Holiday Parks Management Magazine

Shaping the Future to the Holiday Park & Leisure Industry www.holidayparksmanagement.com

Trade Supplies to Holiday Parks Caravan Parks and Camping Sites

features

Issue 6

Landscaping Playfair Show Catering Jofli Bear Competition Solar Heating from React SW pages 3 - 5

Organised by:

Plraacytio&ns Att

Leisure Industry Week (LIW) is the UK’s leading exhibition for the out of home leisure industry. Play & Attractions at LIW provides a dedicated forum for the family entertainment and visitor attractions sector to explore indoor and outdoor play equipment, test new products and keep up with the latest developments.

Register today for FREE entry at www.liw.co.uk 2

About U s Maggie Media Ltd is an energetic business offering a website called Holiday Parks Management and magazine to clients throughout the UK and Europe. The company, which is located in Hereford, was set up in October 2010 and the owner has over 12 years of experience in the Camping and Caravans sector and the Leisure and Groundcare Industry.

o help reduce greenhouse gases, the UK government makes payments to businesses which produce renewable energy. Photovoltaic panels (electricity from sunlight) solar thermal panels ( hot water from sunshine) and heat pumps (which draw heat from the ground) all qualify.

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Helping clients to source supplies and services throughout the year, the company provides businesses with a professional website and magazine. With B2B suppliers to the Holiday Park Industry and experienced personnel, the services are designed to improve performance and help with Holiday Park Management.

Maggie Media Ltd has a growing network of clients, situated throughout the UK, including Haven Holidays, RMS Global, The Log Pod, KMJ Property.

The company is owned by Nina Blanchard who has been involved in the Caravan Parks, Holiday Parks and Leisure Industry for many years.

The Management team are more than able to oversee the company, having owned and are still running the very successful website called www.ukcampsitefinder.co.uk with major clients like Park Holiday UK, Holgates, South West Lakes Trust, Argos, Outdoor World to name but a few.

Designed and Produced by Print Plus 01432 272025 www.printplushereford.co.uk Maggie Media Ltd 7378641. © Copyright 2012

React (SW) Ltd believe that these technologies, used together with heat stores, can enable holiday parks to generate much of the energy they use – and get paid for it.

They are entering this market with an offer – they will install one complete system at cost price. All they ask is occasional access to demonstrate it to future potential customers.

Details are available at www.reactweb.co.uk/campsites The company is always ready to answer questions – about the offer, or renewable energy in general – and to survey any site to advise what savings they can achieve for your holiday park.

Call on 01752 562079 and 07427742919 or email reactsw@gmail.com www.reactweb.co.uk/campsites

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An integrated approach to R Good holiday parks keep the customers comfortable - and people expect hot water.

However, energy costs continue to rise, with no end in sight. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could provide hot water from sunshine – and get paid for taking the trouble?

The good news is - you can. Thanks to generous subsidies, solar PV panels (the sort that generate electricity) have been appearing on the roofs of houses everywhere.

Commercial and industrial users can receive similar support not only for PV, but also for a range of technologies which produce heat.

We offer a integrated package of renewable energy sources, tailored to the requirements of holiday parks. A standard installation will consist of: • Solar thermal panels. These are flat panels which use sunshine to heat water directly • A ground-source heat pump. Connected to pipes buried in the ground, this takes a few degrees of heat out of a large volume of earth, and concentrates it into a small volume of water. This means that, for every Kw of electricity you put into the heat pump, you can get up to 4Kw of heat.

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• Solar PV panels. These generate electricity directly, which can be used on site or exported to the grid. The power that you generate during the day can supply caravans and site facilities and offset the use of the heat pump to provide hot water after the sun had gone down.

• A heat store. A large tank. that will store the excess heat gathered by the solar thermal panels during the day, and release when it is needed in the afternoon.

This integrated approach, designed specifically for holiday camps, will provide hot water for showers, space heating and other facilities – and can be extended to substantially reduce the cost of running an indoor swimming pool.

