Holiday Park Management issuu 23

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

Holiday Parks Management august 2016 • Issue 23

Child Safety Special!

Landscaping News

Pools and Spas w w w. H o l i d ay P a r k s M a n a g e m e n t. c o m

Holiday Parks M a n a ge m e n t

Welcome to the August issue of Holiday Parks Management, where we bring you a special focus on child safety. Children are the most important customers to any holiday park because when they are happy the rest of the family (and surrounding guests) are happy too. Nothing is worse than a child suffering a needless accident when they should be enjoying themselves. While it is clearly impossible to protect against every threat, there are some main areas of the park which require more attention, such as around water and in the playground. We have spoken to some of the main suppliers in these fields and bring you the most innovative products and services to help.

We are also very excited about our second Glamping Show which takes place at Stonleigh Park again next month. This year the show has grown even bigger and we have bolstered the popular seminar programme with even more speakers.

What’s in this issue?

04

Industry news

32

Brexit Implications

20

Landscaping news

34

Pathfinder Homes

23

Child Safety

36

The Glamping Show Preview

30

Pools and Spas

Next issue features include: ! Purchasing/ Allergens

See you there

Nina

! Entertainment Systems Proud Member of the Association

Published by: Maggie Media Ltd t: 01432 263219. Registered Business: Unit 2, Wyevale Business Park, Wyevale Way, Hereford HR4 7BS Other Publications: Glamping Business - www.glampingbusiness.com Publisher: Maggie Media Ltd, Nina Blanchard e: nina.blanch@maggiemedia.co.uk Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: 07887 928819 e: steph@upgradepr.com Sales: Nina Blanchard t: 44 (0) 7799 430327 e: nina.blanch@maggiemedia.co.uk, Kathryn Kelly t: + 44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kathrynkelly@maggiemedia.co.uk Design: Dean Coulter, Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk www.holididayparksmanagement.com Other Events: The Glamping Show - www.glampingshow.com Š Maggie Media Ltd 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Park News

Free Morco Training Morco has successfully introduced a new Training and Development Centre which has been built to deliver free training for gas safe engineers on all Morco appliances. The new modern building allows the company to be able to invite up to 14 engineers at a time to provide high quality training.

Driving School For Kids World of Rides, a leading manufacturer and distributor of children’s rides, is launching a 24v battery-operated BMW Mini Car and VW and Safari Big Car Driving School to UK holiday parks.

The rides provide a colourful and popular – as well as profitable - attraction to holiday park visitors. The sideby-side twin-seat cars are fitted with a full dashboard with starting key, seat belts, headlights, direction indicators, accelerator and of course brake pedals. The cars can be driven on a street-patterned track, where depending on the operator’s imagination and budget – the children can enjoy the feeling of driving on an open road!

“Our main purpose is to educate and entertain children with learning through fun,” said Andrew Robinson from the company. “Initial site testing with established holiday park operators throughout Europe was boosted by many additional bookings by road safety groups, such as the police and education authorities.”

Operators can also organize a pre-driving classroom based on Highway Code learning sessions, a hands-on driving lesson and a special driving licence for those children who complete the course.

The cars are all coinoperated so they can also be left on the track for unsupervised usage. The driving school cars can be viewed on the World of Rides website: www.worldofrides.com

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“In the past we have trained around 200 engineers per year, but with having more space and better facilities we expect to be able to increase that number to in excess of 300,” says William Hildyard, commercial manager.

“Our aim is to provide practical and high quality product training on Morco appliances. The training is delivered by our own staff, who also man our technical helpline. We offer the training for free because this allows us to reach a much bigger audience and build relationships with a wider circle of engineers. Training builds ability and confidence in our engineers resulting in quicker diagnosis and problem solving, which is a benefit to all of us including the end user,” he adds.

The free product training is available to any registered Gas Safe person working within the Caravan Park Industry, with the appropriate qualifications, and interested parties should register their interest by emailing williamhildyard@morcoproducts.co.uk or phoning the office.

Lancs park pampers Paul and his amazing feat!

When long-distance charity walker Paul Ucheck asked to pitch a tent at a Lancashire holiday park this month, he quickly realised that he'd landed on his feet.

For Paul, who is walking barefoot from Land's End to John O'Groats, was met at Bay View Caravan Park near Carnforth with a hero's welcome.

He was told there was no need to flap about erecting a tent, for a luxury glamping pod had been arranged for his night's stay – along with a slap-up meal in the park's restaurant.

Paul, aged 71, is walking the 900mile length of Britain – a feat he is undertaking without any kind of footwear in a bid to create a new Guinness World Record.

On route, Paul is raising money for Cancer Research UK after losing his wife to breast cancer, and then discovering that his daughter had contracted the same illness.

Happy to get his feet up in style is long-distance charity walker Paul Ucheck with Bay View park manager Angela Boult

Park News continued

Peace of mind from Mattressman If your business relies on the comfort of your customers and you need mattresses for your business, look no further than the Mattressman Trade department! The rapidly expanding Mattressman team provides high-quality mattresses, bed frames and divans to glamping sites, hotels, holiday homes, leisure parks, landlords and more across the country.

All mattresses meet Source 5 or Source 7 flammability standard, and with a huge variety of types and sizes available, there’s sure to be something to suit your needs.

Popular mattresses in Mattressman’s trade range include the Hotel Four Pocket, a pocket sprung mattress with luxurious natural fillings and a Medium-Firm tension. Ideal for easing back pain and preventing the buildup of uncomfortable pressure points, pocket springs provide much better support than open coil mattresses, as they respond individually to pressure, allowing them to mould to the body and the natural curve of the spine. Pocket sprung mattresses are also ideal for couples, as the individual movement of the springs means minimal disturbance between partners and a better night’s sleep.

The Mattressman trade department supplies mattresses in all standard sizes from small single up to super king size, but can also offer custom size mattresses, with sizes up to 7ft by 7ft. King and super king size mattresses are available as versatile zip-andlinks, too. You can also get a great range of stylish bed frames, or buy your mattresses as a bundle with a quality customisable divan base.

As part of their expansion, the Mattressman trade department can now come to you. They

travel all over the country, visiting customers and potential future customers to tell them more about Mattressman’s services and let them test out some of the trade department’s best-selling mattresses! By visiting businesses in person, the Mattressman trade team aim to further establish sound and long-lasting relationships with their clients.

Mattressman offers free delivery to most areas of the UK on all orders over £45, whether you want one mattress or 100, and if you place your order before 4pm, you’ll get it the next working day – perfect if you need to replace a mattress in a hurry. If you want to find out more or to get the best deals, give the friendly Trade sales team a call on 0800 5677625.

Taking Leisure Accommodation To A New Level Willerby Special Projects has helped a popular coastal resort achieve a significant increase in future revenue following the installation of its factory manufactured twostorey modules.

The existing single storey chalets at Warner Leisure Hotels’ Corton Coastal Village in Suffolk, were demolished and replaced with 14 new two-storey modules and 23 new single storey lodges. The new modules were designed, manufactured and installed on site by Willerby Special Projects (WSP) as part of a £1.5 million investment at the popular resort on the ‘Sunshine Coast’ near Lowestoft.

The new beach hut suites, which provide a greater density of accommodation within the original footprint, represent an increase in future revenue for the site as a result.

The offsite build process also brings with it significant programme benefits and faster installation times enabling earlier occupation than with conventional build.

Created in the style of traditional beach huts with factory applied cladding to the external elevations, the suites have been designed to withstand the rigours of coastal weather and are also fully fitted out internally to a high standard. Contemporary bathrooms, luxury bedrooms and lounges echoing the beach hut style, as well as high quality furniture and joinery, has helped ensure a high repeat booking rate by customers.

The units were manufactured and delivered sequentially ‘just in time’ for installation to site with each module taking around 90 hours to install. In total, the second phase of 18, two-storey units were factory manufactured, fully fitted, delivered and installed in less than 11 weeks.

Terry Sterling, general manager at Corton Bay, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the new lodges and universally the feedback from our guests has been exceptional. It’s clear that the whole

process has been meticulously thought through and it minimises the amount of disruption for our guests with less scaffolding and builders on site, which was a real advantage for us.

“We had deadlines to meet and we achieved them all – in fact we opened four days earlier and that was a great benefit to us.”

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Park News continued

Don’t kipper your guests!

Twelve months after advising guests that they could no longer strip-off on arrival, a holiday park near Norwich is marking its first fully-clothed birthday.

to the park's heated lido swimming pool with its sunbathing terrace which commands delightful views across the parkland.

Glamping and single story accommodation where a wood burning stove has been installed have a very good chance of suffering from downdraft. Down draft is where the smoke blows back down the chimney and into the accommodation, smoking out those in residence, smoke off course is poisonous.

Until last summer, Merryhill Country Park was celebrated by naturists as one of the UK's most picturesque locations to enjoy their pastime.

Meanwhile, Merryhill's spacious clubhouse is the focus for a wide range of gettogethers throughout the year, from discos to summer balls and professional entertainment.

This is a common occurrence where you have short chimneys so for example not unusual for single story buildings, bungalows and conservatories where a stove has been installed.

Guests can bring their own touring caravan, motorhome or tent – or hire one of the park's new luxury camping pods which sleep up to four people with all home comforts.

The cause of down draft is often, wind, trees or atmospheric pressure caused by mountains and valleys. So there needs to be awareness of the likelihood of this happening in order to avoid unhappy guests.

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In June, however, its 30-year reputation for breaks in the buff came to an end when the park's new owners, Georgina and John Aisthorpe, took over.

The husband-and-wife team decided they wanted to widen its appeal – and since declaring Merryhill a "textile park" and upgrading its facilities, business has been booming.

Now the achievements of the business have been recognised with special awards for two of its key members from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.

The park industry body's Exceptional Service Awards were made to Merryhill's groundsman Ian Boden, and to Georgina and John's 16-year-old son Jake.

Both, said Georgina, had gone "far beyond the extra mile" in helping to make the park one of the finest in East Anglia for countryside connoisseurs.

Merryhill's 20 acres of parkland include wildlife-rich woodlands and plenty of open areas which have benefitted from extensive landscaping.

For activity-minded guests there are two all-weather tennis courts, indoor games, a petanque court, and a newly-installed children's adventure play area.

Also fresh on the scene is a sauna adjacent

There's also an opportunity to own a high-spec caravan holiday home which can be used throughout the four seasons, thanks to Merryhill's 12-month opening licence.

