Holiday Parks Mag issue 14 Revised

FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE

May/June 2014 • Issue 14

The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks,and Campsites

www.HolidayParksManagement.com

PARK UP KEEP CHOOSING THE RIGHT HOLIDAYHOME

MORE THAN JUST A PARK

Holiday Parks Management

Designed and Produced by Print Plus01432 272025 www.printplushereford.co.ukMaggie Media Ltd 7378641 Vat Registration 128 6998 57 © Copyright 2014

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When I amnot workingon HolidayParksManagement,my spare timeis spentvisiting parks

and sites in my VW campervan. Ithink it is fair to say that I am anenthusiast!

It’s this fascination witheverything that goes into settingup and running a camping,caravan or holiday park thatmade me realise what a complexoperation it is and just how muchthere is to keep informed about.

That’s why I started HPM nearly 8years ago and why I am stillfinding companies and sourcingmaterial and information that willbe helpful in all aspects of parkoperation. My aim is to be theultimate suppliers directory andinformation source for parkoperators and that this will be ofgenuine help and support to thepeople that do this incrediblydifficult job.

So welcome to the May/Juneissue of HPM, I hope you enjoy itand find it helpful.


NEXT ISSUE AUG / SEPT FEATURES INCLUDE:

FEATURE Park Up KeepFEATURE Choosing the rightHoliday Home for Your ParkFEATURE How to be more thanjust a Park

Articles‘How to prepare your drains for a trouble free summer’submitted by Serious Waste Management

‘Playground Crisis’ – Submitted by API Association

‘Economic Impact Assessment of the Holiday Park Industry inScotland’ submitted by the Scottish Caravan & Camping Forum

IOG Saltex Feature

Playfair Feature

Pool & Spa Care &Maintenance Feature

Lifesaving and PoolSafety article

Holiday ParksManagement WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE

Park Home pages 4-11

Glamping 12–15

Landscaping 16-22

Play Equipment 23-24

Entertainment | Gaming 25-31

Park News 32-36Main front cover pic from Park Holiday UK

Deciding on a particular make and model of holidayhome can be a challenging task for any holiday parkoperator – particularly when there can be a number ofpotential reasons for purchase...

As there is a huge range of holiday home modelsavailable from a number of different manufacturers, itpays to take the time to do your research, consider all theoptions, and make an informed decision based on yourown or your customers’ search criteria. Here’s a fewsuggestions aimed at helping you to make the rightdecision for your park:

What will the holiday home be used for?Will it be used for holiday rentals, to satisfy/encourageretail sales, or even for staff accommodation? If you’reaiming to differentiate your proposition by attracting retailcustomers to a holiday home retreat, you may opt todemonstrate a luxury model with all the latest features,whereas if you’re providing accommodation for youremployees, then cost per unit may become the drivingfactor. In any circumstances bear in mind that the overallquality of the build is of the utmost importance, whateverthe purpose – as in many cases, investing in good qualityproducts will pay off in the long run.

Who will be using the holiday home?Are you looking to attract a certain type of holiday-makeror clientele, such as young families or mature couples?Holiday homes vary greatly in size and the number ofpeople that they can accommodate comfortably. Forcustomers where you offer sub-letting, families may optfor a three bedroom model to provide extraaccommodation, whereas couples may prefer to enjoythe extra space afforded by a two bedroom model.

Are there any essential features that your chosencustomer base will require e.g. en-suite bathrooms, freestanding furniture, central heating etc? The interiordesign, external appearance and overall layout are alsovery important in attracting the right type of customer –the model you choose needs to be a space that peoplewill want to spend time in.

When will the holiday home be used?Holiday homes that are for temporary seasonal use on aholiday basis, and not for permanent residence, must bebuilt to the European standard for holiday homemanufacture (EN 1647).Is your park open all year round? If so, you may wish toconsider increasing the thermal properties of your holidayhomes by improving insulation methods and doubleglazing specifications. If your licence permits, you canalso consider models built to Residential Specification BS3632 to provide additional peace of mind.

Even if your park isn’t open for twelve months a year, it’sstill worth considering investing in optimising the thermalefficiency of your chosen model – improved thermalperformance means cooler temperatures in the summeras well as better warmth during any cold spells in theBritish weather!

What warranty is offered on the holiday home?All reputable holiday home manufacturers offerwarranties with their products. However, make sure youdo your research on the length of these policies, and thatyou’re clear on exactly what’s covered and what’s not, asthese details do differ greatly between the differentmanufacturers.

What safety features are included in the holidayhome?Health & Safety is critical to any park operator, and youshould ensure that your chosen model incorporates atleast the following safety features as standard:

• Fire extinguisher• Smoke alarm• Carbon Monoxide detectors• Emergency escape window(s)• Flame and match retardant soft furnishings• Thermostatic shower and tap mixers• Low threshold doors

How energy efficient is the holiday home?As a park owner, operational costs will be amongst thetop considerations when selecting any holiday home, asnot only will this help you fulfil your environmentalobligations, you’ll also be saving money in the long run.Ask the manufacturer about the thermal properties oftheir products, including the insulation and glazing, andany other features they’ve incorporated to improve theoverall energy efficiency of their products, such as waterconsumption measures, low energy lighting andcondensing combi boilers.

To view the latest holiday home models from a range ofmanufacturers, either visit your local distributor or take atrip to one of the larger holiday home exhibitions. TheLawns Show in East Yorkshire or the Beaulieu Show in theNew Forest are both held annually in September and aregreat places to do your research. Visitwww.hercmatradeshows.com for more information.

HPM would like to thank Willerby Holiday Homes for contributingthis article and the images (www.willerby.com).

www.HolidayParksManagement.com4

Choosing the Right Holiday Home for Your Park

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Willerby is the UK’s largest manufacturer of holidayhomes and lodges, with over 65 years’ industryexperience. With a wide range of products available ina variety of sizes and specifications, all backed up byindustry leading warranty schemes, there’s a Willerbyto suit all tastes and budgets, and all park types andlocations.

Best-practice techniques and the highest qualitymaterials are employed to ensure that Willerby remainsat the forefront of holiday home design andmanufacture. Focus is on technical innovation,including galvanised chassis systems, highperformance double glazing, increased insulationoptions and additional energy efficiency measures.

The newest addition to the Willerby Range is thestunning Vogue Lodge. Successive generations of theVogue have continually raised the bar for holiday homedesign, and this latest generation of Willerby’s iconicdesign is set to surpass all expectations. Combiningclass-leading levels of luxury with unique designinnovations, the all-new Vogue Lodge really stands outfrom the crowd.

The new 14ft width provides a real sense of space, andkey design innovations ensure this iconic modelcontinues to set new levels of luxury. Its clean, elegantlines and premium materials provide a feeling ofcomfort, quality and refinement that is truly beyondcompare. Created without compromise, and firmlyestablished as one of the most significant designs inholiday home history, the Vogue remains the definitivechoice for those searching for the ultimate in holidayhome accommodation.

For more information on the Vogue Lodge, or toview Willerby’s stunning range of holiday homesand lodges.Tel: 01482 713816Website: www.willerby.com

Spectacular Designs &Outstanding Quality from Willerby Holiday Homes

EvoFrame Country Lodges are an alternative to ParkHomes. They do not have a mobile steel chassis andare not of lightweight construction, but they aretransportable.

Designed and manufactured to comply with UK fullbuilding regulations, the EvoFrame Country Lodges aresubstantial permanent all-year-round residentialhomes, offering a home-from-home or second-homesolution that far exceeds the ‘simplicity’ of a mobilehome.

