By By William Coleman
I’m not aware know too many people who are not keen on a few responsible adult beverage or two when they are on holiday. So why not pick an award winning site that now has it’s very own micro-brewery where they make craft beers and ales.
It seems over the past 3 or 4 years the ‘craft’ beer has become extremely popular, to the point where it is now very much mainstream and on every shelf. With that in mind the Lake District holiday park Skelwith Fold are going back to basics to ensure what you order is real small batch craft beer.
The beer of choice on tap is a refreshing pilsner lager, which takes its name from the Czech city of Pilsen, where it was first produced in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll. The world’s first blond lager, the original Pilsner Urquell, is still produced there today.
But it isn’t only guests who are toasting Skelwith Fold caravan park, for every pilsner purchased will also top up the funds of honey bee conservation bodies.
The new brew joins a hop-rich pale ale introduced last year by the Ambleside-based park, which has become a best-seller in its shop.
Its sales also include a donation to local bee organisations for their work in educating children about honey bees, and especially their vital role in plant pollination.
The new lager is based on the original 1842 Bavarian recipe for pilsner which produces a refreshing light beer fermented with barley, wheat and hops.
According to park director Henry Wild, the two brews which now comprise his Wild Ales range outsell all other similar style beers at Skelwith Fold:
“A lot of people first enjoy trying our ales out of curiosity, but they are then often back for more – and many actually drive away with their car boots clinking!” said Henry.
“It’s great because every sale benefits a very worthwhile cause, and helps raise awareness about the importance of halting the decline of Britain’s bee population.
“Much of the bee charity’s work is focussed on youngsters, and they are the ones who will in the future have a vital role to play in ensuring the insects’ survival,” he added.
Wild Ales are available both at Skelwith Fold, a previous winner of the top park accolade in the Cumbria Tourism Awards, and at its sister-park Moss Wood near Lancaster.
Moss Wood is home to a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness which the park has planted to provide foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Meanwhile, Skelwith Fold’s 130 acres are also a haven for nectar-rich wild flowers, encouraged by a ban by the park on the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Both of the Wild family’s parks have been long-time holders of the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level, celebrating their raft of wildlife-friendly initiatives.
“Many of our parks’ customers have a keen interest in nature, and our are delighted to help.