Energy costs continue to rise, but sunshine is free. Not only can you make energy savings now, but your investment will provide a greater return with every increase in the cost of gas and grid electricity.

All of the devices we install attract government subsidies which are guaranteed for at least 20 years.

Renewable Energy • For PV (solar electricity) you receive a payment for every Kw/hr you generate, and another for electricity you generate but don't use (which is automatically fed into the national grid).

• Solar thermal systems and heat pumps attract payments for every unit of heat they generate.

The amount of subsidy paid varies with the size of the installation but, in every case, it is designed to make the technology economically attractive.

More details are available at www.reactweb.co.uk/campsites For an analysis of how much you could save, contact us at reactsw@gmail.com We are confident that our approach can make considerable savings for holiday camp owners now, and insulate them from future rises in the cost of conventional energy.

However, to show what our integrated approach can achieve, people need to see a complete system in operation – along with real-world data demonstrating it's efficiency.

That's why we are making the following offer: we will custom-design and install a complete system consisting of solar thermal + heat pump + PV at cost price for one site only. We make only two conditions: • We are allowed reasonable access to the site for as long as the installation is active, in order to demonstrate it to potential customers • We can gather and publicise detailed data showing how much power has been generated and money saved For more details, and to be considered for this offer, please contact us at reactsw@gmail.com with details of your site.

t: (01752) 562079 m: 07427742919

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Maximise Your Pool Profits from Our Range of Products

Visit us at www.seascooteruk.com for further details, or call the office on 01709 515157.

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Visit Playfair 2012!

New funding methods for play How active play can aid child development Community rights to change public space Government health initiatives aiming to tackle childhood obesity Playfair is an important event for both local authority staff (children and youth services; parks and open spaces teams) and parents who are active in the community, either as school governors or in resident’s associations.

egistration is now open to attend Playfair 2012, the UK’s only playground-dedicated trade show which is FREE to attend.

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Playfair 2012 looks set to be the best yet with several API member companies displaying the latest playground designs, as well as a packed seminar programme, ensuring every visitor leaves with a fresh perspective on play. This year there will be presentations and Q&A sessions on:

2012 will also see the API celebrate the fifth anniversary of Playfair and team-up with the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) trade show held alongside for easier visitor access.

Held on the 19-20 June at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, PlayFair 2012 is free to attend. To register, visit the Playfair website: www.playfairuk.com For further information contact Ray Baxter at Brintex on 020 7973 4695 or email: r.baxter@hgluk.com

ofli Bears wear a backpack containing a journal for families to record memories of their holidays and adventures.

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Additional journals and accessories can be added over the years to make Jofli a true life companion who encourages photos and diary entries to record life’s memorable moments. The journals can be personalised with ‘Christening’ ‘Holiday’ ‘Child’s name’ or any word to name the adventure. Parents start the journals for younger children, and as they get older they help to create the journals themselves. A fun way to

encourage literacy and creative skills, and an activity that the whole family can get involved with. The true value of owning a Jofli Bear is seen in years to come when the journals become a priceless keepsake for the family to look back on.

ENTER COMP HERE: http://www.ukcampsitefinder.co.uk/draws.php#d23 Use voucher code HP to get 10% off a Jofli Starter Kit and FREE personalisation on the journal, just add the name in the comments box at checkout. Buy online at www.jofli.com or call 01142 997931.

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1HZ :HEVLWH &RPLQJ 6RRQ We are excited to announce the imminent launch of our new website. Dedicated to the accommodation sector, you’ll find all the products you need to keep your business thriving-in one convenient, easy to use site. Jam packed with great deals and fantastic quality goods, we’re confident you’ll find ZZZ DFFRPPRGDWLRQVXSSOLHV FR XN your number one site for all your accommodation needs!

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ith the Golden Jubilee and the Olympic games, 2012 is proving to be a year of celebration. And as the economy is predicting a busy season for the hospitality trade, we have a lot to look forward to. But catering for an influx of holiday guests can be stressful are you worried your onsite catering facilities will be stretched?

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With everyone getting together to share in the celebrations, ensure you have a steady supply of plates and crockery to cater for everyone. Quality pieces such as DPS Tablewareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coupe Plates provide an economical and practical solution.