Solid and secure, stepping into an EvoFrame CountryLodge is like stepping into a masonry building and hasthe strength and stability to match. Floor, wall and roofthicknesses in excess of 300mm and windows anddoors made for housing use, these lodges are properlybuilt to live in.

Factory made, the EvoFrame Country Lodge isdelivered and installed quickly and is ready andweathertight, for finishing. Real timber cladding or brickwall finishes married to slate, shingle or concrete rooftiles, EvoFrame Country Lodges can look ‘urban’ or‘country’. There is nothing light-weight here.Feel safe and secure in all weathers, the strongstructurally engineered timber-frame core of anEvoFrame Country Lodge gives peace of mind to enjoyeverything the country has to offer, or throw at you.

All rolled into one, we call it the ‘E’ Factor, Effortless,Eco-Friendly, Economical, Evolutionary and EnergyEfficient – from factory to site: it really is as easy as thatto have a traditional building you can comfortably live in.

Visit us at www.evoframe.com and see what we canoffer as an alternative to mobile homes.EvoFrames Ltd – Factory is in StaffordshireTel 01785 430002Email: [email protected]: www.evoframe.net

Housing standards as standard …

Arronbrook Leisure Homes is an award-winning caravan manufacturer that creates beautiful bespoke holiday homes that are enjoyed both in the UK and across Europe

call: 01482 210327 email: [email protected]

With three very different models to choose from, you will find what you’re looking for at Arronbrook.

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www.HolidayParksManagement.com 7


Arronbrook Leisure Homes is an award-winningmanufacturer of bespoke holiday homes that areenjoyed by holiday-makers across the UK and Europe.

The family-run firm has been successfully trading formore than 25 years and puts its popularity down to thefact that each caravan is handmade and can becreated bespoke to a customer’s taste.

Arronbrook has a range of caravans, and with theability to cater to a client’s wishes, there is a caravan tosuit a wide variety of tastes and budgets.

Owners are able to have their input on fabrics, furniture,or even the length and width of their caravan.

The Arronbrook range includes: The Eclipse is their outstanding top-of-the-rangemodel, which is a holiday home to be proud of. Insideyou will find a fully-vaulted ceiling with Velux windowfitted in the kitchen area, giving a feeling of acontemporary and stylish space.

The successful Clipper continues to represent a level ofluxury at an affordable price, with beautiful Stilo Walnutmelamine lounge and kitchen furniture, and co-ordinating floor coverings. The Clipper is an idealholiday home and the perfect retreat for familyholidays.

The ever-popular Topaz continues to be a big familyfavourite. Improved for 2014 is the bay window designwith three large shaped windows giving more naturaldaylight and a feeling of even more space in thelounge. To find out more about Arronbrook’s range,

Tel 01482 210327 Email [email protected]

Arronbrook Leisure Homescreates bespoke quality holidayhomes

The Benefits Include* Thermal insulation keepssolid walls warm,condensation-free andprotect from wind, rain andfrost* System is fitted to meetindividual houserequirements with a choiceof finishes

* No loss of internal living space* Work can be carried out alongside other trades

such as windowreplacement and re-roofing* Minimal disruption to theinside of the building* Maintenance free,weatherproof, attractiveexterior as part of thethermal cladding of thebuilding

Tel: 01636 858467Website www.calladineltd.com

Free no obligation quotes available

Offering Our External Insulation for park homeowners across the UK delivering a smarter,

warmer and more comfortable home as wellas significant long term fuel savings

Management of campsites, timeshares, holiday parks

Interactive park maps

Unlimited number of users and private settings

Automated access barriers and turnstiles

Administration of owners: Finance, Contracts

Point of sales: restaurants, activities, etc.

Maintenance and housekeeping

Automated payment, accounting and reconciliation integrated

Newyse ERP: Cloud-based,integrated Enterprise Resource Planning

Innovative Technology for campsites and vacation rentals organizations

Property management

Interactive websites

Integrated booking engine

Multi-channel distribution in real time

Yield and revenue management, promos, benchmarking

Direct connection with booking.com, and main tour operators

Customer interface and loyalty programs

Multi Currency and multilingual

Experts in hospitality innovation

Tired of your existing systems?

a demo and proposal

Telephone: 0121 222 5125 Email: [email protected]

Central Reservation & E-commerce Reporting

and marketing

Contact our Birmingham o�ce for

www.maxxton.co.uk

Interactive websites

Integrated booking engine

Multi-channel distribution in real time

Yield and revenue management, promos, benchmarking

Direct connection with booking.com, and main tour operators

Customer interface and loyalty programs

Multi Currency and multilingual

E

Central Reservation & E-commerce

and marketing

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9

Before


Looking abroad for inspiration on how you run yourcampsite or holiday park is not something that wouldcome to mind for most business owners. Neverthelessthere is always a lot to learn. The Dutch have beenfacing similar challenges to the British, confronted withincreasing costs, rising competition from the low-costforeign holiday market and, last but not least, a veryunpredictable weather.The successful organizations in this market have beenthe ones who invested on mainly two fronts.

Firstly, they invested in their campsite or park,presenting good facilities while offering and managingprivately owned mobile homes (not just pitches) in theright way.

Secondly, they had the ability to maximize theoccupancy offering online booking and making themost of good selling practices via real-time automatedconnections with their favourite distribution channels. A good example of a small to medium sized holidaypark helps us see issues from a different angle.Holiday park De Krim, was limited by its managementsystem in terms of booking engine and e-commerceexperience. By placing guests’ satisfaction at the heartof the organisation, holiday park De Krim hasincreased their bookings through making onlinebooking a personalized experience. Effectivelymanaging the relationship with private owners hasgreatly improved property management and privateowner communication.

If you wish to receive a copy of De Krim casestudy, please email [email protected] KRIM or call 0121 222 5126 for moreinformation

Investing in your park or campsite, is it worth it??

After

Upgrade your Holiday Homes with our insulatedthermal cladding system, a new roof, doubleglazing or a new skirt. As you can see by thephotos the difference is considerable.

First we construct a light weight pitched roof with Decra or Metro light tile system.

Second we over-frame the existing walls with treated 25 x 50mm timber and25mm Celatex double foil board.

Third we replaced all windows and doors with park home rebated frames.

Fourth we applied the Royal Europa vinyl cladding system to the main walls andalso the skirt.

All these systems can be applied separately. We have been working in the Parkand Holiday home industry since 1987 and have acquired a well-respectedreputation within the industry. We will send you a complete breakdown quote with the relevant brochure. Wedon’t need to visit to price your home, all we need is the size and model.

We will send you a complete breakdown quote with the relevant brochure. Wedon’t need to visit to price your park home, all we need is the size and model.

If you would like a quote for any of our systemsfor your holiday home call Carl on 07785 272933or the office on 01269 824313 email [email protected] .

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Camping with quality & styleFor one or more - ready for next seasonAll sizes available - (from 10ft - 33ft diameter)

Contact us at www.yurtsforlife.com Or telephone: 01803 762370

Yurts for Life....... Yurts for Living

All Teifi Valley Camping Huts are made to the higheststandards, sourced from sustainable woodlands

INCLUDED IN PODDouble glazed doors Lockable Windows & doors2 internal lights 1 external lightSmoke detector

49% of holidays occur outside of the peak times, givingyour park all year revenue.

