Council visit highlights long-established Southwater family business’s blend of holiday park and wildlife conservation
A visit by Horsham District Council to Raylands Country Park has shone a spotlight on how this long-established family business is combining a peaceful holiday home community with an impressive commitment to biodiversity, creating a distinctive destination that supports the local visitor economy while helping wildlife thrive.
Members of the council's Enterprising Horsham team and the Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, Councillor Colette Blackburn, recently visited Raylands Country Park in Southwater to learn more about the business, its contribution to the district's visitor economy, and the environmental initiatives that are helping set it apart within the holiday park sector.
A long-established family-run business, Raylands Country Park occupies more than 13 acres of landscaped grounds and provides holiday homes for people aged 50 and over seeking a peaceful countryside retreat close to family, friends and the attractions of Sussex.
The park has built a strong reputation through careful management, a personal approach and a strong sense of community.
During the visit, council representatives met with Rosie Kent, managing director, and Ben Gumbrell, park manager, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, including changing customer expectations, wider economic pressures and the opportunities and challenges facing independent holiday parks.
The visit also showcased the park's extensive work to support biodiversity. More than 100 bird boxes have been installed across the site alongside bat boxes, beehives and a purpose-built bug hotel.
Wildlife-friendly planting, native tree schemes and habitat creation have helped attract a diverse range of species, while a particularly successful 2026 breeding season saw kestrels, barn owls and tawny owls thriving on the site.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, Councillor Colette Blackburn, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Raylands Country Park and see first-hand how this family-run business has developed a unique offer that combines high-quality visitor accommodation with a genuine commitment to protecting and enhancing nature.
“The biodiversity work taking place across the park is particularly impressive and demonstrates how local businesses can play an important role in supporting wildlife while also creating a great experience for their customers.
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with Raylands and supporting the valuable contribution it makes to the district's visitor economy."
Rosie Kent, managing director of Raylands Country Park, said: “We were delighted to welcome representatives from Horsham District Council to Raylands and show them what makes the park so special.
“As an independent family-run business, creating a peaceful and welcoming community for our holiday homeowners is incredibly important to us, but so too is looking after the natural environment around us.
“Over the years we have worked hard to create and improve habitats across the park, and it is wonderful to see wildlife increasingly thriving for the wider community and all our owners to enjoy.
“It was also a valuable opportunity to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing independent holiday parks and the important contribution businesses like ours make to the local visitor economy."
The visit forms part of Horsham District Council's ongoing programme of engagement with businesses across the district that help create jobs, attract visitors and contribute to a thriving local economy.