LPG CYLINDER MONITORING with Clesse CompacTi
A complete remote LPG cylinder monitoring system. CompacTi uses intelligent algorithms within its patented design to optimise LPG cylinder contents usage, saving money and time via the Android or iOS Smart application, GSM and IoT. Caravan owners, have you ever had the frustration of running out of gas when you least expect it while in your holiday home? Fleet hire managers, fed up of time-consuming checks spending hours on park physically shaking cylinders to see if there is any gas left? Caravan owners, and park operators now have the option to monitor their own LPG cylinders from the comfort of the holiday home, and drive/walk by mass collection in minutes respectively with the new Clesse CompacTi device and mobile app. How does CompacTi work? With unique gas optimisation built into every device, the app will alert when the usable contents of LPG cylinders have been exhausted, to be sure you are getting more gas than ever from your cylinders. By just looking at the red flag in the window of the changeover, doesn’t always mean the cylinder is entirely empty, whereby, using the CompacTi app helps confirm the optimum point to get it replaced. Upgrade standard changeover regulators with the addition of the new CompacTi electronic device, and download the Clesse application, users will benefit from a hybrid electronic system that offers Bluetooth cylinder monitoring and CIesse Integrated Intelligence (CII). CII is an inbuilt gas optimisation feature as standard, further enhancing capability to assist in using all the possible remaining gas in the cylinders, with a further option to increase optimisation by reprogramming default settings with kW load, cylinder quantity and size. Using the icons seen in the app, will tell the user in the view screen what status the device is based on the unique algorithms which calculate the optimum time to display when the cylinder is empty. Not only can fleet customers holidaying in letting homes be confident their gas will not run out during their stay, but a complete free service using “See ACO status” can show how many cylinders around the site on private owner’s holiday homes have run out of gas too, and allow site managers planning cylinder purchases from the supplier for when they arrive to order their gas Check out this link to the Clesse website where CII is explained in more detail: https://www.clesse.co.uk/compacti/cii-2/ Are there more benefits to using CompacTi? Other than the money saving gas optimisation, here are more features and benefits of using the system Fleet hire managers No more shaking cylinders and emergency customer cylinder requests Reduce the time spent out on park exchanging cylinders Install more than one CompacTi device on a single account, and monitor all fleet hire stock Use in app “View” to see devices installed on the account Free “Site Scan”, go and find the cylinders to exchange. Walk or drive by, at a safe distance and improve efficiency Filter the results of collected readings on the app and sort to help you manage collecting many devices in one go Minimise customer contact with park site staff …and for a small upgrade fee per device, increased features can be unlocked: Allow Multiple users using a single park account to multi ”Site Scan” at the same time to harvest Cylinder status of fleet stock “Site Scan” data from multiple users can be downloaded from server for site cylinder manager to press a button to send to e-mail Trace unread items to capture full portfolio of devices if there have been any missed during data harvesting. Receive Gas orders directly from the App on Owners mobile devices directly to e-mail inbox Improve back-office efficiency to plan cylinder exchanges programme combining harvested fleet data and owners Order Gas mails Ask your distributor for details of how to Purchase CompacTi Caravan Owners Put yourself in control of your cylinder supply, using technology and convenience Personalise, with the property name, plot number, address and installation characteristics, such as how many cylinders each side, how many kilowatts is the holiday home demanding etc…. Monitor via Bluetooth in your own holiday home on the mobile app, and stop run outs and emergency deliveries. No worries about if your cylinder is empty/full/part full. Take the guess work away See the latest device status live on the app Let the app give you the optimum time to change the cylinder, potential savings and convenience all in one Send your gas order to the site office through the app, minimising site contact The app will even alert you by e-mail after 5 days if you haven’t logged in and checked your cylinders. …and for an upgrade fee