Georgina said she was delighted that the park had shed its naturist past, and was now welcoming all visitors to enjoy the picturesque surroundings of one of Norfolk's loveliest locations:

FlueCube, “The clever chimney cowl” will solve this problem. It does this by creating a positive draw through the flue system stabilizing the burn within the stove and thus enabling the stove to perform (burn) at a much greater efficiency consuming a larger amount of carbon then would previously be possible. The FlueCube also enables stoves to be installed in areas of low pressure and thermal disturbance (normally restrictive for stoves).

For more information go to www.fluecube.co.uk or contact FlueCube on 01580 715870.

"Everybody here has worked extremely hard over the past year to ensure that our facilities meet the very highest standards, and we are thrilled at the result," she said.

"But I think what our guests will also appreciate is the quality of the welcome and hospitality which Merryhill provides – and credit for that must go to our staff team.

"We're very proud that two of our members have received Exceptional Service Awards, and we're all looking forward to making even more improvements this year," added Georgina.

Ian Boden (left) and Jake Aisthorpe with their Exceptional Service award

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Holiday Park Wi-Fi Systems Every cloud has a Silver Lining!

Silver Lining Networks specialise in providing Wi-Fi solutions for holiday parks and campsites.

We have a number of Wi-Fi network options available: " Site wide public systems " Social hotspots " Free Equipment*

Simple solutions for technical needs

0333 335 3344 sales@silverliningnetworks.co.uk

www.silverliningnetworks.co.uk * Please contact us for more info on our free equipment and installation

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Park News continued

Remote Water Management Groundbreaker Systems is delighted to announce that the company can now offer the new E-valve by French manufacturing giant Sainte Lizaigne.

This fully remote controllable system is ideal for water network management, opening possibilities for off peak water supply, and sale of water to remote locations by time or volume.

With scheduled maintenance and access to historical data the E- valve can add to BREEAM scores by water management.

Operated via smart phone app connected to the valve via Bluetooth low energy, the benefits for water operators and consumers are far reaching.

Remote billing facilities are invaluable to avoid waste of water resources such as after-hours management of water to “non domestic” properties such as office blocks, schools, supermarkets, Holiday Parks or remote locations, and where action can be taken remotely without incurring travel time and costs. Ideal for high value locations with poor access, examples of which are airports or shopping malls. The E-valve also enables the sale of water by volume via credit card or account payments.

The E–valve facilitates efficient use of resources with no fuss to the consumer, is easy to install on existing or new water services; in addition the E-valve is alarmed for unspecified use, leakage identification and damage limitation.

E-valve is available in the UK exclusively though Groundbreaker Systems www.groundbreaker.co.uk

Bandai Namco bring the beach indoors Japanese amusement giant BANDAI NAMCO has introduced an amazing new attraction which is ideal for holiday parks particularly those that don’t have a beach of their own!

The Indoor Seaside Kid’s Beach is an interactive sand-based structure that allows up to 25 children to play together. It measures 6.5m by 5.4m in size and uses an overhead projector to create the effect of waves lapping over the sand.

The children can then use their special buckets to ‘catch’ sea life in the ‘water’ and learn about it. Suitable for very young toddlers up - the attraction is educational, while also providing the simple fun of a sand pit. “This attraction is unlike anything currently on the market and we have received huge interest from the family entertainment centre and holiday park sectors,” says James Anderson, Sales & Commercial Director, BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Limited. “We are in discussions with several of the major park operators in the UK since Kid’s Beach was first shown at the Dubai show earlier this year."

Tourism will triumph despite Brexit says Lakeland park owner Britain's pulling power as a holiday destination will remain unchanged despite the out vote, a major Lakeland holiday park operator has predicted.

Henry Wild, who owns Skelwith Fold caravan park in Ambleside, believes that both sides of the debate "woefully underestimated" the UK's enduring appeal to overseas visitors.

He says that although European visitors to Skelwith Fold range from young families to older couples, their reasons for coming are precisely the same: "Britain has always been seen as a very different sort of country from most other EU states, both culturally and in the amazing diversity of our landscapes," he says.

"It's this which underpins our enormous appeal to continental visitors, not least because people often want a holiday to represent a complete change from what they are used to.

"We've mountains, moors and a stunning coastline – and a host of other distinctions from pubs and historic sites to great cities and an incredible artistic and sporting heritage.

"Britain's uniqueness and charm towers way above any decision to quit the EU, and we'll continue to welcome our European neighbours regardless," said Henry.

He says that many continental visitors to Skelwith Fold use motorhomes or touring caravans, and plan their holidays to take in different coastal and inland regions: "Other European states have their appeal, but only Britain packs so much contrasting scenery into one compact country – and that's what visitors adore.

"If nothing else, the EU debate has raised Britain's profile even higher, and continental visitors know they will always be warmly welcomed in Cumbria.

After all where else can they go to find perfect sticky toffee puddings?" added Henry.

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Park News

Treehouse Adventure Park Opens continued

Top European tourism post for Martin Cox

Martin Cox (centre) with retiring EFCO&HPA president, Guylhem Féraud, and vice president Linda Gedink

Members of the international body, which represents more than 20,000 holiday park businesses across Europe have elected Dorset parks owner Martin Cox as their new president.

Fellow members of the European Federation of Campingsite Organisations & Holiday Park Associations (EFCO&HPA) voted Martin into its most senior role in spring this year.

Having fun outside is a top priority at BeWILDerwood, the curious treehouse adventure park near Wroxham in the Norfolk Broads.

With lots of awesome structures to explore and magical, mystical woodland areas to find and play within the boggy bogs and marvellous marshes, families will find plenty to keep them entertained.

Due to the success of last year’s event, the park is putting on a full Whizzy Windmill Garden Parade every day, all summer long!

Everybody is welcome to join in the witty and wondrous daily variety of creative and captivating activities, from art and craft making to storytelling and face painting and it’s all included in the ticket price! That’s right, there’s no extra charge for any of the fantastic events at BeWILDerwood.

Better yet, to avoid any queues at the gate guests can book online to ensure speedy entry into the park.

The election took place at EFCO&HPA's general assembly in the central Portuguese city of Viseu, and Martin will serve as the federation's president for two years.

Martin is a director of his family's West Dorset Leisure Holidays, which was established 45 years ago and now comprises five multi-award winning holiday parks in the county.

As president, Martin will play a key part in helping shape tourism and job creation policies affecting holiday parks in membership of national trade associations across 22 EU countries.

He will also help steer EFCO&HPA's lobby work with the European Commission, which aims to ensure the sector's interests are taken into account during decision-making processes.

Martin will be supported in his role by the federation’s vice president, Linda Gedink of Luxembourg, and by the retiring president, Guylhem Féraud of France.

Holiday parks of all types and sizes are represented by the federation, and Martin believes that their co-operation at a European level helps to ensure fair treatment for member businesses: "Right across Europe, holiday parks welcome millions of visitors each year and make a massive financial contribution to regional and national economies," he said.

Martin is a former national chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, and currently serves as one of its vice presidents.

A Strapping Box PlasticBoxShop has created a tough hands-free box which is great for festivals, camping and sports events.

The box, which comes with a strap, is ideal for the great-outdoors and is already selling fast.

The core of the festival box is the super-tough 62-litre Wham BamBox, made from a new and ‘virtually indestructible' plastic and with a tightfitting snap-on lid. Wham has added a wide, strong strap with shoulder pad, attached to strong brackets which are factory-fitted to the box.

Designed to be extremely durable, the Wham BamBox is strength tested to 400kg, so campers and festival-goers can not only carry their kit easily to site, they can sit down on the box when they get there. Its 62-litre capacity means it will swallow up a good range of essential kit, and it can all be carried over the shoulder.

For more details of PlasticBoxShop's new super-tough festival box with carrying strap, plus the thousands of other boxes it sells, visit: www.plasticboxshop.co.uk

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...our business is child’s play!

Fabulous Finance Deals Available!

See us at Stand OSA2 and OSA26

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olk park Activity accolade for all-action Norf

Park News continued

Keep Bookings Bubbling Two years ago, the owners of The Barns Holiday Homes in Lyonshall, Herefordshire, installed two Caldera hot tubs.

Since then, they have achieved almost all year round occupancy and have recently added a third.

Offering a touch of country luxury, The Barns provide groups of holidaymakers a stunning rural retreat in the depths of the Herefordshire countryside.

Manager Steph Gardiner says: “We have walled gardens, wood burners, movie rooms, state-of-the-art kitchens for large scale dining and stunning views. Within that setting we wanted to add a wow factor and we very quickly settled on installing hot tubs.”

“After doing some internet research we contacted Three Counties Pools & Spas in Hereford and Will and Emma recommended two six person Caldera Palantinos. They proved so successful that we have recently added the seven person Vanto. It’s no understatement that the hot tubs have proved a massive draw.”

Will Welch of Three Counties says: “The brief was to supply a series of robust hot tubs to meet the demands of a steady stream of holiday makers and, of course, comply with exacting Heath & Safety requirements and Caldera fitted the bill perfectly.”

How long does maintenance take? “We empty and refill after each set of guests, which takes one hour maximum, including filling time,” says Steph. “When guests are in residence, daily maintenance takes less than an hour. We have adapted our procedures and training for the care of the spas and feel we are now very efficient whilst maintaining a very high level of hygiene and cleanliness.”

Steph adds: “The beauty about hot tubs is that they appeal to everyone - from children to 80 year olds and they can be used all year round, whatever the weather. A group of junior doctors who recently came to stay told me they managed to get 14 people in one and it was the highlight of their year!

Trip Advisor reviews (where we get the majority of our bookings from) regularly rave about the spas.

Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton, North Norfolk, is the first in the county to be honoured with the new GolfMark accolade for its successful work in developing the game.

And according to managing director Paul Searle, the award adds further weight to his belief that Norfolk is now one of the UK's most popular destinations for activity holidays.

In response to demand from guests, he says, Searles Leisure Resort is now buzzing with more allaction pursuits than at any other time in its 50-plus year history.

This spring, water zorbing joined jet-skis, indoor and outdoor pools, all-weather sports pitches, a gym, fishing, karts, tennis, archery and curling on the park's ever-growing activity list.

Mark of success: celebrating the award are, from left, Luke Harris, Searles Golf assistant manager; Karen Woodrow, England Golf county development officer for Norfolk; Paul Searle, managing director, and Edd Howes, golf manager at Searles Leisure Resort

"Once upon a time, a Norfolk seaside holiday meant little more than deckchairs on the beach, and a drive around our many beauty spots – but that's now all changed," said Paul.

"Many families today go on holiday to enjoy new experiences, and we've responded to this by making have-a-go activities a big part of what we offer.

