Puffin logo takes flight in tourism venture

Accompanied by a Puffin Mark logo, a map and an events guide, the initiative being led by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust aims to boost visitor numbers by highlighting the diverse and thriving wildlife in an area encompassing the East Coast from Filey to Spurn, the Humber estuary to Goole and Howden, and inland to the Yorkshire Wolds.

Nature tourism is already worth about £10m a year to the region’s economy, but research suggests this could be trebled with effective marketing and investment in infrastructure.

Martin Batt, nature tourism manager at the trust, who will be launching the scheme on a visit to Paull Holme Strays nature reserve in Holderness, said of the newly designated area: “It’s an area that’s long been known by birdwatchers and naturalists as being very good for wildlife, wild flowers, seabirds and otters which are struggling in other parts, but in some ways has been forgotten, is undisturbed, hasn’t had many visitors or been affected by changed farming practices or had motorways through it.

“We are encouraging people to stay the night because a lot of these visitors are day visitors. What we are hoping to show is there’s so much to see it really does pay to stay overnight, get out early and see things.

“One night increases the value of the visit by four or five times. A day visitor just buys petrol in Leeds or Sheffield, drives over and buys a sandwich or an ice cream and goes home again.

“I think we’ll change the profile of the area, encourage people to stay the night and come and enjoy what we’ve got to offer.”

Dedicated enthusiasts already beat a path to the area, with birdwatchers from Holland travelling to take photographs of kingfishers along the River Hull and Tophill Low nature reserve, and it is hoped the interest of more casual observers closer to home,, who have been switched on to nature through TV programmes such as Countryfile, Springwatch and Autumnwatch can also be developed and maintained.

Alongside the iconic puffin, gannets, barn owls, otters, red kites and wild flowers on the Wolds are just some of the other natural assets the “triangle” has to offer.

Key to achieving the growth will be the support of local businesses, who are being urged to sign up to a nature triangle membership scheme which will help co-ordinate the offer and promote wildlife-friendly establishments.

For an annual fee of £50, they will be able to use the logo on marketing material, be listed on a dedicated website with links to their own, and receive a range of other benefits, including free guidance on wildlife tourism, access to a selection of images from the trust’s wildlife photographic library, invitations to regular business seminars and copies of the map and events guide.

Applicants will be assessed for their suitability and accommodation providers must be members of local tourism body Visit Hull and East Yorkshire.

Businesses are being sent details of the scheme, which is also intended to help visitors find the best wildlife in whatever season they visit.

It is also hoped the initiative will encourage entrepreneurs to set up new businesses in the area, with a major seafood restaurant in Bridlington - England’s premier shellfishing port - thought to be one of the biggest gaps in the market.

Mr Batt added: “We’ll achieve this growth by working together in new ways. Since 2010, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has teamed up with RSPB, Yorkshire Water and our local authority partners. We are co-ordinating our investment in new visitor facilities at Flamborough, Bempton, Sewerby Hall, Tophill Low nature reserve, Humber Bridge Country Park and North Cave Wetlands.

“We’re working together on websites and publications and encouraging local businesses to take part.”

The RSPB plans to create a national seabird centre at Bempton Cliffs, one of the most important seabird nesting sites in the UK, while work is underway on a new marine education centre in Flamborough, which will be run by the trust and offer interactive displays and activities including snorkelling, seashore safaris, beach art and theme days.