per device, increased features can be unlocked Take the GSM or IoT versions and monitor your device from anywhere in the world with mobile data or wifi connection to the server Great for the subletters, and those with thermostats who just want to keep the place cosy for arrival. Your site manager can still use their free “See ACO status” service and check for you in case they need to order a cylinder for when you get there Ask your park site manager for details of how to purchase these devices Setup couldn’t be easier! Full instruction booklet and warranty card are provided with every device, and within 5 minutes the CompacTi will be up and running and ready to monitor devices. The instructions can be viewed on the website, along with our handy how to videos section worthy of a watch too, to see how the system can work for you. Instructions link “How to” videos link Where to buy CompacTi? You can check first if you already have a compatible CompacTR800 OPSO changeover, which have been on sale since June 2020. You will need one of these for the installation to work. Our FAQ section can answer your question on the CompacTi website. www.clesse.co.uk/compacti If in doubt, get in touch with us at the office and we can point you in the right direction. Tel:
Woodberry – Outdoor Furniture, Gazebos and Decking
Woodberry is a family-run company based in Leamington Spa specialising in manufacturing and supplying Outdoor Furniture, Gazebos and Decking to Hospitality and Education venues. We have over 15 years’ experience of supplying the hospitality industry with good quality, hard wearing, value for money outdoor furniture. We listen to our customers and work with them to design and develop outdoor solutions that are good for business and their customers’ experience. During 2020, we extended our range to now offer Outdoor Gazebos and Decking which enables venues to extend their outdoor hospitality season by providing weatherproof solutions. Our top recommendations for Holiday Parks Outdoor Furniture Our best selling furniture for Holiday Parks includes; Picnic Tables Ideal for communal hospitality areas, choose from circular, rectangular and square picnic tables seating from 2 to 8 people. Made from FSC® Certified wood or Recycled Plastic. Table & Chairs Sets Ideal for individual decks or café areas, we recommend easy to clean Plastic & Aluminium Atlantique Range Tables & Chairs or Harbury Range Value Hardwood Tables & Chairs Table & Bench Sets For sites that need secure, really hard wearing furniture. Gabion rock filled Tables & Benches look great and are heavy for windswept locations or Castle Range Wooden Tables & Benches can be ground fixed for additional security Outdoor Sofas For decks or communal lounge and bar areas, synthetic commercial-grade rattan or hard wearing FSC® Certified wood Outdoor Sofas, Armchairs and Coffee Tables are recommended Benches For simply sitting and enjoying the view, Teak, Pine and Recycled Plastic Benches are available in a variety of lengths. Plaques or engraving is available for memorial benches Litter Bins For tidy communal areas we offer a range of Litter Bin designs made from FSC® Certified wood or Recycled Plastic Parasols and Accessories Provide shade with our commercial-grade Parasols available in 3 sizes and 6 colours. Parasol printing available. Parasol Bases, Outdoor Heaters and Planters finish your outdoor areas Gazebos Weather proof your outdoor communal areas to extend your outdoor hospitality. Our range of FSC® Certified wood and metal gazebos are available in a range of sizes to fit your space from 3m to 7m. Talk to us about what would work best for you, we can offer bespoke solutions. We also offer 6-seater dining cabins to provide a weather proof, private dining experience for guests. Fit with wall mounted outdoor heaters for extra guest comfort. Decking We now offer Millboard®. Decking boards, Fascias and Edging for a complete deck solution. Millboard® is made from poly resin, hand moulded from beautiful wooden planks. It offers all the beauty and detail of wood grain but with none of the pitfalls. Millboard® is weatherproof, rot, algae, warp and split resistant. It comes with high anti-slip ratings. For commercial use it comes with a 5-year structural guarantee (if installed to Millboard® guidelines). We offer Millboard® in 4 colours of Enhanced Grain board; Golden Oak, Smoked Oak, Coppered Oak and Brushed Basalt. Talk to our team about your requirements and for installation guidance. We would be delighted to talk to you about your requirements and our expert team can advise what might work best for your business and guest. Call us on 01926 889922 or visit our website. www.woodberry.co.uk/holidayparks