Available in bulk and with an elegant simplicity, these plates are easy to match and are excellent value for money.

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guests are well catered for without burdening your conscience.

Sourcing your equipment from a reliable supplier with flexible delivery is of paramount importance, so that if stock levels are running low, you are safe in the knowledge that your demands are met with minimal fuss.

With a well stocked business, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to a prosperous season! Why not use virtually unbreakable polycarbonate reusable champagne flutes for your toast?!

Pattersons - accommodating all your holiday park needs.

Having a sufficient stock of disposable tableware is also a great failsafe. With many environmentally friendly ranges available you can rest assured your

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Compact design, p rofile aand nd u nique aarticulated rticulated steering steering delivers delivers u nbeatable profile unique unbeatable ttrimming rimm ming aability bility aand nd m anoeuvrrability. R educing ttime ime and and cos manoeuvrability.

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Complete range for holiday park landscaping usqvarna has been delivering reliable machines to professional landscape users around the globe for more than 50 years. It all started with ground-breaking chainsaws which featured smart, unique solutions combining high productivity with superb ergonomics. These qualities and innovative spirit have been retained over time as Husqvarna has continued to create a range of ground-breaking commercial landscaping products using cutting edge technology; engineering everything from commercial handheld machines to high performance ride-on mowers and specialist lawn care products.

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Lawn care A perfectly mowed lawn calls for a lawnmower that is tailor made for both user and the job at hand. For this reason, Husqvarna provides an extensive range of machines that offer different cutting methods to meet virtually every cutting need. With the right equipment, the job becomes easier and the superior results speak for themselves. Choose from Lawnmowers, Front mowers, Riders and Compact tractors.

Clearing Husqvarna’s range of Brushcutters and Trimmers combine power with low weight and are easy and ergonomic to handle - helping to make sure that you get results that you’ll be proud of.

Ground care Powerful, precise and efficient, Husqvarna’s range of ground care products offer a variety of models to cater for different needs. From Hedge Trimmers, Blowers and Aerators to Stump Grinders and Power Cutters all have been designed with the demanding professional in mind.

Tree care Improved year on year to offer optimal engine performance, superior ergonomics and enhanced safety, Husqvarna’s range of chainsaws, top handle saws and pole saws are suited to long, demanding shifts in all weather conditions.

As a manufacturer who designs and engineers products specifically adapted for commercial use, Husqvarna’s solutions will help build a profitable business.

Our commercial business development team and authorised network of dealers are more than willing to help you choose the right machinery for your tasks.

To arrange an on-site demonstration, request a catalogue or simply find out more, please visit our website: http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/landscape-andgroundcare/home/

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Park News Not And granny came too families unite on holiday front Many families will be packing more than suitcases into their cars for this year's summer holidays - they will also be making room for grandma and granddad.

That's the finding of a major holiday parks group, Best of British, which reports a growing trend for couples with kids to join up with grandparents for holidays.

Although the move helps spread holiday costs, says the group, many families are also motivated by wanting to spend quality time together outside their busy working lives.

The growth of three-generation holidays has been pinpointed by Best of British among the 50-plus independent holiday parks in its membership.

Many parks say their 2012 bookings show that a record number of holidays this year will be taken by extended family groups going away together.

Best of British chairman Claire Jeavons says that although pressure on household budgets is a likely factor behind the trend, there were other good reasons to teamup with gran and grandpa: "Multi-generation holidays were once more common in Britain, but became less practical - and with fewer savings benefits - as overseas holidays gained popularity," said Ms Jeavons.

"Now, though, British stay-cations are gaining ground, and families are 13

using the opportunity to come together and enjoy each other's company in neutral territory away from home.

"As well as sharing the expenses, it also means mum and dad have a built-in child care service so that they can make an occasional escape and be just a couple again," she added.

Why Lakes lover Jess wasn't wooed by Italy When young tourism worker Jess Sutcliffe was offered the choice of a new job in either Ambleside or the sunny shores of Italy's Lake Garda, she didn't hesitate for a minute.