"Over the past five years, we've invested more than £5 million in Searles, and a substantial chunk of this has been dedicated to enhancing and growing our leisure facilities.

"I think that younger families especially find that getting active is a fantastic way to unwind and de-stress in the shortest time, and that's what holidays should be about!" added Paul.

Searles provides more than 500 privately owned and letting holiday homes, as well as 300-plus touring pitches, as well as luxury timber camping pods new for the 2016 season.

The park employs around 200 people, plus an addition 50 staff at its Heacham Manor hotel which adjoins the 18-hole golf course and, next to it, a 9-hole golf course and driving range.

Its new GolfMark seal of approval was awarded by England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf in England, and is the only award granted so far in Norfolk.

It celebrates Searles' success in helping to encourage participation in the game by making it accessible and affordable to players of all ages and abilities.

Paul described the award as a "massive achievement", and said that great credit must also go to the course staff, including its PGA professional, for the high level of service they provide.

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Park News continued

ers Cumbrian Business for Sale with Colli Lanefoot Farm touring and camping site in Keswick, Cumbria is being offered for sale from an asking price of £1.2m by the specialist Parks division of real estate advisors Colliers International.

The 4.8-acre campsite at Thornthwaite in the heart of the Lake District National Park boasts 12 touring and 40 camping pitches, three camping pods, a shepherd’s hut, vintage caravan and site shop. It also features a four-bedroom owner’s farmhouse with a one-bed letting holiday apartment and outbuildings.

UK park home firms sign £12.5m contract The John Romans Park Homes Group has announced a £12.5m deal for the supply of new top-end park home properties.

The homes will be built by UK manufacturers Prestige & Homeseeker and are required by the John Romans Group to meet a growing demand across its 14 residential parks in southern England.

These include three new developments close to Wareham and Dorchester in Dorset, and near Andover in Hampshire. The company's headquarters are in Sturminster Newton.

Group Head, John Romans, signed the three-year supply contract with Prestige & Homeseeker MD, Silvano Geranio, in June at the Park and Leisure Home Show in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

Colliers International is offering the business for sale on behalf of the current private owners who have operated the site for more than 10 years, developing it from scratch into the successful enterprise being offered for sale.

Lanefoot has spectacular views of the Lake District while being situated just off the A66 near Keswick and is popular with holidaymakers wanting to visit Keswick and the North Lakes, Ullswater, Eden Valley and Hadrian’s Wall.

MP opened Cumbria park's diamond celebrations South Lakeland MP Tim Farron got the ball rolling on two days of anniversary celebrations at Silverdale Holiday Park near Arnside in Cumbria this May.

Michael Holgate (left) with Tim Farron MP at Silverdale’s official tape-cutting ceremony.

The business was marking its sixtieth birthday under the ownership of the Holgate family with free activities and entertainment for local families and other visitors.

VIP guest and leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron launched the event by rolling the first official ball at the park's new hightech bowling alley, part of a £1m makeover just completed at its leisure centre.

The 100-acre park, which first began welcoming visitors in 1956, today provides over 500 caravan holiday homes plus touring pitches and luxury timber-built camping pods.

Silvano Geranio (left) and John Romans seal the £12.5m deal. Looking on are (left) Cathy O'Brian, account manager at Prestige and Homeseeker, and Siobhan Brewin, HSBC Corporate Banking relationship director.

This important order, said Mr Geranio, will add extra security to the jobs of the 350 plus people employed by Prestige & Homeseeker at its Northamptonshire factories and headquarters.

Parks owned and operated by Dorset-based John Romans Park Homes Group provide retirement living opportunities in its home county as well as in Hampshire and Somerset.

Founded over 25 years ago by John Romans, the company has grown by offering affordable housing in well-managed park environments with a strong community atmosphere, located in sought-after areas.

Recent park acquisitions and planning consent for additional homes on existing parks, said Mr Romans, mean the group has around 350 plots earmarked for future development.

He added that his group was delighted to be placing this business with Prestige & Homeseeker, which over many years had demonstrated excellent standards of both customer service and product build: "Our aim is to provide first-class retirement lifestyles, and two of the most important factors enabling this are quality surroundings and quality accommodation" said Mr Romans.

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We are also able to promote the use of our website, which, with a login, (available to anyone in the trade upon request) provides a host of technical information in the form of fact sheets, videos and workshop manuals, as well as our next day spare parts service.

Training courses last a full day. The morning session is classroom based focussing on the theory of boiler operation, fault codes, diagnosis, and familiarisation with key boiler components.

We are pleased to announce the success of our new Training and Development Centre which has been built to deliver free training for gas safe engineers on all Morco appliances. The new modern building allows us to be able to invite up to 14 engineers at a time to provide high quality training.

In the past we have trained around 200 engineers per year, but with having more space and better facilities we expect to be able to increase that number to in excess of 300. The free product training is available to any registered Gas Safe person working within the Caravan Park Industry, with the appropriate qualifications, and interested parties should register their interest with us by emailing williamhildyard@morcoproducts.co.uk or phoning the office.

Our aim is to provide practical and high quality product training on Morco appliances. The training is delivered by our own staff, who also man our technical helpline. We offer the training for free because this allows us to reach a much bigger audience and build relationships with a wider circle of engineers. Training builds ability and confidence in our engineers resulting in quicker diagnosis and problem solving, which is a benefit to all of us including the end user.

Meeting so many engineers every year also gives Morco valuable feedback regarding how our equipment is performing in the field, and gives us the opportunity to introduce new products and ideas.

At lunch time a complimentary meal is provided in our excellent local cafĂŠ which gives us all the opportunity to get to know each other and swap ideas and stories.

The afternoon session is workshop based where engineers can work on fully operational boilers practising the theory taught in the morning. We have five boilers working at any one time, all of which are connected to radiator systems.

They include the current GB combi boiler series as well as older models including the FEB series and all of our water heater models.

Most day courses major on central heating combi boilers with only a small amount of time on water heaters, but this can be tailored on the day to our audience. In exceptional circumstances we will travel to parks to deliver training, but it is likely to be more theory based, without having the facilities of our training centre.

Once you have registered your interest with us, you will be sent a calendar of our training days which will be between late November and the end of February. Days are filled up on a first come first served basis, though group parties (for example from park groups) can be catered for in advance.

If you would like to receive an invitation for training, or ask about any other service mentioned in this article, please email William Hildyard on williamhildyard@morcoproducts.co.uk or call 01482 325456.

Military Dog Handlers Needed like some adventure, travel overseas and you can commit to at least 19 days training per year in the RAVC Reserves; log on to www.army.mod.uk and follow the links for much more detail.

Corporal Mike Kimpton RAVC and Protection dog Garrett.

The 1st Military Working Dog Regiment is actively looking to recruit Reserve Soldiers as dog handlers, (no previous dog handling experience is required), Veterinary Technicians and Professionally Qualified (PQ) Officers as Veterinary Officers.

Civilians and individuals with past military service are all encouraged to apply. If you are interested in a challenge and would

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You may wish to consider Regular service if you can commit to a full time career. Both Regular and Reserve service can provide you with recognised qualifications, sporting opportunities and lifelong skills, which will benefit you both in a military or civilian career.

Regular and Reserve service offers good rates of pay. There are great incentives for those wishing to rejoin the Army and a tax-free bounty for Reserves who complete the specified annual training requirements. If you are aged between 17 years 9 months and 49 years 11 months you can apply to join the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) Army Reserves.

Readers can find out more by either ringing the Squadron on 01780 72 7698, email 1MWD-101Sqn_PSAO@mod.uk or search http://www.army.mod.uk/join/ to find out much more about a challenging career in the Army and the RAVC working with Military Working Dogs.

Captain Cees Bennett RAVC and Private Rosy Jones with Mali

Park News

Cumbria park stars in new Johnny Vegas comedy Comedian Johnny Vegas has been trying his hand at holiday home living on a Cumbrian park this spring – and BBC TV viewers will be see the results later this year.

The Benidorm actor was at Skiddaw View Holiday Park, leading the cast in Home from Home, the pilot of which will be shown in summer.

Based near Bassenthwaite Lake in North Cumbria, the park and its spectacular mountain scenery will form the scenic backdrop of the sitcom.

ESTABLISHED CARAVAN BUSINESS APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry, the oldest and largest independent retailer of caravans, awnings and outdoor leisure accessories in the UK, has appointed a new General Manager to facilitate its ongoing growth and success.

Andrew Whittaker, 46, from Doncaster joined the company three years ago as Retail Manager/ Buyer and has been responsible for developing the ecommerce site and sourcing new revenue streams which has boosted sales and an increase in market share.

Chairman Jon Goulden commented; ‘Andrew is extremely passionate about his job and as well as forming new relationships with industry leading companies, he has positioned Yorkshire Caravans at the top of the whole dealer network with the success of online sales.

His financial business acumen has paid dividends and his promotion to General Manager is well deserved. We shall look forward to an exciting future together.”

which provides almost one hundred lodges and caravan holiday homes.

The park is set in 20 acres of countryside near the village of Bothel, and was acquired by its present owners, Philip and Barabara Carr, just over 25 years ago.

They have since turned it into one of Cumbria's highest quality and most popular park holiday destinations, both for private buyers and those wanting to hire a holiday home.

Featuring alongside Johnny Vegas will be Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, along with Silent Witness actress Emilia Fox. Home from Home is about a family man, played by Johnny, who has long cherished the dream of buying a lodge in the Lake District – and finally achieves his ambition.

What happens next has been the focus of the filming at Skiddaw View Holiday Park

Johnny Vegas takes a break from filming in the company of holiday park owners Barbara and Philip Carr

Cumbrian Park Saves Pub Silverdale Holiday Park in Cumbria has purchased its local pub, which has stood empty for six years.

At a cost of £300,000, the family business has rescued The Royal pub in the village of Silverdale. The move has won acclaim not just from park customers, but also from the local community whose members include TV Emmerdale star Emma Atkins who plays Charity Dingle in the popular soap. And it was Emma,who pulled the first official pint at The Royal's celebration opening this spring.

During his three years at Yorkshire Caravans, Andrew has been responsible for updating product ranges, implementing the in house e- commerce site and integrating product lines into 3rd party on line sitesm which has resulted in phenomenal sales growth. The product range has been extended and now offers a more diverse range which appeals, not just to caravanners and campers, but those who enjoy the great outdoors.

Owner Michael Holgate said that although Silverdale Holiday Park provides its own acclaimed restaurant, cafe and bar, guests occasionally fancy a change of scenery. Until recently, local options were rather limited – but now, he says, they can enjoy the park's high standards of food and hospitality just a few minutes' walk away.