Cornwall’s staycation market fuels demand for boutique holiday homes
The fallout of Brexit, improving transport links and an expanding holiday home market are helping Cornwall to cement its position as the UK’s favourite staycation destination, said property agency Spot Blue International Property in November, adding that the county also has increasing appeal to foreign tourists. A recent survey by a leading high street bank showed that 31 per cent of British staycationers planned to visit Cornwall this year, making the south-western county the UK’s most popular region. In addition, more than half (52 per cent) of people surveyed said they would take most or all of this year’s holiday in the UK, with 31 per cent saying they intend to spend more time in the UK than previous years. Another survey by a leading rental company revealed that 66 per cent of British people enjoyed a staycation last year, representing a 10 per cent rise compared to 2017. “Evidence points to British people being spooked by both the weak pound, pushing up the costs associated with overseas holidays, and the fear of possible travel disruption once they can no longer travel as EU citizens,” said Mr Walker at Spot Blue International Property. “The natural response of many is to choose the safety of the UK for their annual holidays, helped by the recent warmer summers. Already a popular costal destination with famous beaches and popular towns like Padstow Newquay and St Ives, not to mention the Eden Project, Cornwall is well placed to benefit from this trend in 2019 and beyond.” Constantly improving air access also is helping to drive tourism in Cornwall, home to the UK’s fastest growing airport. During the 2018-19 financial year, 461,000 passengers passed through Cornwall Airport Newquay, making it the fifth consecutive year of growth and best year ever for the airport. Key new routes launched this year include four daily services to London Heathrow, and services to London Southend, Jersey and Guernsey, and Copenhagen. New or improved routes for 2020 include Glasgow, Aberdeen, Norwich and Newcastle. These complement the airport’s existing services to other regional UK airports, as well as its popular London Gatwick and Manchester services. In addition to domestic visitors, Cornwall is attracting a growing number of foreign tourists, with German holidaymakers comprising one of the region’s strongest growth markets. In response to this, German carrier Eurowings now connects Cornwall with four German cities, namely Berlin, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Hahn. Off the back of all this, we predict a rise in demand for desirable accommodation, both for rentals and ownership,” continued Mr Walker. “Purpose-built, fully managed holiday communities with on-site facilities are a growing sector of the Cornish market. We are pleased to be promoting a range of boutique lodges within a holiday park near Newquay. The world-class leisure facilities there include pools, water sports activities, an inflatable aqua park, playgrounds, a Spa and beauty centre, and places to eat and drink. For investors, there is the option to enter your property into a rental scheme, delivering a seven per cent return.” For further information about buying opportunities in Cornwall, contact: Spot Blue International Property Tel: +44 (0)20 8339 6036 Email: info@spotblue.com Website: www.spotblue.com
Aria Resorts – redefining the British holiday experience
Caravan Industry and Park Operator finds out more about Aria Resorts – a relatively new player in the holiday park industry that is going from strength to strength thanks to its luxury accommodation… Currently the fastest-growing UK holiday company, Aria Resorts has 14 locations in highly sought-after holiday destinations. Pioneering the redefinition of holiday and resort experiences, the highly lucrative staycation market is at the core of the company’s fast-growth business strategy. Taking a positively disruptive approach to the sector, all Aria’s resorts are continually benefiting from a multi-million-pound investment programme. Alongside this strong holiday offering is the continued growth into the holiday home ownership sector, with a wide mix of property options available across lifestyle and investment portfolio products. Privately owned and private equity backed, Aria has already achieved the status of the fifth largest operator in its sector. Since its inception in 2018, the team has pursued an ambitious, programme of acquisition. The organisation is owned by a leading, privately-held, alternative investment firm, Angelo Gordon. Working worldwide since 1988, the company has an impressive investment portfolio, currently worth $30 billion. Aria’s key attraction lies in the fact that, as a dedicated resort company, it is essentially a strategic ‘smorgasbord’ of options for holidaymakers and buyers of all interests and budgets. Budding buyers can pick up their own compact holiday ‘bolthole with benefits’ from as little as just £20,000 in the form of a ‘pre-loved’ static caravan. Or they can invest more than £1/2million in a luxurious ‘boutique barn.’ Mortgageable options such as extensive lodges or on-trend lake houses are available from just £129,950 with a small deposit. These cottages and lodges are nestled across sites in Cornwall, Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight. Aria Resorts can have owners’ holiday homes added to its professional, managed letting service as soon as the sale has completed, so they can start benefitting from the favourable tax regulations associated with Furnished Holiday Lets. Aria will look after everything from marketing to bookings, cleaning to maintenance. Aria Resorts’ management fee is 30% of the rental income plus a charge for linen, cleaning and VAT. Alternatively, Aria’s long lease accommodation options can be bought with an attractive investment option offering a fixed return of 7% to qualifying investors. Each long lease holiday home is sold with a 10-year ICW or NHBC guarantee, a 999-year leasehold and are mortgageable (subject to approval). When it comes to reselling, the holiday home will be valued on the open market. Yorkshire Pride Set within a private gated estate, The Bay Filey, Yorkshire is the Northern jewel in the crown in the Aria Resorts’ portfolio. Offering the best of both worlds, the New England clapperboard Meadow Lodges, priced from an extremely competitive £185,000, are set by a beautiful lake, within minutes from the stunning Filey Beach. Filey has been a ‘forever’ destination for families from all over Yorkshire, and beyond, but the available ‘bolthole’ market just had a significant upgrade with the launch of Aria’s distinctive new Nikki, Tahiti and Kontiki luxury lodges. Due to a high and immediate demand, the Kontiki lodges have now sold out but there are plenty of sister lodges available. The idyllic Isle Located just off the UK, the Isle of Wight feels a million miles from the bustle of the mainland and is surprisingly easy to access. Aria has three resorts on the island and with prices for static caravans starting from £40,995. Buyers could see immediate advantages in the ultimate UK island escape destination. Some of the properties even boast hot tubs but all guarantee attractive subletting rental fee potential. The Isle of Wight, surrounded by miles of impressive golden beaches, and with a mild climate, has a thriving tourism industry with millions flocking there annually to embrace wildlife, nature, attractions and, in ‘normal times’, an array of exciting and colourful events. Nestled between neighbouring villages Bembridge and Seaview, Aria’s St Helens Resort is a peaceful holiday retreat featuring wide luscious green spaces to roam in absolute fresh air and freedom. The wildlife of St Helen’s Duver and the unspoiled sheltered sands of Priory Bay beach, with its unique woodlands, are in close proximity. The Lakes Rookley, in contrast, is a leafy hideaway, hogging an enviable spot just down the road from the picturesque village of Godshill with its Medieval church and quaint thatched cottages. The resort itself has top family-friendly activities, entertainment throughout the school holidays, its very own pub, and impressive indoor and outdoor pools for making a splash in. The Bay, Colwell is open from February to November with its cottages and coastal beach houses. In walking distance to the Needles, where visitors can marvel at the towering rocks, wander around Yarmouth and watch boat masts swaying or stroll across to Headon Warren. Captivating Cornwall Year-on-year, Cornwall continually adds to its trophy display, proving that it is one of the ‘hottest’ UK holiday destinations. Set right in the beating heart of Cornwall, Retallack Resort is the ultimate 21st-century holiday, weekend or mini-break destination. This five-star holiday resort is a modern retreat for the making of memories, outdoorsy fun and getting away from it all. Earlier this year, Aria launched its first-in-the-UK luxury and mortgageable two, three and four bedroomed boutique barns set within the lush, green, lake-filled landscape, with a range of compelling earn-back options and packages. A lead-in investment price of £235,000 for a two bedroomed model including a furniture and fittings pack offers significant value for money for this level of luxury and hot-spot location. Also in Cornwall, Newquay Bay Resort is a typically British, family seaside holiday location in a lush green valley, close to the Blue-Flag-flying Porth beach. A coastal stroll from famous Watergate Bay, the resort also boasts excellent amenities such as a sauna and beauty salon, an epic twenty-metre swimming pool and a bar and eatery. A two-bedroomed, pre-owned static caravan at Newquay Bay Resort will set buyers back as little as £19,995 and there are a number of new options
