A DAD-OF-TWO who built a glamping pod in his garden at the start of the pandemic says he is 'absolutely amazed' after his site just won Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year award from VisitEngland.

Secret Garden Glamping Site in nearby Skelmersdale has been described as looking like something straight from the reality TV show Love Island.

The idea behind the five-star woodland site is from dad of two, Derry Green who originally began building the pods out of lockdown boredom for him and his children to enjoy.

He now has 12 pods – and is working on the 13th, with his ventures followed by his more than 750,000 viewers across his social media channels.

After winning a regional award, the site was put forward for the national award last week at Liverpool's Titanic Hotel and was named Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024.

This prestigious accolade celebrates the very best of England’s tourism industry, championing quality, innovation, best practice, and exceptional customer service.

The site, which is nestled in four acres of woodland features handcrafted pods, lodges, yurts, and even a tree house, each with private hot tubs and a five-star theme.

Owner Derry Green, 42, said: "We are incredibly proud to receive this award, it is a testament to our team’s hard work and our guests’ continuous support. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what we offer and look forward to introducing new features and experiences in the near future.

"Winning the 'Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year' award is an honour that motivates us to continue our mission of providing exceptional hospitality. We thank VisitEngland for this incredible recognition.

"I'm absolutely amazed, this all started in lockdown and has grown and grown and I still have real imposter syndrome but I'm so proud."

For more information on the site, go to thesecretgardenglamping.uk