There will, says Michael, be a strong emphasis on Cumbrian sourced ingredients, complementing the regularly changing selection of different craft ales brewed in Lakeland.

Andrew commenced his new role and will also retain full responsibility for the retail sector of the business.

As well as Silverdale – which won Cumbria Tourism's overall holiday park of the year award two years ago - the group also owns five other parks in the region.

Silverdale Holiday Park has been owned by the Holgate family for 60 years, and providesover 500 caravan holiday homes, plus touring pitches, and luxury timber-built camping pods.

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through dealers. The StarGreen range will start with sprayers - including tractormounted and trailed-together with truck-mounted sprayers for the ProGator and Workman type vehicles and then will expand to other complimentary machinery such as top dressers and aerators” - states James Wilson, Managing Director at Vale.

StarGreen the new name in machinery Vale Engineering (York) Limited has launched a new brand of machinery under the name of “StarGreen”.

“StarGreen products are built in-house at the York factory and will be sold exclusively

“Due to the nature of our machines we have previously manufactured and the customers supplied we have typically sold directly, however we predict this market to be larger and more suited to being supplied through a dealer network. We are now actively building relationships which we are looking forward to growing over the forthcoming years.”

“StarGreen machines are designed to be uncomplicated and user friendly, have a high quality finish with realistic pricing to extend

to all potential markets. For example our 300 litre tractor mounted sprayer has the RRP of £3358 + VAT which is very competitive. We have looked at our competitors and have identified various features which will help the operator without increasing the overall cost of the machine e.g. we have included a boom catch to hold the booms closed and secure when in transport, hose guides to ensure the booms fold and unfold without fouling the hose and to make sure the hose doesn’t obstruct the spray pattern, bout marker droppers are secured in place with stainless steel clamps rather than just bolted on. Also stainless steel induction bowls and clean water tank/clothing lockers on the pro sprayers for quality. We believe in putting thought into the design to make sure that the operator has a user friendly spraying experience and this will be what stands us apart from our competitors.” adds James

Landscaping news North of England with branches across the region. They are a wellestablished company in the market supplying new and used equipment to support the agriculture, construction and groundcare industry sectors.

GreenMech Re-aligns Dealerships GreenMech have begun a process of dealer realignment with the first appointments covering the Midlands, North of England and Scotland.

From the 1st of June Lloyd Ltd, The Burdens Group, Turner Groundscare Machinery and Hamilton Brothers will join their already comprehensive nationwide coverage.

In Scotland, Hamilton Brothers, and sister company Ross of Lanark, have been servicing the needs of the Agricultural, Groundcare and Construction industries across West and Central Scotland from 3 depots covering the areas of Bishopton, Tarbolton and Campbeltown – together they offer over 80 years of experience.

Lloyd Ltd will cover the South of Scotland and

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North Wales and part of the Northwest of England will now have Turner Groundscare Machinery in Chester to supply GreenMech chippers, along with a wide range of groundscare products from leading manufacturers such as John Deere, Honda and Stihl.

Further south in Lincolnshire, The Burdens Group who have many years’ experience in the agricultural, construction, produce handling and groundcare markets, have also become dealers for their part of the country. Over the last few years The Burdens Group has grown adding an extensive fleet of rental machines to their offering which has helped them to become one of the leading dealerships in the UK. Commenting on the expansion, Sales Director for GreenMech Martin Lucas said, “All of our new partners have proven track records in their respective areas and are renowned for providing quality sales and customer service.

We are excited about offering a better, more localised service across these regions.”

In other GreenMech news, Mid Suffolk District Council recently purchased a GreenMech CS100, adding to a QuadChip 160 already in their portfolio. Mid Suffolk is a local government district with the most parishes in Suffolk. In charge of the grounds maintenance and street council teams is Operations Officer John Buckingham, who in his 24 years has built some fruitful relationships, one of which is with Martin Lucas of GreenMech.

Purchased 2 years ago, the QuadChip 160 is used for all tree maintenance works, pruning, felling etc. “It’s a great tool because it means we don’t have to take a lot of waste away” explains John. “We can even sell some of the firewood which brings a small amount of income back into the department. The CS100, which we bought last year, is used predominately for shrub-beds and was purchased for similar costsaving reasons as the chip we produce can be put back onto beds.

By doing that we’re saving roughly £60 a day on waste disposal so it’s really delivering the savings we purchased it for.”

SALTEX 2016 Launches Photo Competition Organisers of SALTEX 2016, which is being held on 2 and 3 November at the NEC, Birmingham, have launched a new photo competition in which one winner will receive two VIP tickets to SALTEX and the IOG Industry Awards, PLUS overnight accommodation.

Each year, thousands of visitors from every sector of the turfcare industry attend SALTEX and many of them work on some fantastic projects in stunning places. With this in mind, organisers of SALTEX want to gain a further insight into the show’s visitors by seeing exactly what they do on a daily basis.

The competition is open to everyone – grounds teams, greenkeepers, gardeners, park keepers, horticulturalists – it doesn’t matter who sends the photos in as there are no entry requirements.

It might be a photo of a great project, a lake like no other, a beautifully crafted landscape garden, a unique pitch pattern, or maybe a putting green as picturesque as a postcard – it can be anything at all, just as long as it is relevant to the industry. Those entering the competition are also welcome to include themselves in the shot as it allows everyone to see the person behind the photo.

Selected by a SALTEX judging panel, each month one picture will be selected as the monthly winner. The monthly winning photos will then all compete against each other in which only one can be victorious. A selection of the best pictures will also decorate the halls of SALTEX 2016.

Simply send your pics via Twitter by including the SALTEX Twitter handle @IOG_SALTEX and the hashtag #MyOffice. Alternatively send your pictures to chris.bennett@fusionmedia.eu For more information, visit www.iogsaltex.com

Bob Wild Machinery enters Agricultural market with new Kubota partnership

Halifax-based machinery dealer Bob Wild Machinery is for the first time expanding its operations into the agricultural market after joining forces with Kubota UK. The family-run company, which employs 17 staff at its Hebden Bridge site, has been supplying and servicing professional machinery to the Groundcare sector for over 17 years. However, this new working partnership with Kubota has seen Bob Wild Machinery reshape and relaunch its business model, embarking on an exciting new era targeting the professional farming industry.

The deal means that Bob Wild Machinery is now the independent dealer for Kubota’s

complete range of agricultural solutions in North and West Yorkshire (covering up as far as Scotch Corner on the A1 in the East to Tebay in the West.) This includes the supply of Kubota’s recently launched M7001 Series (130HP to 170HP) – the biggest, most powerful and efficient tractor that the Japanese machinery manufacturer has ever built.

Bob Wild of Bob Wild Machinery commented: “Having operated in the Groundcare sector since the business was launched in 1997, entering the agricultural industry is a major evolution for our business.

“Our close proximity to a large livestock

farming community, coupled with our machinery expertise and the serious investment made by Kubota into the higher horse power farming market, was a fantastic opportunity not to be missed. We have built up an excellent reputation with our customers over the years for providing a quality, fast and efficient service offering and our aim now is to take this forward with Kubota and target the mainstream agricultural market.”

As well as Kubota’s new flagship M7001 Series, Bob Wild Machinery will also supply Kubota’s market leading range of high performance M Series, MGX-II Series and Grand L Series agricultural tractors. The company has also introduced a dedicated service centre to ensure its customers the highest levels of service.

In addition to Kubota’s new agricultural machinery solutions, Bob Wild Machinery will also continue to service and supply nearly new and refurbished Groundcare and Construction Equipment.

Richard Wild of Bob Wild Machinery said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for both parties. For Kubota, a brand that has built up an enviable reputation in its core markets over the years for quality, reliable and high performance machines, powerful engines and first class aftersales support, it enables them to expand its agricultural presence into North and West Yorkshire.”

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Keeping children safe and happy during their stay is a priority. Here, we have rounded up some of the best products and advice on the market.

Child Safety Portable Alarm Perfect for Campers Fire Angel has produced a portable carbon monoxide alarm which is perfect for guests using holiday parks and campsites.

alarm is no bigger than a bar of soap, fitting easily in a bag or placed within a tent or glamping structure by the operator.

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas, which causes over 200 people to be hospitalised every year, leading to around 50 deaths.

Known as the ‘silent killer’ it is particularly dangerous as you cannot see, taste or smell it, making it invisible to the human senses. Portable gas heaters, BBQs, gas cookers and generators can all emit CO, and can be deadly when brought inside a caravan or used inside a tent. CO can also come from someone else’s appliances, so take care that fumes don’t blow into yours or someone else’s tent or caravan from outside.

The alarm has been designed to comply with all British standards, accurately measuring even low levels of CO and is audible to alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide, even when you are asleep.

Awareness of summer safety and CO poisoning has risen in recent years and yet according to CORGI Home Plan, almost half of people (45%) admit to cooking in their tent or under canvas.

Packing a CO alarm is the best way of being CO safe. Fire Angel’s CO-9X 7 year portable CO alarm is ideal, and will alert you to CO emissions from all of your camping and other fuel-burning appliances.

Its light and compact design means the

In addition, the internal power pack and sealed batteries mean the alarm will detect CO for 7 years, helping guests to be CO safe when camping for years to come.

Director of the UK’s leading CO awareness campaign Project Shout, Rob Lyon comments: “We all think about taking some essentials with us to a festival, whether it’s wellies or first aid kits, but a CO alarm should also be front of mind when packing your bag.

A Change for the Better Magrini have a wide range of baby changing units to meet all your commercial needs. Suitable for holiday parks and other public areas, they provide easy and hygienic baby changing. Magrini baby changing units combine innovative design and safety features, enhancing any washroom whilst providing the ultimate in durability. All Magrini baby-changing units comply with the latest 2013 BS EN safety standard and are independently tested by UKAS approved laboratories.

Magrini also supplys a range of high chairs specifically designed for commercial use. All their high chairs comply with the latest 2012 EU safety requirements and are independently tested. www.magrini.co.uk

“The nature of carbon monoxide means that only an alarm will alert you to its presence.

Popping one of these into your tent can give you peace of mind that you are protected, while you’re enjoying festival season.”

The Fire Angel CO-9X retails at £24.99.

For stockist information visit www.projectshout.com.

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Child Safety

Follow the Bear ® – The New National Lost Child Safety Scheme for 2016

Swim Safety Around 400 people needlessly drown in the UK every year and thousands more suffer injury, some life changing, through neardrowning experiences. Putting this into context, one person dies every 20 hours in the UK. Drowning is also the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK. So the need for children (and adults) to be competent and confident in and around water is essential.