Floating holiday homes add a new dimension to holiday parks
Leverage the most out of the Great British Staycation with Waterlodge floating apartments – luxury holiday homes on water at a competitive price. If your holiday park boasts a lake or waterway, the contemporary Waterlodges provide an innovative and unique solution both to increase capacity and offer the relaxed pleasure of a holiday on water. Staycations: here to stay There’s never been a better time to invest in next-level staycationing; Covid-19 has created a new appetite for holidaying at home. Research by the Office for National Statistics showed that turnover in the camping and caravan sites sector was up 22.7% in August 2020 compared to the same month in 2019, at a record £688m. But the evidence suggests this is more than a flash in the pandemic pan; 71% of British holiday makers say they’re planning a UK holiday in 2021, according to a survey by the Cumberland Building Society. Holiday homes on water: the experience staycationers are looking for Increased demand is a fantastic opportunity for park owners, and the key winners will be those who can provide new experiences for staycationers. Waterlodge floating apartments are the ideal solution – enabling you to offer all the existing benefits of your park life with the added dimension of the tranquillity of a marina experience. “Once the initial lockdown restrictions were eased, our phones began ringing off the hook from people looking for alternative, affordable holiday homes,” says Waterlodge UK’s co-director Andrew Hyland. “Waterlodges are obviously a much more affordable option than a bricks and mortar holiday home, with the added attraction of bringing people the calm they’re looking for in these challenging times by putting them onto the water, giving them the perfect escape from the town or city – and lockdown.” “Unlike traditional canal boats, Waterlodges are spacious, with full-height ceilings and space for proper beds – and unlike conventional boats, you don’t need a skipper’s licence or the specialist knowledge required to maintain them. So Waterlodges offer all the attractions of a marina lifestyle with none of the complications or the compromise on comfort. The enquiries we’ve had since May tell us it’s a winning combination for the staycationing British public,” adds Andrew’s business partner, Ian Watkins. An attractive investment for commercial and retail customers Waterlodge UK have refined their designs and build processes to make them an attractive investment both for commercial and retail customers. Rigorous quality control enables Waterlodge UK to offer guarantees of two years on the overall package, with a predicted minimum lifespan on the roof of over 25 years. There is no need for any maintenance or painting if the Waterlodge is used as a static home, and the central heating and hot-water systems are all Energy A+++ rating for low running costs. “Holiday and caravan park owners can maximise ROI by either re-selling the Waterlodges to end customers or offering them for rental, with the option of B2B rental financing plans,” explains Ian. “Holiday parks already have the service infrastructure necessary to support Waterlodges, so generally the only additional investment required is moorings for the Waterlodges, especially if you want to maximise how many berths you can offer. This makes them a uniquely cost-effective way of expanding capacity to take advantage of the uplift in Brits looking to holiday within the UK, as Waterlodges bypass the costly need to acquire new land,” adds Andrew. Intelligent design, quality finish The beautiful, intelligent design creates a luxury holiday home experience, optimising the use of space inside and out, with enriching features such as panoramic windows and timber decking being fitted as standard. Customers can choose from a range of finishes, including luxury bathrooms and contemporary kitchens. Optional extras include solar panels, underfloor heating and furniture packs for both the bedrooms and living room. Unique features such as the generous sun decks enhance the marina lifestyle and increase the appeal for the 53% of British staycationers who told the Cumberland they want accommodation with an outdoor space. “The same