Call 01239 652800info@teifivalleycampingpods.co.ukwww.teifivalleycampingpods.co.uk


The Future OfAccommodation

The mobile Log Pod is ideal for owners of campsites,holiday parks, small woods offices, fisheries, zoos,

anywhere that offers accommodation

All of our pods come with their own chassis and electronics and can be movedon the road by a car trailer or around your property by tractor, car or a 4x4.

Fully mobile, Full 4” deep porch for cooking, playing and relaxing. Double glazed door and window with security locks.Full insulation including floor for all year round use.Electric pack as standard • Fire-escape rear window

Wheelchair accessible door • No foundation or crane required

So what is a LogPodConceived as an all-year-round living space, a LogPod is as welcoming in winter as in the heat of

summer , and unlike any tent the Log Pod has beendesigned to have a lifespan of least 25 yrs,

assuming a basic amount of routine maintenance.Almost every component of the Log Pod is either

bio-degradable or recycleable

Telephone : 01269 850005 Email: [email protected]

www.thelogpod.co.uk

Farm Diversification/NewParks

Make the most of your land.Landowners can open a 5cs site without the

landowner obtaining planning permission and areallowed two of the Log Pods On site

See our clients atwww.logpodholidays.co.uk

The Log Pod is a mobile Farm structure

Come and see our Pod at

The Welsh Game Fair

14th - 15th June 2014

Since its first appearance in 2008 the Pod has become awell established and much enjoyed alternative to the tentand the holiday home that is now a widely availablefeature on sites throughout the UK and Ireland as well asmany countries in Europe.

The design copyright and branding is owned by Ian Bonea former civil engineer who established NewfoundlandLodges Ltd. back in 2004. The company was originallyformed to build residential specification lodges using‘state of the art’ materials and incorporating as standard awet under-floor heating system as well as many otherinnovations.

Please Read morehttp://www.holidayparksmanagement.com/the-camping-pod-history-by-newfoundland-lodges

See Part two in the next issueTel : 07776 203490Email: [email protected] of England and the Scottish Borders contact:[email protected]

A Brief History Of The Camping Pod Part 1


Style, Flexibility, Speed & Cost Wins Albion Canvas CoContract For Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s New Food Court

Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s new Clubhouse, made by AlbionCanvas Co in their Somerset factory, will provide a flexiblespace to be used as a food court during the peak season andhost corporate and function business during the rest of year.

The main 12 metre x 24 metre structure, with an overall height of5 metres, was made using a clearspan (no central pole)aluminium frame covered in canvas produced in Scotland. Thesand and green colours, with clear plastic sides which can beopened, help the Clubhouse blend seamlessly into thelandscape.

Because of the nature of the structure, Yorkshire Wildlife did notneed planning permission. The Clubhouse is secured to aconcrete base with 300 bolts and took a team from AlbionCanvas Co four days to construct.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Commercial Director, Mike Bennett said,

“We asked three companies to quote. Albion won because theirstructure provided the most flexibility and appropriate style, aswell as offering the best operational solution. We hadconsidered a traditional structure but in keeping with the Park’sdevelopment plan over the next 3 to 5 years atemporary/permanent building offered more flexibility and was asounder financial decision.”

Albion Canvas Co developed the Tsavo Clubhouse in responseto requests for a unique rustic design for festivals, weddings,cafes and bars, with a clear span structure, rather thantraditional marquees with centre poles. It is available in 6mspans to any length in 3m bays. The design is an extension oftheir Safari Tent, from the range of Glamping accommodationwhich also includes Yurts, Geodesic Domes and Tipis.

www.albioncanvasco.co.ukTel +44 (0) 1823 665849


Introducing THE NEW CHALET POD WITH

BUILT-IN EN-SUITE4.8m x 3.0m

(15’8”ft x 9’8”ft)Don't let guests book intoanother park down the roadWhen you could have one of ourstylish lodge boutique Rooms orour New Chalet Pod (withen-suite) Kitchenette (optional)

• Built to last 15 year Guarantee • Comprising of thehighest Structural Insulated panels (SIPS)• Sleeps a family of four comfortably • Rentalincomes of £65.00 upwards per night• Unit comes fully built with en-suiteand all Electrics• Kitchenette (optional) Oven.2 RingHob.Sink. Fridge/Freezer

An eco-friendly investmentopportunity for business with agreat return potential.OWNER BENEFITS• Relatively low investment with thepotential for an excellent return.• Planning Permissions are veryfavourable with Local PlanningAuthorities as they recognise thatecoPODs encourage sustainabletourism • Rental incomes of en-suite pods £65 upwards pernight will return most of your investment in year one.• Capitalise on all-year-round camping because ofthe high thermal values of our camping ecoPODs.• Generate income due to the latest highspecification of our ecoPODs.

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN

NEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL ROOMS Green Eco Living specialises ineco friendly, energy efficient roomsand have designed a premiumguest space.• Bespoke lodge Roomsstandard 4.8m (15' 8" ft) x 3.0m (9' 8"ft) with en-suite included.• SIPS Panel design (StructuralInsulated Panel) Low energy lightingand UPVC Double Glazed windows.• Introduce a New Leisure

Accommodation attached to your existing Park, Land,Hotel or Pub.• Rental Incomes of £65.00 pounds upwards• Individual sizes and lay-outs available to suit your needs• Delivered and installed by quality professionals,working to achieve maximum customer satisfaction.

The new en-suite boutique rooms createpremium guest Space.

Why let guests book into another parkdown the road when you could have astylish rental building on the grounds ofyour premises?

Eco Green Living installs across theUK and can help you plan and design yourbespoke boutique lodge room or even a new-style, bigger camping pod that comescomplete with kitchenette and en-suitefacilities.

As a leading supplier of outdoor rooms GreenEco Living has developed the most thermally

efficient process in the UK through its unique SIPS Paneldesign (Structural Insulated Panel), an injected foaminsulated 70mm thick wall section - equivalent to twolayers of standard fibreglass loft insulation.

Further insulation is fitted to the roof and floor space andunder floor heating, low energy lighting and lockabledouble-glazed windows and doors create a warm andinviting outdoor space.

The rise of people choosing toholiday at home in the UK ratherthan abroad is well documented,from campsite retreats to citybreaks. While this is fantastic newsfor the holiday parks industry, therise in competition has meant thatit’s more important than ever tokeep on top of your parkmaintenance.

The old cliché that you only getone chance to make a good first impression applies if youconsider how much of your business comes from returningcustomers. Brits especially are creatures of habit and fansof the comfortable and familiar so if you get it right the firsttime, there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll be returning totheir favourite holiday park, caravan site or campsite foryears to come.

This means that it’s up to park managers to make sureyours is a holiday destination that customers will neverforget. Holiday-goers tend to return for everything from afriendly atmosphere, great onsite entertainment or for theoutstanding facilities. Ultimately, guests return becausethey’ve forged special memories at your destination, eitheras a family or group, so it’s key to ensure that their firstexperience with you is unforgettable.

While this is no easy task, as you’re looking at everythingfrom the types of entertainment offered to the serviceprovided by staff, something that’s easy to tick off the list ispark upkeep. This might appear to be one of the simplertasks but the scenery can also make the biggestimpression.

Maintenance teams know that you’re only as good as yourequipment so it’s important to have the right machine forthe right job. By making the right choice of groundcareequipment from day one, a park maintenanceprofessional’s day can run a lot smoother and tasks canbe carried out quickly and more efficiently, which meansmore time can be devoted to other duties.

