The husband-and-wife team behind a popular Windermere holiday park say that they were “left reeling” after learning that they had scooped two top awards in one swoop.

Susan and Derek Dickson of Park Cliffe heard of their double success at the recent glittering finals ceremony of the In-Cumbria Business Awards.

First of all, judges announced that the couple’s five-star park near the shores of Windermere had taken first place in the Best Family Business of the Year category.

But having collected their trophy, Susan and Derek were then invited back to the stage again and told that Park Cliffe had also clinched another golden honour.

This time, the judges said that their park had triumphed in the Green/Ethical Business of the Year category, beating hundreds of other eligible enterprises to the title.

“We were rather knocked for six when we realised that we would be taking two trophies home!” said Susan who, with Derek, has owned the park for just over 15 years.

“Our daughter Abi and son Jack play an important part in the running of Park Cliffe, and the family business award is a credit to how much they make this a real team effort.

“Abi and Jack also share our love for the natural world, and our concern to make the holidays we offer as green and environmentally friendly as possible.

“That’s why we are especially proud that our efforts to make Park Cliffe a wholly sustainable business have been recognised by the award judges,” added Susan.

Set in 25 acres of countryside above the shores of Windermere, Park Cliffe provides holiday homes to rent and own, glamping facilities, and pitches for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes.

Last year, Susan and Derek welcomed local MP Tim Farron to officially open a major new green energy project undertaken at Park Cliffe by the couple.

Representing a £200,000 investment, it features over 200 high-efficiency solar panels which will save 21 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year.

The installation, known as a solar array, is capable of generating around 100Kw of power, and is designed to produce electricity even on the most overcast of days.

The switch-on ceremony was attended by regional tourism chiefs and other VIP guests, and Susan described the project as another big step on their journey to carbon neutrality.

More initiatives to reduce the park’s carbon footprint and to protect its indigenous wildlife and native plants are planned for 2024, said Susan.

The In-Cumbria Business awards are organised by Newsquest which publishes local newspaper and magazine titles across the Lake District and the rest of the UK.

There is more information about Park Cliffe on its website at www.parkcliffe.co.uk