To raise awareness of the importance of water safety, Drowning Prevention Week (18th -26th June 2016), the national campaign of drowning prevention charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK, aimed to cut down the number of drowning and near-drowning incidences that happen in the UK every year.

SPATA offers the following tips on staying safe in and around water, which holiday parks may wish to share with their guests: 1 Always check the depth of the water.

Shallow water can deepen suddenly, therefore if you are not a strong swimmer you should not swim out of your depth and set clear boundaries about where you will swim. Also, don’t jump or dive into water that you cannot see the bottom of, even if you swim there regularly. Rocks and debris could have moved in flowing water that will make it unsafe.

Children love wondering off and exploring, it’s one of those simple facts of life! This goes double for when they’re somewhere exciting and new like a holiday park or entertainment venue. Because of this, it can be very easy for them to go wondering off in the blink of an eye.

So what can holiday parks do about this problem? Most public facilities don’t keep a record of lost children on their premises, let alone have an official (or practical) process in place for when little ones go missing. Follow the Bear® are here to help, offering a simple solution to a stressful ordeal.

Follow the Bear® is an organisation founded by parents and grandparents who understand the importance of the security of children while out and about in public.. So how does it work?

Follow the Bear® install lost child trails in public facilities free of charge which feature the recognisable Freddie Bear design.

Kids as young as three years old can then follow the directional arrows on his tummy to one of multiple nearby ‘safety stations’ on site where parents will know where to collect them from. As well as this, the trail offers ‘no entry’ signs to ensure that little ones don’t disappear off-site or into prohibited areas.

Alongside these are the unique ID Wristbands, which are used in conjunction with our 24/7 UK Hotline to help a child be found anywhere in the UK. These wristbands are obtained through a membership subscription which is sold by the facility, offering an opportunity for them to make an additional income. Alternatively, facilities may want to sponsor this and offer the service free of charge to their customers, granting them the status of a childfriendly place to take children.

2 Look out for weeds.

One or two weeds aren’t uncommon in slow flowing water, but a spaghetti-like forest can entangle a swimmer’s legs. Try to avoid them. If you do encounter some, slow your swim speed right down and either float using your arms to paddle or turn around slowly.

3 Watch out for strong currents.

The best water has flowing currents and therefore you should be careful to judge the strength of the current to assess if you are a strong enough swimmer to deal with it. Always think about your escape route if you do get washed downstream.

4 Don’t swim alone.

People should ideally swim where there are others to supervise them, as this may reduce the risk of drowning, as there will be someone to rescue or raise an alarm if a swimmer gets into difficulty.

For more tips and information on water safety and swimming pool usage, visit: www.spata.co.uk

Follow the Bear® is looking to team up with business partners who want to be recognised as taking lost child safety seriously.. A lot of interest has already been shown from some of the major holiday parks in the UK and Follow the Bear® is in discussions with BBC, ITV, some national newspapers, BBC 5 Live and BBC Bristol Radio – so offers a fantastic opportunity for business partners to gain extra publicity.

For more information about Follow the Bear®, please visit us at: www.followthebear.co.uk

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Protect a child with Pool Fence There can be no doubt that swimming pools and water features are a great attraction to families holidaying with young children. The problem with water however is that it causes its own set of dangers. When it comes to keeping things out, there is no substitute for a physical barrier. Although covers are available why would you encourage young children to walk over water?

With this in mind Protect a Child has developed a fencing system over the past 25 years to help home and holiday park owners keep their pool areas safe and reduce the figures of child drownings.

The system is simple and uses top quality materials. The posts are made of fibreglass, which have built in colour resin that can’t be scratched off and will not fade. They are guaranteed unbreakable and will not become bent -so the fence will always look straight and attractive. The mesh used is a PVCcoated polyester, which cannot be torn and has a burst strength of over 400lbs with a

border using marine rated vinyl and UV stable thread. All screws and latches are made of stainless steel, which will not rust.

Flexibility is a major factor- the fence can be installed into slabs or paving around a pool, but it can also be used across lawns or even through flower beds. Once the fencing has been installed, the fact that it is easily removable when not required is a further benefit, which customers approve of.

Installation is usually carried out by Pool Fence UK after a site visit or having been sent pictures of the proposed location. Self installs can be achieved by customers with instructions sent out and technical support via phone or email. This is normally the case for sales in France and Spain for example.

32 mm holes are drilled into the pool surround at 3ft intervals to a depth of 100mm into which are placed hard plastic sleeves, these then give the support to the posts and keep the bottom of the fence taught. Patented Point Lock Latches join the sections of fence together and provide the

Why Pool Fence?

Swimming pools , ponds and water features in the garden are generally regarded as areas for fun ,fascination and giving pleasure whilst relaxing. This of course is exactly what they should be or why would we have them. The problem with water however is that it causes its own set of dangers. When it comes to keeping things out, there is no substitute for a physical barrier. Although covers are available why would you encourage young children to walk over water. Parents and grandparents need the peace of mind to know that their children and pets are safe in the garden. With this in mind Protect a Child has developed a fencing system over the past 25 years to help home owners keep their pool areas safe and reduce the figures of child drownings.

What is it made of ?

The system is simple and uses top quality materials. The posts are made of fibreglass which have built in colour resin that can’t be scratched off and will not fade.

They are guaranteed unbreakable and will not become bent so the fence will always look straight and attractive. The mesh used is a PVC coated polyester mesh which cannot be torn and has a burst strength of over 400lbs with a border using marine rated vinyl and UV stable thread. All screws and latches are made of stainless steel which will not rust.

Where can it be used ?

Flexibility is a major factor, it can be installed into slabs or paving around a pool, but can also be used across lawns or even through flower beds. The use of concrete pads or a small concrete filled trench will be required to achieve this but it can then be painted to blend in with the background. Once the fencing has been installed the fact that it is easily removable when not required is a further benefit which customers approve of. A typical pool fence ( 30ft x 15ft ) would take approximately 15 minutes to dismantle completely.

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tension for the top of the fence. Small screws put into the bottom of the posts which locate into a groove in the sleeves can then lock the posts in position to stop them being lifted out. When the fencing has been removed colour matching patio caps can be inserted to cover the small post holes.

The sections of fencing come in a range of lengths these being 6ft, 9ft, 12ft & 15ft respectively. When planning an installation it is usual to use as many of the longest sections as possible to keep the number of ‘pieces’ to a minimum. They can be rolled up when not in use and stored easily.

Prices are based on a per metre basis with a starting cost of £50.00 Per Metre for the 3 ½ ft and 4ft high fence. Installation cost are worked out on an individual basis depending on customer requirements and layout.

For more details visit: www.poolfenceuk.com

How is the installation carried out ?

Installation is usually carried out

by Pool Fence UK after a site visit or having been sent pictures of the proposed location. Our staff are trained to carry out a wide range of installation techniques to suit different applications. Self installs can be achieved by customers with instructions sent out and technical support via phone or E mail. This is normally the case for sales in France and Spain for example.

32 mm holes are drilled into the pool surround at 3ft intervals to a depth of 100mm into which are placed hard plastic sleeves, these then give the support to the posts and keep the bottom of the fence taught. Patented Point Lock Latches join the sections of fence together and provide the tension for the top of the fence. Small screws put into the bottom of the posts which locate into a groove in the sleeves can then lock the posts in position to stop them being lifted out.

When the fencing has been removed colour matching patio caps can be inserted to cover the small post holes.

Lengths,Heights and Colours The Sections of fencing come in a range of lengths these being 6ft, 9ft, 12ft & 15ft respectively. When planning an installation it is usual to use as many of the longest sections as possible to keep the number of ‘pieces’ to a minimum. They can be rolled up when not in use and stored easily.

The height of the fencing can be chosen from :- 3 ½ ft (1.07m), 4ft (1.22m) , or 5ft (1.53m) There are three colours available in all heights and these are : Transparent Black, Brown and a Light Tan Cost.

Prices are based on a per metre basis with a starting cost of £52.00 per metre for the 3 ½ ft and 4ft high fence. Installation cost are worked out on an individual basis depending on customer requirements and layout.

Contact:

Web Site - www.poolfenceuk.com E mail - mark@poolfenceuk.com Phone – 01258 863663 or 07796 261633

Child Safety

Use ANPR to Reduce Stranger Danger The ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition industry has grown in popularity and is now considered mature in the UK. ANPR technology is widely used by the government and in particular to help police track traffic offenders and criminals in general. There is still much debate over the database issues but overall it has been widely recognised and accepted as a success in tackling crime.

IDS has recognised that ANPR has great benefits for the Holiday Parks sector. As the UK holiday industry grows and we witness the rise of the staycation - 58% of British residents holidayed in the UK in 2014 (Visit England), sites are getting busier and busier. With this growth they are becoming more demanding to manage.

Therefore it is logical for park managers and owners to seek systems and services to make the process of managing their sites easier.

Moreover, there is the overall security aspect to consider, the more people on site, the harder it is to have a clear picture of who should and shouldn’t be there. Traditionally holiday parks and caravan sites employ physical security guards and may have CCTV installed in high traffic areas. However, sometimes the cameras are out of date or use old analogue technology which provide poor quality images, providing little use when called upon for evidence by the police. Furthermore they are harder to manage and cannot work with the array of analytic software packages that are now available to help make surveillance smarter and more intuitive.

With this in mind, the first place to look at is the site’s entrance. The IDS holiday park product consists of ANPR camera, software and barrier. The ANPR software can be fully integrated with the park’s booking system so that the two work in tandem.

Therefore, when the guest arrives within the times set, the ANPR camera will take a snap shot of the licence plate and then the barrier will automatically open for them.

When the customer leaves (at the agreed time) the barrier will open again. However, if they have overstayed, the barrier will remain shut and the customer will have to report to the reception desk and pay the overstay balance.

The system automatically notifies staff when non-registered guests are waiting at the gate, users can then manually grant access. This also gives parks facility to blacklist vehicles. If the blacklisted vehicle number plate is recognised the ANPR system will notify you. There are several ways this can be done electronically.

The mobile app provides full control over the system. Park security can remotely view the CCTV cameras, operate the barriers and communicate with the vehicle owners using the two-way audio feature.

This gives parks complete control over who drives in and out of the site, giving operators and their guests complete peace of mind and possibly also leading to reduced insurance premiums.

Safety First When it Comes to Designing Your Play Area The Association of Play Industries (API) is the leading trade association for the UK play sector. Its member companies are the UK’s top providers of playgrounds, indoor play facilities, play equipment and safety surfacing for schools, local authorities, parish councils, leisure attractions, holiday parks, housing developments and hospitality venues. API's accredited members are experienced, professional play experts who design, install and maintain highquality equipment.