When choosing the right lawn mower, picking one that willmake light work of grass cuttings by selecting a modeldependent on the area to be mowed and the type of

ground it will betackling isessential. Ride onmowers withenhanced cuttingand dischargeperformance willhelp parkmanagers achievea more efficient,

accurate cut and cleaner appearancefor large areas of land.

If one of the problems with your parkupkeep is tackling grass with lots ofobstacles or trees, models featuring azero-turn operation are ideal forreaching a 360 degree radius.Independent steering levers meanthat these mowers can literally turn ona sixpence, making cutting aroundtrees, posts and other obstacles an

easy one-pass operation.

How you collect and dispose of your grass cuttings isanother key way for park maintenance teams to save time,such as with a direct collection system to avoid the hassleof collecting the cuttings yourself. Alternatively, consideringmowers with a mulching option is another way to give yourarea a clean finished look and will also help your grass inthe long term by returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

Maintenance teams also need to be able to get aroundwhatever the weather, whether it’s to complete their everyday duties or as a way of quickly assisting with repairs orresolving any issues that might arrive. Choosing a robustutility vehicle (UTV) that is versatile and can cope with arange of tasks is crucial to ensure jobs can be carried outquickly and safely. UTVs with hydrostatic transmissionsand an automatic brake function ensure that users are notat risk of losing control of the machine in wet orchallenging conditions. When travelling through difficultterrain, vehicles can stop and resume climbing withoutbraking. The maintenance of holiday parks requires a widerange of duties, so whichever UTV you buy needs to haveenough load capacity to transport a host of materialsaround site, be it bins, sports equipment or campingessentials. Depending on the size of your team it might beworth considering a utility vehicle with more than just twoperson capacities. Some models are now available withfour seats for easy transportation.

It’s also worth considering how compact tractors can playa part in keeping your landscape looking pristine. Withnumerous attachments available for use on compact andsub compact tractors, from trailers to fertiliser spreaders,choosing the right model will play a key part in thelandscaping and maintenance of your site.

With these considerations in mind, your park maintenanceteam should have the tools and technology that they needto make sure that the park upkeep is a weight off yourmind.

HPM would like to thank Kubota for contributing thisarticle. Images contributed by Kubota, John Deere, LogSplitters.


Adrian Langmead, Tractor and Groundcare Business DevelopmentManager at Kubota UK, discusses the importance of park upkeep.

FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR BOOK A TEST DRIVE TODAY:

Tel: 01844 268 000 www.kubota.co.uk

*Conditions apply to 2nd year

- see dealer for details.

2 YEARWARRANTY

AS STANDARD*0 %

Great ValueGreat Versatility

4 Models 18-30HP HST or mechanical transmission Bi Speed Turn & Power steering Factory fitted cab with air con (or ROPS) 4WD and hydraulic independent PTO

B30 SERIESNO DEPOSIT+24 PAYMENTS

*Terms and conditions apply.See dealer for details

Offer ends 31st July 2014

*

17


In the run up to the summer, holiday parks often striveto improve facilities in time for the high season toensure visitors have as pleasant a stay as possible. Akey area for improvement can be sports facilities,which often prove to be an important offering forfamilies looking to enjoy their time outdoors.

Tennis facilities can often be the most widely used of aholiday park’s leisure offering, and surfaces need to beavailable that are suitable for all players and abilities –for young children through to experienced veterans.When looking to fit a surface that all players can enjoy,TigerTurf’s Advantage Pro tennis surface is a mediumpile polyethylene texturized monofilament surface thatretains the sand in-fill, producing a surface that isn’tsandy in appearance and is very durable.

Holiday Park Managers can be rest assured thatAdvantage Pro will be playable immediately after heavyrainfall. There is also significant business potential inreplacing older pitches as revenue can be increasedby extending opening hours.

TigerTurf serves up new tennis surfaces for Newlands

Thanks to leading artificial turf manufacturer, TigerTurfUK, one of Scotland’s top tennis clubs, NewlandsLawn Tennis Club (LTC) in Glasgow, has successfullycompleted a comprehensive upgrade of its tenniscourts to allow the club’s players to benefit from apremium quality playing surface.

After an extensive and competitive tenderprocess, TigerTurf’s Advantage Pro surface,which offers a 29 percent longer life spancompared to other artificial surfaces, wasinstalled by specialist sports surfacingcontractor, Ecosse Sports.

Covering a total area of 4200m2, whichspans seven full-sized courts, theAdvantage Pro installation provides a high-quality, all-weather surface designed to

benefit players and coaches alike.Designed with shock-absorbing characteristics thatreduce the risk of injury and stress to the body, thesurface has been designed so that it doesn’t shinewhen wet or under floodlights, and has also beentested to International Tennis Federation (ITF)standards. This culminates in a premium, all-roundsurface that players of all ages and experience levelscan enjoy.

Being able to offer the best possible playing surface isespecially important to Newlands LTC, as a club thathosts a busy schedule of tennis and squash fixturesthroughout the year. Boasting some of Scotland’s bestracquet sports facilities, the club is home to five ladies’and gents’ tennis teams, eight junior teams, and alsohosts seven men's and two ladies' squash teams in theWest of Scotland Leagues.

Michael Welsh, Head Coach at Newlands LTC said:“This surface has proved to be popular with all areas ofour membership and provides a good surface for bothcoaching and playing. I must say that the 2 tone redouter/green inner colour choice has made the clublook all the more professional during our Aegon Westof Scotland league matches.”Paul Langford, ManagingDirector at TigerTurf UK, added: “We are delighted thatthe reception to our Advantage Pro surface has been

so positive. This product proves how thetechnology in synthetic turf is continuallyadvancing to support players of all levels of skill.We always have faith in all of our products andwe are especially happy that we are nowbringing even more industry-leading sportssurfaces to a variety of clubs around the UK”.

For more information on TigerTurf (UK) Ltdand its industry leading portfolio of artificialgrass, visit www.tigerturf.com.

Spruce A Sports Surface In Time For The Summer

19

Imagine the benefits from HFN’s broad repertoire ofskills inclusive of minor civils, soft and hard worksschemes and play area installation to establish theperfect creation of your holiday park development orrefurbishment.

Creating parks from brownfield sites, complete withhard standings, refuse compound, mains water withall aspects of drainage, access roads, footpaths,security barriers and service points. HFN can providethe whole concept to your detail and can enhancedesigns during the planning process, adding newmethodology and value from park constructionknowledge gained through experience.

Commercial Landscaping for over thirty years, HFNhave developed our services to meet the individualrequirements of Holiday Park clients with adaptabilityand resourcefulness.

HFN stand out in the landscaping market by alwayshaving employed their own skilled staff, owned andmaintained their own vehicle fleet including plant andmachinery. Promoting a core philosophy of qualitywork has implemented growth and controlledbudgets.

HFN have constructed over 100 holiday parks,creating tranquil environments with full amenities orbustling activity areas, we can ensure the holiday parkyou get is what you want.

HFN’s core philosophy of More Care - MoreCommitment - More Control is valid today andprovides an ongoing development of top qualityschemes.

HFN Landscapes, Allens Hill, Pinvin, Pershore,Worcs. WR10 2DU. Tel: 01386 555354.www.hfnlandscapes.co.ukwww.hfnnaturalplay.co.uk.


