Elmley Nature Reserve
Elmley Nature Reserve is a vast wilderness in Kent, UK. We were invited back to design and develop their next-generation website after the success of our previous collaboration.
The broad range of offerings at Elmley has grown substantially over the past few years. They now have accommodation, weddings, corporate events, retreats, and food and drink offerings - going beyond just a nature reserve. This new site balances their community, commercial, and ecological requirements.
Deep integration with Cloudbeds allows Elmley to take bookings online, but on their terms. Previously, almost all of the booking process happened on an external website which suffered from poor usability. Now, the majority of the process happens on-site, with only the final step processed on the third party. This has improved the performance of the site and its sales potential considerably.
Elmley is frequently featured on TV, and previous versions of the website struggled to stay online whilst tens of thousands of visitors suddenly visit. This new website was developed to handle high traffic moments, without notice and without breaking a sweat.
With subtle animations, beautiful aerial shots of the landscapes, and a refreshed brand, the new website is designed to have a calming effect on its visitors. It's made to be an escape from the noisy sites elsewhere on the web, just like a visit to Elmley is an escape from the noise of everyday life.