They operate to the highest standards, abide by a strict Professional Code of Conduct, and are credit-checked and monitored regularly for financial stability. Members commit to creating play environments that deliver visible challenge and risk within welldeveloped safety standards.

API Members belong to one or more of the following categories dependent on the company meeting the required criteria for that section. ! Outdoor Manufacturers Members who manufacture,and/or distribute, design outdoor play equipment and have met the relevant criteria for membership. ! Indoor Manufacturers Members who manufacture and/or distribute, design and install indoor play equipment and have met the relevant criteria for membership. ! Surfaces Manufacturers Members who manufacture and/or distribute play surfacing and have met the relevant criteria for membership. ! Constructors/Installers Members who construct and install and have met the relevant criteria for membership. ! API Associates Providers of services to the manufacturers, designers, installers and distributors of indoor and outdoor play equipment and play surfacing.

- See more at: www.api-play.org

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Providing A Soft Landing Established in 1993, RTC Safety Surfaces have grown to become one of the European market leaders in wet pour safety surfacing.

Their on-site technicians have unrivalled expertise in creative surface installations and are recognised as the ‘pioneers of wet pour graphics’ within the industry.

Their wetpour surfacing is a multi-component polyurethane and rubber composite which is formed in-situ by a chemical mixing, wet pouring, leveling, screeding and rolling process. The company uses an Ethylene Propylene Diene Modified (EPDM) rubber crumb combined with a polyurethane binder to create a long lasting, safe and aesthetically pleasing safe surface.

When installing as a safety surface, RTC uses a two-layer system.

The EPDM rubber granules form the wearing course of the surface and are available in a variety of colours, whilst SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) granules form a base layer of the surface, producing the impact absorbent properties of the system.

This wetpour provides a hard-wearing, porous and absorbent surface ideal for laying on playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools and gyms.

For more details contact www.rtcsafety.co.uk

A Design Classic That is Safe and Clean The No-Tray High Chair is a Scandinavian design, which is used in the UK’s top restaurant groups; including Pizza Express, Wagamama, McDonalds and Marks & Spencer cafes.

Play should be Natural – not Toxic In January 2016 the BBC published findings from research, conducted by Plymouth University, that “paint on playground equipment has been found to contain high amounts of the toxin lead - up to 40 times recommended levels” In the report, expert Dr Andrew Turner said the levels were "completely avoidable"… and Playforce entirely agrees!

Head of Design and Strategic Projects Manager at Playforce, Ben Wyatt, said: “The worrying findings in the BBC report don't apply here. That's because all of our products are fully lead and toxin free. In fact our products are designed to meet and surpass any relevant safety standards as well as being independently inspected by ROSPA to EN1176.”

He went on: “As part of the TCL Group we pride ourselves on designing the very best products. That means using high quality materials and processes, offering inclusive play for a wide range of abilities, maximising play value for the customers we work with and making sure everything we produce is ethologically sound – for example using FSC certified timber that has been sustainably sourced.

For more information about Playforce timber products, or natural play spaces, please contact 01225 792660.

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It is such a classic design that it is difficult to believe that it was introduced into the UK by just one company only 25 years ago. It all started in 1984 when Murray Planidin left his City job to set up an agency importing Scandinavian products to the UK. At the time, high chairs all featured plastic trays, which were breeding grounds for bacteria and separated the child from the rest of the table. The No-Tray design allowed the child to be pulled up right to the table to join the family. In addition, it can be easily stacked and glides from the stack instead of requiring up and over lifting. This means that even the smallest member of the restaurant staff – or a mother holding a baby in one arm can still easily pull a chair from the stack and carry it to the table.

Of course, the chair's unique design has been copied many times over now, production has been moved a few times within the EU and the design has been modified slightly to meet safety standards, but the simple elegance of the original design is still evident.

Scandinavian Selection Ltd is still run by Murray Planidin with the assistance of his son Alex. The No-Tray High Chairs are manufactured in the EU from FSC-certified environmentally sustainable birchwood and each chair is hand-sanded to give a quality bespoke feel. www.restaurant-high-chair.co.uk

Child Safety

Safety Turtle For Peace of Mind The Safety Turtle is an innovative product manufactured by RJE Technologies in the US and distributed by UK company Safe Water Alarms.

Children wear a colourful turtle wristband, which can only be removed by an adult. If the wristband is submerged in any kind of fresh water, such as natural lakes, rivers and

ponds or swimming pools, hot tubs and ponds a loud alarm will instantly sound at the Base Station.

The Safety Turtle system could give parents in holiday parks peace of mind when their young children are out playing. The Turtle wristband has a battery life of 3-4 years and the Safety Turtle 2.0 system has a convenient USB cord as well as a wall adapter. It has a power light and a low battery light to tell you its time to replace the Turtle wristbands.

One base can accommodate unlimited Turtles. www.safewateralarms.co.uk

Accidents on Children's Playgrounds It is estimated that there are approximately 40,000 injuries to children on playgrounds each year, which result in a hospital visit.

The accident statistics show that injuries as a result of accidents occur for several reasons Management Causes ! poor equipment design or failure to comply to Standards ! poor design and layout ! unsuitable equipment for the intended age group ! incorrect installation ! poor inspection ! poor maintenance User Causes ! lack of supervision ! 'misuse' of equipment ! unsuitable clothes ! weather conditions Types of Accidents Not all accidents are related to the equipment - perhaps as few as 40% - and of these 80% result in a fall to the surface.

Of the remaining accidents, at least 4% involve children being struck by a swing seat (although the resultant injury is usually not serious), a similar number being bitten by dogs and being cut by glass.

Of the equipment involved in fall injuries the figures suggest these percentages: ! Swings 40% ! Climbers 23% ! Slides 21% ! Roundabouts 5% ! See-Saws 4%

! Fireman's Poles 1% ! Others 6% This does not mean swings are more dangerous - just that there are more of them and they are more popular. One of the most dangerous items on the playground are overhead bars which rotate.

Playground Law Playground Managers may be sued for negligence if they fail to take reasonable care to ensure their playgrounds are safe and avoid accidents they could reasonably have foreseen would happen. An example would be an accident, which occurred from failing to maintain the protective surface which had been provided under equipment.

Acts of Parliament, which cover children's playgrounds include: ! Occupier's Liability Act (1957) ! Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) ! Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) Playground Standards The main standards are EN1176 covering equipment, and EN1177 covering surfacing.

Improving Children's Playgrounds (providers) 1. Obtain professional design and layout advice.

2. Select equipment and surfacing which meets the Standards.

3. Ensure it is installed by a competent person in accordance with EN1176.

4. Have a post-installation inspection carried out by an independent body.

5. Inspect the playground and equipment regularly: ! Weekly ! Quarterly ! Annually 6. If you are carrying out inspections, find a training course. The annual inspection should be carried out by an independent specialist.

7. Have an effective maintenance programme, which repairs faults quickly.

8. Have a programme for improving and up-dating playgrounds.

Improving Playground Safety (users) 1. Check the playground and report anything you see wrong.

2. Press the playground manager (often the local authority) to improve the playground Further Reading and Information ! Assessing Risk on Children's Playgrounds (3rd Edition), RoSPA ! Guide to the European Playground Equipment and Surfacing Standards, (4th Edition), RoSPA ! Routine Inspection of Playgrounds, RoSPA ! Developing the Children's Playground – A Basic Management Guide, RoSPA www.rospa.com

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Pools and spas

Holiday Parks Management rounds up the suppliers and products to ensure your pools and spas make a splash this summer

holiday park operators can purchase directly from Rotospa at trade prices rather than paying a distributor. The company is keen to build ongoing working relationship with customers and is proud of the training it provides following a sale, so that operators know how to service and maintain their products for years to come.

Drive Up Occupancy with Rotospa Hot Tubs and the number one accessory searched for by holidaymakers online.

They can increase accommodation occupancy by 25% and drive out of season bookings.

RotoSpa UK has more than 12 years’ experience of supplying the holiday industry. It is a family-owned business which manufactures hot tubs and spas in the Midlands – the heart of the UK. The high-performance spas are unique in design, built, engineered and insulated.

They offer high quality and use only the best components and latest technology.

RotoSpa is renowned for its hard-wearing portable spas, which are very low maintenance and affordable. Despite being truly portable, they are engineered for the rigours of daily use.

Rotospa is unique in manufacturing in the UK, whereas many other hot tubs sold in the country are imported. Therefore, customers can be assured that they will receive the highest quality after sales care as sourcing spare parts is never a problem.

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“We have worked hard to identify improvements to our hot tubs which are required by the glamping industry,” says the company’s Matthew Zacaroli. “Our R&D department has spent the last 12 months developing features such as alternative energy sources, fast draining, automatic fill and top up.

“We have noted that in some circumstances electricity is not readily available or not available at the power rating required to power and heat a hot tub. Rotospa can now supply a mini biomass boiler that will heat our hot tubs and even supply hot water for a shower!

We can also connect our hot tubs heating to existing Biomass boiler circuits.

Rotospa can also supply a unique portable outdoor gas boiler unit that will heat our hot tubs and provide a hot shower too.”

Rotospa can also supply and fit automatic chemical dosing systems and fully commercial hot tubs/ spas. www.rotospa.com

Turn Your Pool Into An Adventure Playground Witbit is a German company which is the brainchild of two entrepreneurs who wanted to bring fun and excitement to pools and resorts around the world.

The German watersports company Wibit Sports GmbH has been producing inflatable water sports products for commercial grade for over 19 years. They are distributed in over 70 countries worldwide. From commercial pools, resorts, holiday parks or open water locations, Wibit believes people everywhere should experience the excitement of play on the water.

Witbit makes it easy to have a spectacular attraction in your pool with its modular and standalone inflatable product range. Products boast commercial grade construction, tough German safety standards and the excellent after sales support gives trouble-free entertainment for your guests.

The products are easily inflated with the Wibit electric blower or hand pump. Operators simply use the included manometer to check correct working pressure. The attraction is then assembled using the connector straps to attach the products together.

For more details visit www.witbitsports.com

Pinelog recently completed a project for Silver Bay Holiday Village in Anglesey, North Wales. The park owners felt that the provision of good quality leisure and all-weather facilities would enable the park to compete in today’s highly competitive holiday industry.

Pinelog: Pools from Planning Onwards Pinelog provides architecturally designed leisure buildings from its Derbyshire base.