Happy memories of family holidays

Parks belonging to the group, said Ms Jeavons, are mainly familyowned businesses at the top end of the holiday parks market, and were often quick to spot changing dynamics.

"Our experience is that a wide range of ages creates the most relaxed atmosphere for everyone," said Ms Jeavons who helps manage her family business of Beverley Holidays in Paignton, South Devon.

Members of Best of British can be found throughout the UK, and variously provide caravan holiday homes and lodges, plus pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

More information can be found online at www.Bob.org.uk.

in Cumbria prompted an immediate decision to opt for Britain's Lakeland scenery, and the chance to join one of the region's top holiday parks.

Jess is now one of the two new seasonal wardens at Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, and will be working alongside Emma Lightfoot who was also appointed at the same time to the role.

The two are part of an expanded staff line-up at the park in readiness for the new holiday season.

Originally from Rochdale, Jess

tice Board always wanted to work in tourism, and spent three years as a courier for Eurocamp after leaving Manchester Metropolitan university.

Whilst based in France she met Emma, also a Eurocamp employee who previously worked as a medical photographer, and the couple decided to seek a management role in tourism together.

They were interviewed for warden jobs on holiday parks in picturepostcard Lake Garda and at fivestar Skelwith Fold - and were offered both.

But it was Cumbria, where she and her family enjoyed many caravan holidays in the South Lakes, which represented Jess's dream job, and where she and Emma now live at Skelwith Fold.

Another new post at Skelwith Fold Caravan Park has been filled by Leon Haxton who is now park warden having been promoted to the position after a year working at the business.

Leon - who has long enjoyed taking Lakeland holidays in his motorhome - joined the park after a successful career as a marketing manager in the motorcycle industry based in Lancashire.

Also joining the park is Sarah Hodgson from Grasmere who is now a front-of-house receptionist.

Born in Ambleside, Sarah attended the Lakes School in Windermere and is a keen skier and walker.

Other appointments at the business are expected to be announced shortly.

Skelwith Fold director Henry Wild said that the 130-acre wooded park was fortunate in being able to attract a very high calibre of applicant for the positions it advertises: "An important part of the experience we offer is a high standard of service and hospitality from our managers and staff, and that is always reflected in our guests' comments," said Henry.

"We offer a great quality of life for both staff and holidaymakers - and though it's the staff doing the work, they enjoy the atmosphere here as much as everyone!" he added.

Party Britain boosts park breaks and buyers New figures from a leading holiday parks group suggest that Britons are catching the party spirit well in advance of the country's two big landmark events this year.

Holiday bookings on the website of Park Holidays UK are up by a massive 83 percent compared with this period last year, suggesting an upcoming summer of love for domestic holidays.

And even in March, says company director Tony Clish, families took 33 percent more breaks than in the same month in 2011 with a similar rise predicted for April.

"We have been supporting the work of the tourist boards in publicising Britain as the world's best holiday destination during this Olympics and Diamond Jubilee year," said Tony.

"Without doubt, there is going to be a party atmosphere throughout the country - and as our figures show, it's something which everybody

seems wants to connect with.

"Park Holidays UK as a company is delighted, of course - but another great reason to celebrate is the extra millions of pounds which will be bolstering our tourism economy," he added.

Another figure released by Park Holidays UK indicates that the staycation trend of recent years is likely to intensify even further in the future.

The business says that sales of caravan holiday homes this year are so far up by 51 percent on last year's volume as families make a longer-term commitment to holidays in this country.

"Buyers of second homes are effectively saying that they have decided to regard Britain as their primary holiday destination for the foreseeable future," said Tony.

"Holiday home owners also tend to take more breaks right throughout the year which gives an additional boost to leisure spending in the coastal rural areas where we have parks," he commented.

Park Holidays UK, which came into being just five years ago, now has a portfolio of 25 coastal holiday parks in Devon and southern and eastern England.

The group has won a reputation within the holiday industry for investing substantially in its accommodation and facilities in order to create the highest possible standards.

