Here are ten things you might not know about Center Parcs:

• Red hot on conservation: With a 'red squirrel ranger' dedicated to looking after an endangered colony of protected red squirrels at Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, conservation of animals is something that Center Parcs takes very seriously
• Nature Hub: Center Parcs is home to several species of bat including the largest (Noctule) and the smallest (Pipistrelle). Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, also has around 57 different species of breeding bird and half of the UK's 34 different dragonfly
• Animal hospital:  Center Parcs rangers nurse and adopt injured and orphaned animals such as swans and hedgehogs from the surrounding forests and bring them back to full health before re-releasing them into the wild
• In a spin: 200,900 bikes are hired to families each year and the Center Parcs Cycle Center staff spend 500 hours each week repairing, maintaining and building bikes so families can cycle thorough the forest safely
• Batter than ever:  421,465 pancakes are flipped and served at Center Parcs' Dutch-style Pancake House each year - that's the equivalent of 1,154 pancakes per day!
• Tropical escape: All of the tropical plants inside each of Center Parcs' Subtropical Swimming Paradises have been rescued from around the world. Alerted by a network of contacts in far-off countries such as Indonesia, Bali and Thailand, Center Parcs rescue plants that are ear-marked for the chop by offering them a new life at one of its four villages
• Carbon cutters: Everyone at Center Parcs has worked hard to reduce carbon emissions by 5% since 2010, the equivalent of driving around the world over 600 times
• Pool perfection: Center Parcs has the cleanest pool water in the UK thanks to its revolutionary UV water treatment systems
• In it for the long term: Last year Center Parcs celebrated 25 years in the UK and has 16 members of staff who have been with Center Parcs UK since the very beginning
• Always open for business: Center Parcs is open to guests 365 days a year and has only had to close its doors three times in the past 25 years!

For more information on Center Parcs, please contact the Center Parcs press office team: 0207 025 6665 / centerparcspressoffice@redconsultancy.com

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Notes to Editors:

1. The four locations across the UK are Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire), Elveden Forest (Suffolk), Longleat Forest (Wiltshire) and Whinfell Forest, (Cumbria)
2. Center Parcs has been awarded the following accolades since 2008: the Green Business Award for Biodiversity Protection, Visit Britain 5 Star Rating, Hospitality Assured, Tommy Award for Best UK Holiday Provider, Biodiversity Benchmark - Land Management, Carbon Trust Standard, Good Spa Guide Award, ISO14001, Investors in People
3. Since 2011 Center Parcs experienced an average annual occupancy of 97%
4. Center Parcs offers short breaks all year round and welcomes over 1.6 million guests each year, 96% of guests expressing an intention to return
5. Center Parcs has recently been awarded gold by Prima Baby and Pregnancy magazine for 'Best family friendly holiday' and announced 'Best UK Family Holiday Provider' in the Tommy's Baby Friendly awards for the tenth year in a row

Center Parcs and The Environment

Committed to enhancing the forest and wider environment, Center Parcs aims to be one of the leading sustainable 'Large Scale Tourist Destinations' in
the UK. The Center Parcs Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2011, promises to reduce Center Parcs carbon emissions by 20% and produce 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. 

Over the last 12 months, Center Parcs has reduced its carbon emissions by 7.4%. This achievement was down to a variety of different energy saving choices including:

New and refreshed accommodation projects have included environmentally efficient technology such as:
Ground source heating
Solar panels
Energy-saving LED lighting
Water-efficient showers
Low-energy kitchen appliances
Intelligent thermostats
Electric vehicle fleet for housekeeping and technical services

At the new Woburn Forest development Center Parcs is investing in energy efficiency and renewable technologies - such as Biomass District Heating - to achieve the aim of consuming 25% less than the average existing Center Parcs village.