Predominantly manufactured from laminated timber structures and larch, these buildings are used in a wide range of applications throughout the UK. The company has a longstanding reputation for its indoor swimming pools, whether for domestic gardens or commercial holiday parks.

Supported by experienced technical, manufacturing and management teams and calling upon over 30 years' experience, Pinelog is equipped to provide all customers with a high level of service.

The company provides a full turnkey service for all aspects of the contract from initial

Pool Specialists with Massive Online Stock Commercial Leisure Supplies Ltd has a vast array of products for the leisure pool industry, including chemicals, covers, pumps and more. The website offers free delivery on orders over £75, and offers accounts to the park sector.

CLS has been established in the Commercial Leisure sector since 1999, and its team of T.I.S.P.E qualified service engineers have over 50 years combined experience carrying out service works daily on all kinds of commercial installations through London and the South East. The company therefore has a great deal of equipment knowledge, If customers have any products they would like the company to stock, they can simply email info@comls.co.uk. Alternatively they can call the Order Hotline on 0800 917 1450.

design, submitting planning submissions and building regulation approval through to final commissioning of the building. This type of design and build contract management offers considerable benefits to customers, especially in terms of reduced costs, shorter time scales and valuable construction experience.

A Pinelog building has many advantages. It is quick to construct and its relatively light weight often means less complicated foundation requirements. Because of advanced timber treatments the buildings can be expected to have a long working life and they are competitively priced. Once operational, thermal efficiency and low maintenance translate into lower running costs.

Pinelog were chosen to submit a design to the client based on their specialist knowledge. A design was produced by Pinelog’s in-house architects and after being agreed by the client, a full planning application was submitted by Pinelog. A formal tendering procedure was then carried out and Pinelog were chosen to carry out the complete project.

The contemporary design emulates the landscape and has full views to the coast and boasts an upper gallery area overlooking the pool comprising a fitness suite and aerobics/multipurpose room. It is constructed in timber with a glulam frame with curved roof structure. It houses an insulated 15m x 8m indoor pool with separate children’s pool, fitness suite, aerobics room, café, office, spa, steam room, beauty therapy rooms and has low energy lighting, heat recovery and ultraviolet water treatment. www.pinelog.co.uk

Brookforge – Takes the Headache Out of Pool Maintenance Gloucestershire-based Brookforge has been loyally serving the commercial and domestic swimming pool industry since 1997. The company prides itself in its ability to design, specify, supply, install and maintain pool equipment to meet all needs.

The services Brookforge offers include: swimming pool maintenance, repair and refurbishment as well as ongoing pool service contracts.

From re-tiling, vinyl re-lining, fibreglassing or safety covers to updating pool filtration and automatic dosing with the latest UV or Ozone systems; Brookforge can help get your pool running beautifully.

When it comes to maintaining a pool; it needn't be a headache. Brookforge supplies time-saving electronic pool cleaners and automated backwash systems.

Or perhaps you are still thinking about building a pool? Brookforge will listen to your needs and can work with an architect and main contractor to provide all specialist pool services; CAD drawings, hydraulic and lighting schematics and pool plant layouts.

Brookforge also has a range of equipment from LED lighting to energy efficient heating systems thermal pool covers, the latest cyclone filtration technology and UVC and ozone systems to reduce chlorine consumption. www.brookforge.co.uk (also features a comprehensive online shop)

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Brexit Implications from the BH&HPA We have entered uncharted waters following the decision of June’s referendum.

In addition to considerations of when and how the UK leaves the EU, there is growing momentum for Scottish independence and a united Ireland.

Economic and political uncertainty will mark the years ahead. This will bring opportunity as well as threat for park business.

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The timing of our exit from the EU is uncertain and this may remain the case even after Article 50 has been triggered.

However, we can be certain on some points: As of today, we remain within the EU and trade under the same legal and tax framework.

We should expect the unexpected but we are a resilient industry. As we saw during the financial crash, our customers will continue to seek holidays, holiday homes and homes. Uncertainty ahead of the referendum already contributed to reports of some excellent trading.

There is much work ahead in the lobby, the extent of which will depend upon the nature of our exit. For example, VAT is a European tax (our system and rates are dictated by our Accession Treaty and the European VAT Directives).

Therefore, a new VAT system may be needed. The same applies to many aspects of regulation from employment to

consumer protection. These will need to be unpicked and the detail of a new framework confirmed. The nature of our exit may decide the options, which are on, or off, the table. Throughout this complex process, Parliament will be holding Government to account. Therefore our work to ensure support for park business interests on the front and back benches will never have been more important.

So another certainty is that your engagement with your political representatives – MPs, AMs, MLAs and MSPs – will be even more essential in the turbulent times ahead.

Change brings opportunity and the entrepreneurial spirit of the parks industry means we will identify and capitalise upon those opportunities. BH&HPA members will continue working together, sharing ideas and expertise towards the best outcome for our industry.

Definitely more to follow and some ‘interesting’ times ahead.

Holiday park gears up for Lancs tourism boost Moss Wood Caravan Park in the village of Cockerham is set to start work this summer on a new development of luxury holiday homes in its grounds.

It has also created a new marketing post to help promote Lancashire as a tourist destination, and stepping into the role this month is Neil Darby from Ingol in Preston.

Neil will also assist in implementing the business's expansion plans, including the creation of 25 new caravan holiday pitches adjacent to the park's fishing pond Family-run Moss Wood, established by the Wild family over 40 years ago, already provides around 200 pitches for holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes.

Neil, aged 28, joins Moss Wood from his previous position as constituency communications manager at the Burnley offices of Lib Dem politician Gordon Birtwistle.

Neil – who gained a BA in politics and parliamentary studies at Leeds University worked alongside Mr Birtwistle for the five years he represented Burnley as its MP until 2015.

Swapping politics for the parks industry, said Neil, has provided him with precisely the new type of challenge and career contrast which he was seeking:

Predictions that UK tourism will benefit from the Brexit vote have been welcomed by a top-rated Lancaster holiday park which has just announced new expansion plans.

"Despite the many uncertainties following the recent referendum, domestic tourism stands out as the one area almost certain to receive a business boost," he said.

"This is clearly good news for us, but also for other small businesses as visitors to the park spend around one-and-a-half million pounds each year in the local economy.

"The weaker pound against the euro and the threat of higher air fares are making overseas holidays look much less attractive than previously.

"There has never been a better time for Lancashire to shout loudly about what a fantastic region it is for all types of holidays, and that's just what we intend to do," added Neil.

"Currently, advance pitch bookings are up on last year's figures, as are enquiries about owning a caravan holiday home at Moss Wood.

Parks like Moss Wood, he suggests, have a very special appeal to visitors as they offer tranquil, natural surroundings where people can instantly disengage from their everyday lives and cares.

But although Neil's day job has now distanced him from politics, he is still very much involved with local government and community affairs outside working hours.

Neil has been a Preston City councillor representing Ingol and Tanterton since being elected in 2014, and has also chaired the ward's Neighbourhood Council since winning his seat in a by-election earlier this year.

There is more information about Moss Wood Caravan Park at www.mosswood.co.uk

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A new era dawns

for Pathfinder Homes

Mike stated “I am proud of Pathfinder Homes, as a manufacturer, as a business and as a community. From humble beginnings as a business we have innovated and grown from strength to strength. I am confident we have found perfect investors in Bruce and John and that they will continue to build upon the solid foundation of Pathfinder Homes and continue to experience tremendous growth.”

The company’s history enriches a strong and fascinating 58 year heritage. Mike originally invested in what was then known simply as

‘Pathfinder’s’ and worked closely with the company founders Tony and Gerry Horton.

Quickly learning a whole number of trades Mike completely took over the business in 1983 following the Horton Brothers’ retirement. Under Mike’s control Pathfinder Homes grew from strength to strength; at the time, nobody could have predicted the success the company had in store.

During the 90s, Pathfinder Homes employed a modest yet strong workforce of 8 team members, 1 computer (exclusively for accounts) and built one home to their high standard, every four weeks. Now they

After a successful 33 years at the helm of one of the country’s leading luxury park home and lodge manufacturer, Pathfinder Homes, Managing Director Mike Wills and fellow company director Martin Hember have announced plans to take a step back, making way for successor’s Bruce Macdonald and John Hoyle.

Mike and director Martin have decided to break into retirement slowly and whilst still assist the new heads, enjoy a well-deserved break. employ 160 team members, delivering 24 homes a month!

In 1997 Martin Hember joined Mike as a fellow director and a beautiful partnership was created. This era represented perhaps the biggest landmark for Pathfinder Homes as a business; demand grew beyond any prediction and developments were introduced including computerised modelling of designs, new building standards and fresh standard models and of course, increased competition. As a new century dawned, the market shifted and the industry experienced a culture change.

The general public began to purchase Pathfinder Homes as second homes to be used as a base for vacations in their most idealistic locations. As this trend became more popular Pathfinder Homes reacted with yet another industry first introducing the initial concept of a purpose-built holiday lodge.

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Production began to increase and in 2004 Pathfinder Homes had reached maximum potential at their modest base and moved headquarters from Pathfinder Village to Heathfield Industrial Estate, Newton Abbot.

This dramatic yet necessary relocation provided the business with quite literally, a concrete base to work from, an opportunity to provide office space for the back of house team, more storage facilities and vitally more ground to build the highly demanded homes.

Expectations from the market were at an all-time high and homes such as the The DreamCatcher and The Beachcomber pushing the boundaries of holiday home living. Such models featured Whirlpool Jacuzzis, flat screen TVs and walk-in wardrobes leading the way in design, quality and innovation.

In 2008 the world experienced one of the worst economic downturns in history. Banks refused to lend money, house prices slumped and home owners struggled to pay existing mortgages. In turn, this affected the supply and demand of the luxurious homes being built at Heathfield Estate. Although, business was tough within the residential market, the sales of Holiday Lodges steadily continued. In 2010 an opportunity arose to expand into the adjacent factory and despite the odds and expectations Pathfinder Homes extended work space and work force creating a factory of almost 45,000sqft. This increased potential production to 12 homes a month and with economic recovery on the horizon Pathfinder Homes emerged from the recession in a state stronger than any historic year.

Bruce has been close friends with Mike for almost 20 years and he joined the

Pathfinder Homes team in 2013, originally on a three-month contract. His vast experience and varied skill set within the construction and development industry offered transferable skills and Bruce immediately found his way around the production line. He went on to play a vital role in implementing dynamic processes and supporting the production team during an intense period of large orders and needless to say Bruce continued to turn into Pathfinder Homes long after his 3 month contract.