More information about holidays and second-home ownership, plus seasonal deals currently on offer, is available at www.ParkHolidays.co.uk.

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RUBBER SAFETY FLOORING EXPERTS The art of installation to the whole of the Holiday Park Industry Work undertaken pool surrounds, golf pathways, driving ranges, play areas, wet play, ramps and boat decks

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Quality Outdoor Furniture Durable, elegant & maintenance free.

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Contact: C ontact: d diane@gaplimited.co.uk iane@gaplimited.co.uk www.poly-wood.co.uk 0845 0845 519 519 4085 4085 www.poly-wood.co.uk

Suppliers News New broom sweeps clean It would take five men hand sweeping an hour. It takes one man with a SweepEx five minutes. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about the versatile SweepEx push broom system with its ability to sweep virtually any material and fast.

The new SweepEx line-up comprises six brooms to choose from for cleaning up industrial and building sites, through to uses in amenity, groundscare and agriculture.

Broadwood International 01420 478111 www.broadwoodintl.co.uk

Fine dust, grain, small stones and pebbles, packaging scrap, metal swarf, mud and even snow, the list is endless. You simple attach a SweepEx brush to the host vehicle, be it a forklift, loader, telehandler, skidsteer or tractor and away you go.

Whatever the industry, there are hundreds of applications where SweepEx cleans up quickly and cost-effectively, reducing manual labour costs by up to 98%. As there are no moving parts there is no danger of flying debris and the whole operation is safe and maintenance free. No chains, motors or drive belts to fail so there is never any downtime. The unique bristles are designed to sweep up to 450 miles before wearing out and even then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a five minute job to change them.

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5HOLDEOH (IILFLHQW DQG )DVW Our aim at Pattersons is to provide you WHAT you want WHEN you need it, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we pride ourselves on our excellent delivery service that includes a variety of competitive rates and Saturday delivery!

Â&#x2021; 1DWLRQDO 1H[W 'D\ 'HOLYHU\ Â&#x2021; )5(( 'HOLYHU\ )RU 2UGHUV 2YHU Â&#x2026; VXEMHFW WR WHUPV DQG FRQGLWLRQV

Â&#x2021; 6DWXUGD\ 'HOLYHU\ 6HUYLFH We understand it is vital to your business that your supplier is reliable and offers flexible delivery that works around you. We strive to meet your demands whilst providing an unrivalled level of customer care, enabling maximum efficiency and minimal stress.

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The Internet has changed your customers expectations forever.

Many families, no longer content to play board games, talk or go for walks, are now constantly “surfing” the internet looking for entertainment.

The problem for Park and Campsite owners is that, if you don’t provide Wi-Fi, evidence shows that customers will go to a local competitor which can offer this service.

Installing Wi-Fi in your Park will not only guarantee you more customers, but is also is a great way to increase your income.

With Almeira, specialists in Park Wi-Fi, it’s a breeze.We know what’s needed to get your Park covered legally, safely and earning you a good income.

To get your free guide on Wi-Fi email wifiguide@almeira.co.uk

www.almeira.co.uk 18

UK SUPERMARKETS CLOSE CHECKOUTS – CONSUMER BACKLASH ‘The UK’s top supermarkets have announced they are closing the check outs at all their stores.

Customer wishing to buy should still walk around the store then phone or email the call centre to make a purchase. A consumer spokesman said this was crazy – customers have made the decision to buy, why should they then have to call or email to complete their purchase.’

Of course this is a sketch to illustrate how frustrating it is for customers who browse a holiday park or campsite website only to find they then have to phone or email to make a booking.

When you’ve researched your accommodation choices and decided to book say for your short break starting tomorrow, but there

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is nowhere on the web site to click BOOK what will you do? You guessed it you’ll book somewhere else that is interested in your business.

A story, no it’s what is happening every day. You wouldn’t get a decent retail group not providing every possible way to buy their merchandise so why do so many park owners make it hard to buy from?

The explosion in internet use means that it’s imperative to offer online booking or lose out.

