A HOLIDAY park has won an environmental competition organised by Professor David Bellamy.

York House Holiday Park, in Balk, near Thirsk, won a gold prize in the David Bellamy Conservation Awards, which recognise the UK's top providers of green holidays.

Prof Bellamy said the park's owners, York House Caravans, had created an exciting wildlife wonderland which is bursting with bio-diversity.

York House is set in 20 acres of countryside and has 165 holiday homes. A stream runs through the grounds and there are conservation buffer zones where chemicals are banned.

Holidaymakers are encouraged to install water butts to gather rainfall for irrigating plants. On-site recycling facilities are provided for guests of the park and the nearby villages of Bagby and Balk.

Co-director Phil Brierley said: "Although many of our guests do come here to enjoy a traditional country holiday, we can also offer an exciting environment to explore and make wildlife discoveries, especially for children.

"It's a great privilege to live and work in this beautiful part of Yorkshire, and it's wonderful to be able to help preserve its very special character with the support of someone like Professor Bellamy."