Now Managing Director, Bruce commented “When Mike & Martin started talking about their retirements I saw an opportunity; it makes perfect sense. Pathfinder Homes is a successful business in a thriving industry, with a clear vision and a strategy to get there. Mine and John’s experience in construction and development are of course an advantage but all we aim to do is continue to uphold and even work to improve the quality of our homes, the process of production and ultimately the future of the business.”

Throughout Pathfinder Homes’ rich heritage they have always continued to create aweinspiring designs and have won numerous awards for their innovation, quality and architectural brilliance. There seems to be no question that Bruce and John are excited and passionate about their new business venture. John stated “Bruce and I are proud to become a part of this successful business and will only continue to uphold its core values. We will always employ the finest standards of craftsmanship and utilise a variety of premium, exceptionally highquality materials and make sure owning a Pathfinder Home still offers the highest standard, handcrafted, truly unparalleled experience people have come to expect.”

From left they are: Dave Hember Sales & Marketing Director, Melissa Durrant Sales Director, Martin Hember Previous Company Director, Mike Wills Previous Managing Director, Bruce Macdonald Managing Director, John Hoyle Operations Director, Mark Champion Finance Director.

Pathfinder Homes as a team, with Bruce and John at the forefront and Mike and Martin remaining to share their experience and expertise, will continue to bring the UK a unique and accelerative way of thinking about the Park Home and Lodge industry.

From the inception of trade till today and even as a long term vision they will continue to assist their clients to fulfil their home building and park development dreams through a complete and comprehensive understanding of their values, lifestyles and wishes.

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2 01 6

SHOW OPENS Thursday 22 September Friday 23 September Saturday 24 September

09:30 – 17:30 09:30 – 17:30 09:30 – 16:30

A unique location, Stoneleigh Park offers you a beautiful countryside venue in the heart of England with free car parking for over 30,000 cars and superb road, rail and air access.

Located in the heart of England, just off the M40 and within 30 minutes drive of Birmingham, Coventry, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon Stoneleigh Park is one of the most convenient and flexible indoor and outdoor venues in the UK. Stoneleigh Park is located between the M6 and M40 motorways, close to Kenilworth and around 6 miles south of Coventry close to the A46.

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Glamping has become a great way for all sorts of businesses to diversify into the tourism and leisure industries.

Its relevance to camping, caravan and holiday sites is clear but it has also attracted venues, attractions and businesses that may never have considered tourism or accommodation as something they could do or would want to do.

This includes any tourism, attraction or leisure business for whom Glamping might offer an alternative accommodation option or revenue stream.

Or any private or commercial property owner for whom a Glamping structure might offer a unique and alternative form of accommodation or living space.

For all of the Glamping successes that you hear about, there have been many a false start. The wrong plot, poor drainage, failed planning, a poor offer, a bad visitor experience or everything right but no marketing.

Like any business, ensuring success requires some research, some planning and employing the best resources and support that you can find.

What’s On So the Glamping Show will offer an extensive programme of seminars, workshops, case studies and round tables.

Hear from and speak to experts in the field

and operators who have already been there and one it.

If you are thinking about starting and Glamping business, scaling up or getting more out of your current investment, then The Glamping Show is a must.

There are over 70 exhibitors taking part in this year’s show in both the indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces. Featuring everything from accommodation to accessories, plus representatives of trade bodies and professional consultants.

Find the full exhibitor list at www.theglampingshow.com

Seminal Seminars at The Glamping Show At last year’s Glamping Show the seminars were so successful there was standing room only in most - and not even that much space in others. Following the success of the seminar programme, the show’s organisors asked visitors for the subjects they wanted to hear about in 2016. This year that are over 60 seminars scheduled on a variety of subjects, requested specifically by delegates, including case studies from other operators, sustainable glamping, marketing and social media and more.

Here are some of the highlights you can expect to see: Cool Camping - James Warner Smith As the Marketing Manager of the Cool Camping guidebooks and website, James is responsible for one of the largest social media audiences in the UK camping and glamping sector.

Seminar: Making the Most of Social Media In this session, industry expert James Warner Smith will offer insight into how to engage and build a social media audience and, most importantly, how to turn a free social space into the perfect marketing platform.

This session will include: ! Why social media is important. ! Contributing, getting heard and building a following. ! How to get social media coverage from others. ! Common pitfalls. ! Helpful social media tools. ! Q&A. Country Glamping Holidays - Rob Farrow Originally a manager in the caravan and static dealership of the family group; Rob went on to establish and successfully ran the caravan hire division.

He then progressed to head up the complete holiday park, which they had run for over half a century; providing camping, caravan, static and lodge holidays.

Seminar: “Its camping Jim, but not as we know it!”

Considering the ‘perfect storm’ that has hit the camping and caravanning industry over the last five years (towing legislation, low exchange rates, high fuel costs and floods) can existing caravan sites diversify into glamping?

This session looks at the key topics an existing caravan / camping site must consider: ! Who goes glamping? ! Where are they? ! What do we need? ! How do we do it?

Starting with an appraisal of how the holiday market has changed from the hay day of caravanning; the session will move on to introducing the ‘glamper’, before drilling down into the key concepts on what is expected by this new market and how or indeed if an existing site can meet these challenges

Seminars: Building Barnutopia Barnutopia Luxury Glamping opened in June 2015 with three fully furnished yurts. By mid-July the yurts were fully booked through to the end of August and the site continued to take bookings through the autumn and winter, establishing itself as a year-round glamping venue.

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) The Centre For Alternative Technology is an education and visitor centre demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability.

Covering all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing, CAT is a unique and valuable practical demonstration centre, boasting the largest range of installed renewable systems anywhere.

This is a first-hand account of how they built Barnutopia.

Seminar: Sustainable Building Materials 1 – Straw and Timber Frame Understand the variety of sustainable building materials you might use to set your glamping pod apart from the rest. A must go to talk if you want your glamping pod to appeal to an ecological conscious and discerning glamper looking for a unique experience. CAT experts will take you on a whistle-stop tour of 2 materials in particular straw bales and timber frame to see what’s creatively and structurally possible with these materials Other seminars by CAT ! Sustainable Building Materials 2 – Rammed Earth and Cob ! Solar Thermal ! Wind power ! Solar PV ! Compost Loos ! Reedbeds and Waste Water Management Katrina Boydon - Barnutopia Katrina Boydon spent ten years in the United States as vice president and head of web content and media operations for a successful Silicon Valley media and marketing company. She managed web presence efforts for hundreds of brands and thousands of websites generating qualified online leads for business to consumer and business to business clients. In 2014, she moved back to Britain to set up a yurt glamping site with her husband and four children.

Other seminars by Katrina ! Choosing the Best Booking System ! The www of Web Presence Towergate Insurance – Stephen Bennett Working in the insurance industry for over 10 years with experience ranging from motor traders, professional indemnity through to the military.

Stephen is now proud to be delving into the diverse world of site operators.

Seminar: Glamping Through the Eyes of an Insurer A discussion about the differences between a caravan and glamping pod, and a tent and a yurt, and what you can do to reduce your business risks.

In this session we will explore what practical and achievable measures that site owners can take to help reduce insurance exposures and better protect their businesses.

Clear Sky Safari - Mark Scott Clear Sky Company Director Mark Scott has over 20 years experience in the Holiday industry, specialising in systems, customer trends and data analysis for the UK Caravan Parks and Camping sector.

Seminar: Your Guide to Getting into Glamping We’ll take you through everything you need to know about setting up a glamping business from planning permission and where to locate your safari tents to marketing and setting up a website.

More than that we’ll also show you how to make your site special – from hot tubs to

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differing scales from a large scale quarry site with hundreds of log cabins in Somerset to a small scale glamping field with 12 tents in the High Weald in East Sussex.

rooms with a view, we’ll look at what guests want from their glamping experience and how you can stay a step ahead of the competition.

Roundhouse Yurts - Tina Hyde Tina Hyde owns and runs Roundhouse Yurts and together with her partner Jeremy Daffern, a trained cabinet maker and antique furniture restorer, they hire out their craftsman made yurts for weddings and parties nationwide from their base at the foot of the Black Mountains near Hay on Wye. Seminar: Yurts, a Great Glamping Business Topics covered in Talk ! Why Yurts ! Site location and facilities ! Deck and insulation ! Flooring.. Innovative and practical ways to create great flooring ! Options available for extending your yurt season into the autumn/winter ! Cover life and winter covers ! Interior design in the round…”how to create eye-catching interiors and photograph them well” ! Marketing your yurt Tina will discuss a variety of areas relating to running a Glamping Site including Site location and facilities and Marketing.

Max McMurdo Max McMurdo established Reestore ltd in 2003 when he became uneasy at the consumption-focused ways of the traditional design world. He set about manufacturing a range of high-end desirable furniture items created from

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Seminar topic: Landscape Design for Glamping Sites Nick will speak about how to search out and utilise the landscape potential of a site to maximise interest for glamping visitors and how this could enhance the local landscape and ecological interest to create long term sustainable sites. waste destined for landfill. Max still heads up the business with support from a skilled team of designers and fabricators. Having featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces in 2012 Max is now sharing his time between managing Reestore, designing lots of fantastic new products, sipping lattes in his upcycled shipping container office in his back garden and most recently as a TV presenter on Channel 4.

Seminar topics: Design, Amazing Spaces Philip Wright Philip and his wife Avril are still in the process of establishing their glamping business in Shropshire. You can read about their experiences in this issue on pages 36 and 37.

Seminar topic: Planning Harper Landscape Architecture LLP (HLA) - Nick Harper Nick is a chartered landscape architect with over 25 years professional experience and he is a partner of HLA. He has worked on many amazing projects during his time and has developed a depth of experience with leisure and tourism sites of

Neil Warren Support – Neil Warren Neil has spent a career focussed on working to make tourism have a better impact, from one-to-one business advice to working on regional and national initiatives.

Five years ago, when working on one such initiative with a shoestring budget he stumbled into video making just as YouTube was taking off.

Overtime this has grown into a video production and support for award winning tourism businesses and organisations like Quality in Tourism and South West Coast Path which now takes place alongside his work on green/ sustainable tourism.

Seminar Topic: Going Green without Selling Out or Turning Off Judging how to communicate your green credentials can be tricky? You want them to add appeal and inspire customers but are scared they’ll alienate and annoy. This seminar will provide practical tips and advice of how to strike the perfect balance drawing on examples from those making it work.

Other Seminars: Video: Making the Most of the Moving Image For a complete list of speakers and seminars visit www.theglampingshow.com/glampingshow-seminars