John King from on-line booking

solve the concerns raised. It’s frankly an out of date approach borne out of a lack of understanding.

specialist Almeira says, “The point is customer service! If the customer wants to book there and then, why wouldn’t that be good?

Customers want to use online booking in fact Visit Britain say that online booking accounts for 60% of all bookings, so clearly customers like it.

One objection we hear all the time is ‘we prefer to talk to people before they book’ we’re told that there are special reasons why a particular park owner feels this is necessary. Let me say that this is a false objection, we have yet to meet a situation where this is the real case. Interviewing potential guests before they book, doesn’t

We help parks move painlessly into taking on-line booking, they are surprised how easy it and the difference in business it makes” What’s happening is there is a divide occurring between those that offer on-line booking and those that don’t – that growing divide is the level of business.

If you want to know more about on-line booking then contact us at…

Please contact Nina Blanchard 01432 263219/07799430327 info@ukcampsitefinder.co.uk www.ukcampsitefinder.co.uk www.campsitefindereurope.com

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Suppliers News Albion Canvas Co to Supply Ecopods to Durrell Wildlife Park, Jersey For guests to stay overnight & Get up close to the rarest species on earth omerset based, Albion Canvas Co has announced a major order from Durrell Wildlife Park, Jersey, founded by Gerald Durrell, OBE, renowned naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist and author.

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Durrell founded Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (formally Jersey Zoo), in 1959 to house his growing collection of animals. The site for the park, a 16th century manor house, Les Augrès Manor, came to Durrell's notice by chance after a long and unsuccessful search for a suitable site. Durrell leased the manor and set up his zoo on the redesigned manor grounds. In the same year, Durrell undertook a successful expedition to South America, to collect endangered species.

The wildlife park is situated in 32 acres (130,000 m2) of landscaped parkland and water-gardens. It has a strong commitment to looking after the Island’s native wildlife, with large areas designated as native habitat areas. The extensive planting of flowering and fruiting trees throughout the grounds also serves to attract a plethora of wild birds and insects. Several species of bird which used to be commonly seen in Jersey gardens, but have become increasingly scarce, include the house sparrow and song thrush. There are over 50 nest-boxes positioned around the grounds, which are used by a variety of birds including barn owls, kestrels, swallows and martins. Other animals which are commonly seen within the grounds are the red squirrel, bank vole, and the short-toed tree creeper, which is not found in the UK. Albion Canvas Co has supplied 12 Ecopods (2 adapted to suit disabled visitors) and a Safari style “Club House”, enabling guests to get up close to some of the rarest species on earth and have 21

unlimited access to the park throughout their stay.

Each pod will accommodate two adults and two children, with optional additional accommodation in a tepee for children. Facilities include a wood burning stove for heat and cooking, plus a shower, whilst the deck has sun beds to relax to the sounds of exotic calls. The pods will be available for short breaks and week-long stays from 30 July to 5th November, prices start from £325 for a 4 night stay.

The Geodesic Domes are made using canvas produced in the UK and locally sourced and sustainable managed British Ash frame, which is machined, sanded and protected with a double coat of linseed oil in the Albion Canvas Co factory in Wellington, Somerset to ensure complete protection from all weathers.

For further information about visiting please contact: www.durrell.org/camp For further information about canvas structures please contact: Albion Canvas Company, Unit 4, Tonedale Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0AW www.albioncanvas.co.uk Tel +44 (0) 1823 665849 sales@albioncanvas.co.uk

Suppliers News Nampak, Woburn Sands Release Miracle Design and Play Ltd were contracted by Taylor Wimpey South Midlands to complete the installation of the new play area at the Nampak Development, Woburn Sands. The site, designed by JBA Architects, featured a series of circular pathway networks to link together various pockets of play experiences. This included several pieces of play equipment, as well as natural play elements and even a dipping platform into the adjacent pond to utilise the existing natural features.

A variety of sustainable natural surfaces was specified, as well as all-weather rubber wetpour safer surface that incorporated imaginative floor graphics such as a sundial and hopscotch, under certain items of play equipment. Miracle worked in partnership with JBA Architects so that their design and specifications were accurately delivered on-site, which received much credit from the client and the adopting Local Authority.

