01 « February « 2010 « cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

The Saturdays lined up for Norfolk forest gig

February 1, 2010

Nature-loving music fans could find that Norfolk holiday cottages provide the perfect venue to indulge both of their passions this summer.

On July 9th, girl band the Saturdays are due to play a concert in Thetford Forest in East Anglia.

Band member Mollie King says: "We”ve never played a gig in a forest before; I feel like Maid Marian!

"It sounds like fun and we are looking forward to it; I”ll keep an eye out for Robin Hood."

People interested in playing Robin Hood to Mollie”s Maid Marian may want to book Norfolk holiday cottages ahead of the event.

However, the forest is not only about the music, as it provides a stunning natural environment all year round.

Its heathland and lofty pines are home to a wealth of animals and smaller plant life, making an adventure playground for any eco-lover to enjoy while on a holiday in the region.

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Look out for Dorset birds, asks RSBP

February 1, 2010

Animal lovers staying in Dorset holiday cottages this summer can get involved in a project being run by the RSPB in the region to help track the bird population in the area.

The Bournemouth Echo reports that the bird welfare charity wants to break the 10,000 mark in terms of the number of people joining in across Dorset.

Last year, 9,185 people in the area took part in the survey – meaning people staying in Dorset holiday cottages this summer could tip the balance and take the participation into five figures.

The Big Garden Birdwatch scheme calls on people in the region to report any sightings of rare birds in their gardens.

With the recent cold weather, this year”s report could be more important than ever in order to assess how the birds have coped with the winter.

The Bournemouth Daily Echo recently reported that the heavy weather had actually caused more rare species to appear – albeit in the sea, rather than the sky.

Rare species of crab and barnacle were washed up in heavy seas, according to the publication.

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Lake District ”great for top-quality food”

February 1, 2010

Those looking to sample some top-quality food during a stay in a Lake District holiday cottage are in luck, as the area has been named one of the best places in England for fine dining.

Cumbria has made it into the top five in a league table of the counties with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, racking up five eateries that hold the accolade.

Chief executive of Cumbria Tourism Ian Stephens said that having such a "high concentration" of top-quality dining is a "prestigious honour" for the county.

"It …means our visitors and residents have the luxury of choice for somewhere special to dine that is among the most select company in the country," he remarked.

The region was placed behind Kent, Yorkshire and London in the standings, making it the best place in the north-west to enjoy some great food while on a UK break.

It also has the same number of Michelin-starred restaurants as Wales, where The Crown at Whitebrook in Monmouth recently held onto its coveted award.

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Cornwall oysters facing snail threat

February 1, 2010

A David and Goliath contest is taking place in the seas off of the Cornwall coastline – and David may be winning.

For many people who head to Cornwall holiday cottages, the fresh local seafood could be a major attraction.

However, Cornish oysters are now under threat from an unlikely-seeming invader.

The tingle, a tiny whelk that bores into the oysters and then eats them from the inside, is causing a catastrophic decline in populations.

With some oyster beds at an all-time low, the time to head to Cornwall holiday cottages could be now, before the tingle removes one of the region”s delicacies from the menus completely.

Oysters are not the only thing under threat in Cornwall, as trees in the region are also facing attack from a fungus.

First seen in the US six years ago, the Times reports that the Phytophthora ramorum fungus has previously killed trees in the US.

Posted by Toby Lawrence
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British holidays ”set for another strong year”

February 1, 2010

Following the staycation trend of 2009, even more people could be booking Cornwall holiday cottages this summer as the international economic climate encourages holidaymakers to stay within the UK.

Industry analyst bdrc Continental research reveals that domestic overnight breaks increased in number by 13 per cent in the first nine months of 2009, compared with the previous year.

But the analyst adds that the big question for the industry since has been whether 2010 would see the trend sustained, or whether people would begin to head abroad once again.

Figures from the organisation now show that one in three people consider the UK to be growing in its appeal, while 70 per cent are likely to choose to holiday within the UK during 2010.

People planning a Cornish holiday this year may want to book Cornwall holiday cottages well in advance.

Research conducted in 2009 by the Cornwall Tourist Board found that the typical lead time for people to book their accommodation is one month or more before their arrival in the region.

Posted by Matt Smith ADNFCR-2558-ID-19588342-ADNFCR