Holiday Parks and HFN

The Wessex ProLine STC is living proof you can havethree machines in one working all-year round for you. Oneminute it’s a sweeper collector that picks up litter andleaves in parkland and amenity areas. A short while later,using the optional change kit, it becomes a flail collector,cutting and collecting on the golf course rough, or aprofessional scarifier collector in use on the sports pitch.Which means your investment goes a long way in dealingwith a whole range of tasks for which you would usuallyneed to buy and house several machines. In sweepingmode the brush rotor, comprising four banks ofhardwearing polypropylene bristles, lifts leaves, grassclippings and litter with ease into the hydraulicallyoperated hopper. The bristles are secured firmly into apre-drilled hardwood strip and are of a generous length togive a good ‘flick’ action to ensure the material is thrownto the back of the hopper.

A large diameter steel drum with flails and paddlesconverts the Wessex STC to a flail collector. It featuresfour rows of closely spaced flails, and two rows of draftpaddles to create the suction for collecting the grass.Because the STC has no narrow throat, as do manycollectors, long or short grass will be collected efficientlywithout blocking, even in wet conditions, which makes itideal for long grass applications.

As a scarifier, the flail blades are replaced with verti-cutting knives for a professional operation on the sportsfield or lawns. Semi-mounted to the tractor, the STC runson its own four wheels, totally independent of the tractor,allowing it to follow contours, while the front wheels arefully castoring and repositioned by a simple pinmechanism to adjust the working height. As the wholemachine is not lifted on the linkage, the STC can beoperated behind a small tractor with limited liftingcapacity. Power is transmitted from the tractor through aheavy cast gearbox and belt drive to the rotor. The rearwheels have flotation tyres to keep turf compaction to aminimum. Available in 1.2m and 1.8m working widths thisis a true three-in-one machine for the maintenance ofamenity turf, golf courses, parkland and large gardens.

Three into one will go


Caravan site owners will be cutting the grass, stocking up theiron-site shops and sorting out their bookings ready for theseason, but underground, lurk problems that could erupt just intime for the busiest time of year.

Drains become vulnerable with a sudden influx of visitors anda camping and caravan site with blocked drains can be apractical as well as a PR disaster.

Serious Waste Management deals with caravan and campsitesall over the country and they have successfully preventedheadaches for owners by helping them to plan ahead andmake sure ‘off mains’ sewage systems are ready for thesudden change in demand.

To help site owners, they have developed a list of dosand don’ts to make sure the season is trouble free. • Ensure you have a pre-season service and de-sludge toensure your system is ready for the summer season. • Use signage and encourage good practice to preventpeople flushing nappies, sanitary towels, tampons or generalrubbish down sinks and toilets • If you have an onsite shop, don’t sell luxury quilted toiletpaper or strong bleach based products – encourage the saleof septic tank friendly products such as Ecover• Encourage your visitors to avoid pouring neat disinfectant,Milton products or bleach down sinks or outside gullies toprotect the environment. • Have a compost site for peelings and food waste to preventDrains being used as a bin.

• Likewise, have somewhere forpeople to dispose of used fat. • If you are thinking of extendingyour site to allow for more people,is your plant sized correctly tocope with the extra waste beingproduced?• Make sure you have a reliable service contract with areputable company to be on hand for any emergencies

David Bould, Operations Manager at Serious said: “ A bit offorethought can prevent real problems later on. No caravansite owner wants to have blocked drains at the height ofsummer. It’s the sort of comment that finds its way onto TripAdvisor in a very short period of time and can damage yourreputation in an instant.

“Additionally, we’re finding more sites and their cafes,restaurants , takeaways and bars are having big issues withgrease clogging up drains and pipes and throwing some hotwater down the sinks isn’t going to help. We sell a range ofgrease management equipment to suit all sizes of site,preventing your profits being wasted on unblocking nasty,smelly sinks and drains. ”

Serious Waste Management deals with sites all over thecountry and can help make sure sites’ system is ready for thesummer season. Serious install, maintain, and de-sludgeseptic tanks, pumping stations, cesspools, sewage treatmentplants and grease management systems.

How to prepare your drains for a trouble-free summer

A new design for the John Deere X300 Select Series range oflawn tractors has been introduced to coincide with this year’slaunch of the new X310 model. The bonnets across the rangenow match the John Deere family style of the company’sagricultural tractors and present the same fresh and modernappearance.

Suitable for areas of grass up to 8000m2, the lawn tractors inthis range are extremely straightforward to operate.Performance and reliability are guaranteed with a powerful, fuel-efficient engine and easily adjustable cutting height, which canbe changed without having to leave your seat.

Excellent manoeuvrability in the tightest spaces ensures aperfect cut, even in the most intricately landscaped gardens.Standard features include automatic transmission, Twin Touchfoot pedals, cruise control and an ultra-comfortable seat.

The five lawn tractors that make up the X300 Series offer achoice of mower decks with cutting widths from 97cm (38in) onthe X300 model to 122cm (48in) onthe X320, plus options to collect,side discharge or mulch grassclippings. For year round versatility,these lawn tractors can be fittedwith a front-mounted brush, snowblade or snow blower.

UK list prices for the X300Series start at £2825 plus VAT; the starting price for thisyear’s new model, the X310, is £3600 plus VAT.


John Deere lawn tractors get a facelift


If you are involved in Hire, Landscaping or Sports TurfRenovation then you will most likely at some stagehave a requirement for a good Turf Cutter. If you get anopportunity to use a Groundsman machine, it will onlytake a few minutes to realise that this Turf Cutter isdefinitely a few generations ahead of any other.

Groundsman Industries are a N. Ireland basedcompany established in 1990 to manufacture theGroundsman range of patented Elliptical Plunge Actionpedestrian and tractor mounting Turf Aerator machines.Over the past twenty years these machines becameknown and respected, particularly by sports clubs andturf maintenance contractors having earned thereputation for performance and durability.

In 2002 Groundsman embarked on a research anddevelopment project to produce a range of Turf Cuttersto complement their Turf Aerator range. Over the pastten years this product has evolved into the Turf MultiCutter (TMC) range that Groundsman produce today.These machines have effortless cutting ability offeringthe highest traction and lowest operator hand-armvibration (HAV) levels on the market and the goodnews is, the TMC24 model has been developedparticularly for the Landscaping and Hire markets. Hireshops who have invested in a Groundsman commentthat the machine works three times better, lasts threetimes longer and customers will drive three timesfurther to get it, money well spent!

The Groundsman TMC range have unique patentedtechnologies that enable them not only to work withless effort to cut turf down to 7cm (3”) thick and from30cm (12”) widths up to 60cm (24”) widths but also toperform a variety of functions as well as regular sodcutting. A range of blades are available which include aSub-soil De-compactor and a Mole-drain working to adepths down to 13cm (5”) The latest innovation is asimple attachment to insert cable down to 7cm (3”)below the surface for low voltage lighting or sub-surface signal cable for robotic grass mowing. TheTMC range include the 6.5HP two wheel drive compactportable machine ideal for landscapers andcontractors, four wheel drive machines which are moresuitable for Sports Clubs or Turf Farms. A Guillotineattachment can be fitted to measure and chop the TurfSod into lengths for rolling and relaying. A 13HP unithas been developed specifically to insert sub-soildripper-line irrigation pipe down to 13cm 5” below thesurface.

For more information including short videos of themachines working visitwww.groundsmanindustries.com Videos can also beviewed on YouTube by clicking on the YouTubeemblem on the site.

GROUNDSMAN TURF CUTTERS,money well spent!


First quarter UK orders for playgrounds and playequipment fell to an eight year low in 2014, accordingto the Association of Play Industries (API).

API member companies reported £42 million of ordersin the first quarter of 2014, the lowest level since thesame quarter in 2006. This is the fourth consecutiveannual fall in Q1 figures and represents a 33 per centdrop since the first quarter of 2010.