Richard Egan, Senior Estimator at Taylor Wimpey South Midlands commented on the project “Miracle Design and Play Ltd have recently worked with us in the Woburn Sands Play Area project in Milton Keynes. As a company we have found them extremely capable and competent and they delivered the project on time and within budget.

They have also been very helpful with regard to design in dealing with the Local Council and Milton Keynes council to get approval for the scheme. I would have no hesitation in recommending Miracle Design and Play for further contracts and expect our working relationship to continue.”

Miracle worked very hard in liaising between the client and the Local Authority to ensure a swift adoption of the site upon completion of the installation.

Jamie Chalmers, Adoptions Manager at Milton Keynes Council was very pleased with the end results and commented “I would like to commend Miracle Design and Play for the Installation and Management of the Play Area at the Nampak Development, Woburn Sands for Taylor Wimpey South Midlands.

They conducted themselves in a professional manner during the installation of the play area and at site meetings between themselves, the council and the developer. They overcame

discrepancies between the approved plans and the reality of the site and suggested ways to avoid future maintenance issues.

I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Miracle Design and Play to other organisations and look forward to working with them in the future.”

The reaction from all stakeholders involved in the project has all been extremely positive and Miracle look forward to further cementing their relationship with JBA and Taylor Wimpey.

For further details Miracle Design and Play’s services, please contact them on Tel: 01604 658240 or www.miracledesignandplay.co.uk

JBA – Miracle Play – A New Strategic Alliance “An Alliance to Nuke More Play Area Headaches than Neurophen!!” says James Blake “We love taking the pain out of play for our clients!” says Richard Howard James Blake Associates and Miracle Design and Play have formed a strategic alliance. James Blake met up with Miracle Design and Play’s Richard Howard (MD), to agree a powerful union of their two firms.

James explains that play areas are not what the house builder wants to concentrate their efforts upon – after all they have houses to build to make their living, yet these same play areas cause them more building headaches than do a hundred houses!” James Blake says.

“The variability in the RoSPA inspector’s findings I’ve witnessed between inspectors is like playing Russian roulette with a single bullet in a 6 gun. Fortunately - you only need one inspection and that can be by a firm that employs normal sane inspectors and not the anally retentive, off-the-wall, latent axemurderer types,” James continues – in full rant mode.

Having no control over the build process, unless instructed so to do, JBA are often left entirely in the hands of landscape contractors and James explains that this is dangerous, because the build quality, politics and approach varies massively. James adds.. “For instance designers like us, who only have the interest of their clients in mind, are in danger of being ‘tucked up’ by some of the larger design and build contractors, who would rather do the designs – so they can ensure a higher proportion of mainstream equipment for a 22

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Suppliers News higher price and better mark-ups. They don’t like designers who use a lot of natural play items – because it is taking money out of their pockets. This is contrary to the developer’s interests (money), the adoption organisation’s interests (liability) and children’s interests (play value) alike.”

JBA’s clients need cost certainty and build certainty. By aligning with Miracle Design and Play, JBA can ensure best value is delivered to their clients, by remaining as their client’s designers, utilising low cost natural play elements, with some equipment as dictated by the LAs, then Miracle Design and Play will take JBA’s designs, vet them for RoSPA compliance and check their costing information. Miracle Design and Play will also value engineer the scheme to budget and secure LPA compliance and approval. They will then price for building the play area – ensuring JBA’s clients receive cost certainty and best value for money.

Miracle Design and Play recognise they may need to tender the build, but their prices are competitive, and their pledge is to build for the price quoted with no extras. James is quick to add… “I can guarantee that with this arrangement in place there will be no design issues, but the process of planning will also be speeded up too, and everyone gets to enjoy an easier, hassle free process.”

A full article can be read within the next issue of “Future Build.”

The tough get trailing The latest additions to the Wessex range are Professional and Country trailers, which have been specifically designed for use with a compact tractor.

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Back Cover Picture compliments of Best Of British