast Business Partner branding.
Businesses wishing to find out more about the different ways of getting involved, including the Business Partner Scheme can visit www.jurassiccoast.link/getinvolved, email [email protected] or call the Jurassic Coast Trust on 01929 400352