The association, which represents UK manufacturers,installers, designers and distributors of outdoor andindoor play equipment and safety surfacing, cites acombination of local authority spending cuts, delayedprocurement decisions and discounting as the causeof declining order books.

The value of API member company orders reached ahigh of £198 million in 2010 following the launch of theprevious government’s national Play Strategy and £235million investment in play provision. The PlaybuilderPlay pathfinder initiative was scrapped by the Coalitiongovernment and by 2013, play industry order valuesfell by 18 per cent to £162 million.

API Chair Michael Hoenigmann says: “The UK issuffering a physical inactivity epidemic which threatensthe lives of our children and generations to comeunless it is addressed urgently. Reports that call for anational cross-party, department and sector strategy totackle the crisis are welcome but now it is time foraction. It is important that the vital role of active playfrom children’s earliest years is recognised at a policylevel. Inactive children become inactive adults whichincrease the burden on the NHS every year. There is astrong economic case for investment in the provisionof high-quality, accessible places, spaces andequipment for children’s play – particularly indisadvantaged communities.”

The API is the lead trade body within the UK playsector, representing approximately 85 per cent of UKplay industry companies. It campaigns at the highestlevels for policy recognition of the value of play.

For further information about the API, contact: Deborah Holt, tel: 024 7641 4999 ext. 208,email [email protected]

Playground Orders Falling Despite Calls To AddressInactivity Crisis

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www.proludic.co.uk


Created over a decade ago by Japanese entrepreneur andplayground innovator Yasushi Ochi, the Yu Kids soft play systemhas taken the international play industry by storm. Yu Kids isbased on the principles of using visual appeal and movement tocraft a play experience that is enriching, engaging andeducational whilst also providing peace of mind for parents thattheir child is in an environment that is completely safe.

With over 250 Yu Kids sites in Japan alone and a further 66 inshopping centres and FEC’s around the world, this peace ofmind is also being given to owners and operators of venues thatthey are providing an attractive and dynamic offering for theirvisitors which is head and shoulders above the average playsystem.

“There have been few innovations in soft play systems in over adecade. Yu Kids is fresh, animating, inviting, completelyinnovative and is the perfect way for an FEC to add value to theirvenue, drive footfall and increase revenue,” says JonathanBeevers, Managing Director- Licensing at ParagonEntertainment.

Paragon Entertainment, the UK based attractions company -which has recently launched its latest division to license IP anddistribute products into the leisure attractions market, hasobtained the rights to distribute Yu Kids in multiple countries inEurope, Africa and the Middle East. The first UK based Yu Kidshas already made its debut at Quest, Paragon’s own familyentertainment centre at Westfield’s Merry Hill shopping centre inDudley.

“In the UK and Europe we are seeing many enquiries fromcurrent Soft Play owners looking for new, attractive anddifferentiating offers. Yu Kids is a great cost effective innovationand a new era in Soft Play, mix this with Paragon's world classdesign and fit out services and incredible spaces can berealised.”

An owner/operator can select from over 30 different Yu Kidsattractions, all made with high quality materials and boastingvisually stunning pastel colours. This allows a fully customisablechildren’s adventure playground to be designed and fitted intoeither an existing space or a stand-alone venue.

“The versatility of Yu Kids is key, which means that a solution canbe provided that perfectly suits an owner/operator’s individualneeds.” Jonathan added.

Paragon Entertainment also operates one of Europe’s largest inhouse theming facilities which- when applied- can provide aunique spin on a play system and space for endlessindividualism between operators and venues.

For more information about Yu Kids or Paragon Entertainment’sother branded attraction concepts please visitwww.paragonlicensing.co.uk.

Jonathan Beevers Managing Director - Licensing Paragon EntertainmentE. [email protected]: +44 (0) 7794 543941 T. +44 (0) 1904 608020F: +44 (0) 1904 608011 www.paragonent.com

Yu Kids – Theworldwide soft

play successstory makes its

way to the UK


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A holiday park is no longer just a destination forcaravans and country cottages, with the rise of the‘Stay-Cation’ families are now looking for a memorableexperience that shows real value for money. Plus it mustkeep the whole family engaged and motivatedthroughout the duration of their stay.

Parents now demand new and exciting holidayadventures that both mum and dad will enjoy, as wellas keeping the children interested through engaging,playful and active leisure attractions - that won’t breakthe bank.

Paragon Entertainment, a Yorkshire based attractionscompany is looking at various innovative ways that willnot only benefit your holiday park’s bottom line throughan increase in bookings, but it will also showcase thepark’s commitment to providing the most up to date,safe and active leisure solutions in the UK right now.

Jonathan Beevers, managing director of licensing atParagon Entertainment, explains: “More and morepeople now decide to stay at home instead of flying outfor their summer break. Holiday parks need to come tothe realisation that to survive they need to up theirgame when it comes to their leisure facility offering.”

“People demand a unique holiday experience that thewhole family will enjoy. So what is going to make yourpark stand out from all the others? Gone are the dayswhen families will be happy with a picnic bench and afootball, parents of course still want their children toenjoy themselves, but what is now key is that activitiesavailable need to be educated and develop the child asan individual.“

“The idea of investing in active play is not just for a PElesson or the school playground, this is now what isrequired for all leisure facilities, including any familyholiday destinations that hope to stay successful.”

Active play is not a new concept but in the past decadeit has become a leading topic in the media, severalgovernment bodies and promoted through healthinitiatives. But what actually is active play? According toActivePlay.co.uk, it’s any form of regular physicalactivity that includes moderate to vigorous bursts ofhigh energy that raises their heart rate above normallevel.

For a baby, active play may include reaching out totouch something, rolling over or balancing in a sittingposition. For a child it can be as simple as running orjumping. Active play can occur indoors and outdoors,alone or with family and friends.

A recent report by The British Toy and HobbyAssociation (BTHA) found that even though active playis more well known and acknowledged as a concept incurrent society, there are actually fewer opportunities foractive play than in the past. There are less urban parks,less school time devoted to play and fewer publicfacilities for families to enjoy, which all contributestowards a sedentary lifestyle. This is when problemslike infant obesity occur.

So what are the actual benefits of active play? Theconcept not only has immediate benefits on thephysical body and fitness but also it has long-termbenefits including, a healthier lifestyle and betterphysical and intellectual social skills.

By spending time each day dedicated to active play, ithas been proven to help develop the brain, improvemotor skills and physical strength. It is also the mosteffective teaching strategy both in school and out whenit comes to developing social skills. The BTHA reportalso noted that active play develops self-confidenceand builds self-esteem, having a positive impact onchildren to early adulthood (12 to 22 year olds).

So why is this important to a holiday park? Jonathanexplains: “It goes back to the whole idea of experienceand keeping the kids from getting bored. A holiday parkthat offers its guests a leisure solution that not onlykeeps the kids entertained, but also retains theirengagement for the duration of their stay ticks all theboxes for a unique experience and real value formoney.”

“It is in this area that Paragon Entertainment is making apush on. Working on attraction concepts that are notonly focused on being active physically, but alsostimulating and enriching for children taking part inthese activities.The idea being to keep children active, parents satisfiedand holiday parks full of both new and repeat visitors.”adds Jonathan.

HPM would like to thank Paragon Entertainment forcontributing this article. www.paragonent.com

How To Be More Than Just a Holiday Park…



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Getting prepped for PEAK!

