holidaycottages.co.uk and the RSPB
A staycation is a great way to experience new places and discover nature’s highlights.

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Since 2020, holidaycottages.co.uk has partnered with the RSPB to support the revival of natural habitats across four of its key woodland reserves: RSPB Haweswater in the Lake District, RSPB Franchises Lodge in England, Gwenffrwd Dinas in Wales, and RSPB Glenborrodale in Scotland.
Overview of the partnership
By protecting natural landscapes and wildlife in the UK, holidaycottages have been able to devote themselves to important environmental issues that are close to their hearts. This is why many of their customers choose to holiday with them every year.
The latest fundraising campaign has been called ‘Near RSPB Reserves’. Here, holidaycottages have been marketing their ‘Showcase Collection’ of exceptional rural hideaway properties. As the picture opposite shows, these houses are not only beautiful homes for rent, but they also sit in amazing outside spaces where there’s every chance a guest could get up close to some of the UK’s most cherished native wildlife. Each customer booking contributes to the restoration of 1 square metre of woodland with the RSPB. And giving the campaign its theme name, these properties are also close to RSPB reserves - another great benefit for the guests!

Delivering great results in 2024
The money raised through this partnership allows us to fund vital woodland conservation work. To give a sense of scale - in 2024, we have received in excess of £80,000 funds. this equates to the restoration of over 170,000 square metres of British woodland. Key sites that have benefitted, include:
- RSPB Franchises Lodge in the New Forest,
- Gwenffrwd Dinas in Wales,
- RSPB Haweswater in the Lake District, and
- RSPB Corrimony and RSPB Glenborrodale in Scotland.
Not only has nature won, but there have been a range of commercial benefits too. Highlights include raising brand awareness, increasing guest loyalty and brand feel-good factor, highly creative partnership promotions, plus the delivery of a range of cross-channels promotions.

“We’re really pleased to launch this new Showcase Collection in partnership with holidaycottages.co.uk. Featuring high-quality, thoughtfully curated properties, the Near RSPB Reserves collection offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and explore the diverse landscapes of RSPB nature reserves across the UK. We hope the collection inspires more people to explore the outdoors by becoming RSPB members and discovering the unique reserves situated on the doorstep of the properties featured. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activities which are fun for all the family, chasing incredible views on hikes with friends, or taking a solo trip to spot rare wildlife in the heart of nature, there’s something for all".
- Dave Bloor, Head of RSPB Corporate Partnerships
The vital importance of woodland restoration
The UK's native woods and trees are incredibly biodiverse. They support many different species of fungi, lichens, mosses and plants, as well as birds, invertebrates and other animals. Many of these species are threatened and becoming rarer... some have already become extinct as we plunder them for firewood, housing materials, farming land and so on, all of which have a major detrimental effect on our biodiversity. If we don't protect what we have left and work to create woodlands of the future, we stand to lose more than just trees.
All woodlands can deliver for nature, with connected networks of ancient and native woodland and other wildlife-rich habitats creating an ‘engine room’ driving nature recovery throughout the landscape, the more sustainably farmed and forested the better.
We can all play our part in helping to piece together the jigsaw of nature recovery. Creating woodlands in the right places for the right reasons is just one way of adding our own pieces to the board for future generations.

Our innovative partnership wins a Dottie for marketing excellence!
The Dotties showcase true marketing excellence across Dotdigital's 4000+ customer base and they are judged by industry leaders who are at the cutting edge of marketing and can showcase how they’ve used Dotdigital to enable demonstrable growth and ROI.
They look not only for creativity and effectiveness (which is the essence of marketing excellence), but also for marketing stories that can inspire us all and make us proud to represent the industry.
This year, the team are proud to announce they have just won an award for marketing excellence! Click here to find out more.