If you own or operate a Holiday Park or leisurebusiness and are looking to upgrade your AV andentertainment systems, or just want to be sure they’reworking OK, then the best company to contact isIlluminate Design.

The company specialises in designing, installing andmaintaining technical systems for leisure venues,holiday parks and visitor attractions. Its experiencedteam has successfully completed many projects, fromminor system upgrades for small operators to thedesign of multi-venue systems for major players suchas Bourne Leisure and Pontins.

No matter what your needs, Illuminate Design canhelp: perhaps you just need a ‘health check’ of yoursystem or to hire a few microphones to supplementyour existing kit.

Maybe you’re thinking of going one step further andupgrading your system to deliver great results for yourguests. Maybe a new stage, a new audio system orvideo screens to add extra impact to your shows or tobe used for promotional messages.

Using their wide knowledge of audio, lighting and AVproducts, Illuminate Design’s team of technical expertsand designers will ensure you have a high qualitysystem that operates reliably and safely over a longperiod, but most importantly delivers maximum valuefor your budget.

They’ll also manage the whole process - often workingto short install times so you're up and running quickly.Once the design has been signed off, you’ll beprovided with everything you need, from projectdocumentation to full training. You can also takeadvantage of competitively-priced technical supportand maintenance packages which keep your systemsoperating seamlessly.

If you haven’t reviewed your entertainment systems in awhile, this is a good time to do so before the seasongets fully underway.

If you’re interested in learning more, please call.Illuminate Design01223 [email protected]

Call in the EntertainmentSystem Specialists


The Scottish Caravan & Camping Forum (SCCF)has commissioned Frontline Consultancy, a well-known research company based in Scotland, tocarry out an economic impact assessment of theholiday park sector in Scotland. The research willgather information on the economic impact of theholiday parks sector from two fronts - parkowners/operators and consumers who use theparks – with the objective of establishing anaccurate picture of the economic value of theholiday park industry in Scotland.

The survey will be completed by the end of the year,when the findings will be published. They will go tokey people in the Scottish and UK Governments, inlocal authorities and in Visit Scotland and will alsobe made available to parks for their own use inlobbying, planning applications, fundingapplications etc. Where possible, the economic-impact value will be identified by region.

Park-owner/operators Frontline and the Forum have established adatabase of almost 300 parks and Frontline will contact a representative number of parkowners/operators for face-to-face or telephoneinterviewscontact the rest of the parks to invite them tocomplete an online survey.Areas covered in the park-owner/operator researchare:

Background Type of park (in terms of accommodation provided- Owned static CHHs Owned static other units,Rented static CHHs, Rented static other units,Touring pitches)Scale of operation (in terms of number of units byaccommodation type)Other activities and resources onsite (toilets,showers, retail, f&d)History of development (age, key investments overtime)ExpenditureExpenditure on park assets (includingaccommodation stock both new and second handand other park assets) and location of expenditure(local / non-local / national)Expenditure on wages and salaries, includinglocation of staffNumber of staff (seasonal, full time, part timepresented as FTEs)Visitor ProfileOrigin of visitorsDetails of their season length / seasonalityvariationsDuration of their peak, high , mid and low seasonsEstimates of the percentage of eachaccommodation type that were occupied in eachseasonSocial / Environmental BenefitsExamples how parks integrate with local communityExamples of how parks support environmentalobjectives


An Economic Impact Assessment of the Holiday ParkIndustry in Scotland


Holiday-makersConsumers will be invited to complete aquestionnaire, either online or a hard copy.

All who do so will be entered in a prize draw to winone of two week-long holidays and four shortbreaks (provided by Parkdean Holidays)

Areas covered in holidaymaker research are;

AccommodationNumber of holidays/short breaks taken in past 12monthsReason for visiting a particular area.Expenditure estimated amount spent and areas of expenditure(e.g. accommodation, travel, Entertainment and food and drink) The research will take place from March toSeptember and the information gathered will betreated in confidence

Parks are being asked to encourage theircustomers to complete the survey either online or inhard copy form.

There will also be publicity in caravan magazinesand on various websites, including those of theSCCF members. SCCF members will also includeinformation in newsletters to their databases.

Cost: this is an industry initiative and the costs arebeing met by members of the Forum.

Website: the SCCF has a website which acts as aportal for consumers to find information on parks inScotland.http://www.scottishcaravanholidayparks.co.uk/

The Forum’s members are:

- the British Holiday & Home Parks Association(BH&HPA)- the Caravan Club- the Camping and Caravanning Club- the National Caravan Council (NCC)

- Thistle Holiday Parks

- and VisitScotland (the national tourist board)

The Forum represents the industry in Scotland andmeets twice a year.The Forum’s remit (as contained in the Terms ofReference June 2013) is:

The Caravan & Camping Forum for Scotland: provides a forum to debate all issues of interest toor affecting the parks industry in Scotland encompasses all interests within the parks industry,including caravan holiday homes (for sale and hire),chalets/lodges, touring caravans, motorhomes,tents and park homes considers the interests of park business of all sizes(from micro-business to large enterprises) considers the interests of the parks industry in allregions of Scotland. operates as a forum for the exchange of views, andnot as a separately constituted entity. provides a mechanism to appoint a parks industryrepresentative to outside bodies where relevant.

For further information please contact Bob Hill,The Camping & Caravanning Club Tel: 02476 475306 E-mail:[email protected]

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Things are looking up for young guests at a topLakeland caravan park, thanks to a new initiative tostop them constantly looking down at their smartphones on holiday.

Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside, celebratedfor its successful reintroduction of red squirrels, ischallenging youngsters to find six toy squirrels hiddenin the grounds.

The furry family will beconcealed in treesaround the 130-acrepark, meaning childrenmust look skywardsrather than down attheir screens.

Six stuffed squirrelsightings, confirmedby a snaps on theirsmartphones ortablets, will earn sharp-eyed children their ownfluffy friend to takehome.

However, park directorHenry Wild admits thatthe secret squirrelquest has a hiddenagenda – for he hopesit will re-focus youngattention from Tweetsto real-life twitters.

Skelwith Fold, saysHenry, abounds withvibrant bird-life whichis easily missed ifmuch of a youngster'stime outdoors is spentscanning their devicesfor messages.

The difficulty of persuading children to swap their littlescreens for the wider world is one which a number ofparents on holiday have mentioned, said Henry.

They fear that a fixation with social media means thatkids are likely to be ignoring the natural environment infavour of links sent by friends to skateboarding cats.

But if Skelwith Fold's plan works, youngsters will soonbe discovering the rich array of birdlife on the park,from finches and buntings to siskins, redstarts,woodpeckers and nuthatches.

"We hope that mums and dads will also tag along, andpoint out some of the many bird species we have atSkelwith with the help of an identification chart we'llsupply," said Henry.

"With just a littleencouragement,youngsters can quicklydevelop a deepfascination for wildlife,and the Lake District isone of the best placesin Britain to start," headded.

Encouragingholidaymakers tobecome involved withthe natural worldhelped Skelwith Foldto gain the DavidBellamy ConservationAward once again thisyear at its top goldlevel.

The park has also wonmuch praise for itsother initiatives,including a note ofcongratulations fromthe Prince of Wales forits successful efforts toreintroduce redsquirrels.

But although the timidreds can be difficult to

spot, Henry hopes that the mascot family in thegrounds will turn youngsters' attention from Twitter tothe trees:

"If we can get our young guests to swap tweets forchirps even for a short while, then we may see themreturning home with a wonderful new interest takingflight," said Henry.

Cumbria park's bid to see kids swap tweets for cheeps


Ladram Bay HolidayPark near BudleighSalterton, EastDevon, has beenvoted one of theUnited Kingdom'stop 25 familyaccommodation providers. (Link at end of story)

The park, itself family-owned, beat thousands of other parks andhotels to gain a place in the prestigious "Travellers' Choice Awards2014" run by TripAdvisor.

The review website bases its list of winners each year on theverdicts of millions of people who rate their experiences at differentplaces to stay and visit.

In the "family accommodation" category of the awards, LadramBay Holiday Park was voted in at number 11, thanks to the volumeof positive feedback from previous guests.

The vast majority gave the park an "excellent" or "very good" ratingwith many making enthusiastic comments about the quality of theirstay and the friendliness of staff.

Ladram Bay, which has been a favourite of Devon holidaymakerssince the 1940s, has been owned and run by the Carter familysince it first began welcoming camping guests.

Today it provides a host of family-friendly attractions andentertainment, plus private beach access, from its breathtakingcliff-top position overlooking the bay.

Guests can rent a luxury caravan holiday home or apartment, orbuy a holiday home to visit whenever they choose. Campers andtouring caravan and motorhome owners are also still welcome.

Also recently opened at the park is Portland View, a luxury lodgedevelopment with panoramic views of the iconic Jurassic Coast;lodges can be bought or rented as a holiday let.

General Manager at Ladram Bay, Claire Williams, said everyonewas absolutely thrilled to have achieved a place of honour inTripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice listings:

"In recent years we have invested a great deal of time, effort andmoney to create one of the most fantastic environments wherefamilies can come to enjoy a Devon seaside holiday," said Claire.

"But we also make a huge commitment to customer service, andthis is delivered by our staff teams who make very special efforts toensure that guests get the most from their stays.

"This is reflected in many of the comments made on TripAdvisor,and unquestionably contributed to our finding ourselves in the toptwenty-five UK family accommodation providers.

"So a large share of the credit for this award must go to our staffwho help ensure that the majority of our business each year comesfrom repeat bookings and recommendations," added Claire.

Park popularity up as more takeflight from overseas holidays

One of Britain's largest holidaypark groups, Park Holidays UK,says it can suggest a reasonwhy overseas bookings aretaking a nosedive this year.

It says the fall of 3% in bookings reported by Europe's biggesttour operator* is being countered by an 11% rise in demand forpark holidays in England.

Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish thinks that the increasingnumber of families deciding to stay in the UK this year is beinginfluenced by three main factors.

Last year's scorching summer, and the good omens fromweather experts for this year, mean fewer people are feeling theneed to fly abroad in search of sunshine.

Secondly, says Tony, many families are becoming exasperatedwith the hassle of flying and lengthy transfers which make suchholidays far from a relaxing experience.

The third and equally persuasive reason, he believes is theperceived poor value which overseas holidays offer, comparedwith inclusive UK stays.

The report of a fall in overseas bookings, he points out, alsosaid that the average selling price of a continental holiday was5% higher this year, compared with last.

By contrast, said Tony, prices at Park Holidays UK are broadlysimilar to last summer's – and in many instances, could besourced for even less on its website.

Currently, he points out, it's possible to book a three or four daybreak from just £69.00 for the entire family – a sum which wouldbe unlikely to cover just airport parking for that time.

Other substantial savings are achieved by being able to enjoyall of the park's facilities within the price, from swimming poolsand kids' activities to professional evening entertainment.

Park Holidays UK owns 23 parks in Devon and SouthernEngland, and says the vast majority of its bookings each yearare repeat visits or made as a result of a recommendation.

It says it expects, however, to see a larger increase than normalthis year in the number of people choosing a park holiday inplace of an overseas stay:

"We know that when such families do come to a park, perhapsfor the first time in many years, the majority are always keen torepeat the experience," said Tony.

"The superb quality of the facilities and accommodation cancome as a real eye-opener, and many are left simply wonderingwhy they hadn't done this sooner!" he added.

Park popularity up as more takeflight from overseas holidays

Top spot in TripAdvisor awardsfor Devon's Ladram Bay


Darwin Leisure Property Fund acquires Yew Tree Parkin Kent

3.5 acre park set in the Kent Downs Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty becomes the 16th park inthe Fund’s portfolio

The Darwin Leisure Property Fund, the only fund in theUK investing in the lucrative £6 billion holiday parkindustry, has added Yew Tree Park near Canterbury inKent to its portfolio of holiday parks. The park waspurchased for an undisclosed sum from its privateowners.

Yew Tree Park is set in the Kent Downs Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty, just south of the historicCathedral city of Canterbury, and offers 55 touringcaravan and tenting pitches as well as 13 staticcaravan pitches, 4 holiday apartments and a timberlodge. The park also features an outdoor heatedswimming pool, toilet and shower blocks and laundry.

Anthony Esse, Chief Executive of Darwin PropertyInvestment Management Limited, which is theinvestment adviser to the Fund, said of the acquisition:“We are delighted to have added Yew Tree Park to our

portfolio of UK holiday parks. This is a charming parkset in a stunning location and I have no doubt that ourexperienced management team will ensure that visitorsto the park have an even better experience goingforward.”

The Darwin Leisure Property Fund increased in size byover £120m during 2013, and has a strategy to deploythese assets by investing in existing parks within theportfolio, as has been the case with the flagshipCheddar Woods Resort & Spa in Somerset and MullionCove Coastal Retreat in Cornwall, and by acquiringnew parks into the portfolio. The purchase of Yew TreePark is expected to be the first of several which theFund makes in 2014 and the team at Darwin continueto look for new opportunities to acquire parks. RogerVail, Property Adviser to the Fund, commented: “This isan exciting time as we seek new acquisitions to join theportfolio. The Fund’s size means that candidates foracquisition are likely to be of a similar size or largerthan Yew Tree, but geographically we are consideringall parts of the UK. Anyone with a park which theythink may be suitable is welcome to contact me”.Darwin is hoping to have added six to eight parks tothe portfolio by the end of 2014.

Darwin Leisure Property Fund acquires Yew Tree Park in Kent

Omar Group were delighted to host 46 members of theEast Anglia Branch of the BH&HPA on Thursday 3rd ofApril.

Joan Clarke MBE, Deputy Director General, started themorning with a presentation on the associations’viewpoint for the new site licencing conditions thatcome into effect on the 1st of April. The East Anglian,BH&HPA members were also addressed by BranchDirector, Paul Searle and Omar Group Chief Executive,Dean Westmoreland.

Dean’s presentation covered the unprecedentedgrowth within the Omar Group, which has led to therecruitment of over 90 new staff in the past 12 months.Dean also talked about other exciting newdevelopments, including the services and turnkeysolutions offered by Omar’s new division, Omar ParkDevelopment Services (OPDS) www.omarpds.co.ukand the rebranding of Wessex Unique Lodges & ParkHomes and their stunning new range of luxury lodgesand park homes.

BH&HPA members enjoyed lunch in the boardroombefore splitting into groups for a tour of Omar Group’simpressive 13½ acre headquarters and factory site.This was the first time many of the members had anopportunity to see the Omar production facilities, alongwith many of the exciting new products that both Omarand Wessex have to offer. The tour also gave thegroup the chance to see first hand, the quality of buildand attention to detail that is synonymous with all OmarGroup products.

BH&HPA East Anglian Branch visit the Omar Group

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The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks,and Campsites


Holiday Parks Management

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Holiday Parks Mag issue 14 Revised

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