survey found that 57% of respondents considered a good view to be the most important staycation feature, while 74% said their top priority was relaxation – and what better, more relaxing view could there be than lying in bed or sitting on your private deck watching the water ripple gently in front of you?” comments Ian. Flexible floating holiday home solutions Waterlodges range from the compact Waterlodge One sleeping up to four with 17m2 of internal space and an optional roof terrace, up to the spacious Waterlodge Six for up to eight guests with 50m2 of living space and 55m2 of outside space. “Our Waterlodges come with a range of standard configuration options, but each one can be tailored to your exact requirements, with different combinations of bedrooms and bathrooms – or even a sauna! Holiday park owners know what is most popular with their visitors, so we can create whatever layout will be most attractive and flexible for their customers,” says Ian. Building on experience While Waterlodge UK is a relatively new venture, Andrew and Ian have a long history of relevant experience. “We’re both boat brokers by background – we know the boat industry inside out. We were the first people to take boat brokering online, setting up WhyBoats together in 2011 – effectively the Purple Bricks of the sector,” explains Andrew. “Waterlodge UK has grown from our background within the boating industry,” expands Ian. “Nearly everyone loves being on water, but many people nowadays don’t have the capacity – either the skills or the time – to maintain a boat themselves. We’ve developed Waterlodges as a way to make holidaying on water much more accessible. “We’ve put all our expertise into developing and refining the product to withstand the particular challenges of being on water, for example injecting closed-cell foam to prevent water ingress and using plastic that is UV stable and impervious to water. We’ve combined this with meticulous attention to detail to create the best of both worlds
Elite Dynamics becomes a new Microsoft Gold partner
Elite Dynamics, a leading provider of software solutions to the Holiday Parks industry, has become the latest Microsoft Gold partner in the UK. The UK- based technology specialists have joined the elite top tier of Microsoft partners demonstrating proven expertise in delivering quality solutions within one or more specialised areas of business. In Elite Dynamics case, within the global holiday park sector. To achieve Gold membership, the team successfully completed a range of core competencies designed to prepare them to meet customers’ needs, as well as attracting new customers looking for Microsoft-certified solution providers. The competencies demonstrate the Elite Dynamics teams’ expertise in business and technology, covering everything from cloud business applications and platforms to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM). Jamaine Campbell, co-founder and Managing Director at Elite Dynamics, said: “We’re immensely proud to be regarded as one of Microsoft’s highly accredited partners and it’s all down to the consistent efforts of our professional team. Gold partner status is the highest level a Microsoft partner can reach and it opens new doors for our customers, not only by adopting evolving solutions, but also by benefitting from our access and insight to exclusive Microsoft Partner advanced training and technical support. “Attaining Microsoft Gold partner status rubber stamps our commitment to excellence in Microsoft technologies and our dedication to providing first class software solutions to transform the Holiday Parks industry. We’re delighted to be at the cutting edge of some really exciting digital transformation.” Phil Gibbins, Partner Success Manager at QBS Group who support Microsoft Dynamics partners, said: “Elite Dynamics have been a QBS partner for almost five years and in this time we have seen them grow from strength to strength with developing their solution around the tourism industry. Achieving the Microsoft Gold partner accreditation validates the investments they have made to becoming the UK’s leading provider for holiday park solutions”. Elite Dynamics has been providing market leading, award winning software solutions to holiday park companies since 2015 and has more than 200 holiday parks adopting its systems across five countries. They are the only IT provider in the Holiday Parks industry to be officially accredited by Microsoft. For more information on Elite Dynamics or to arrange a demo of the market leading Microsoft powered software solutions, visit https://www.elitedynamics.co.uk
safe and environmentally friendly maintenance of your septic tank
Septic Tank maintenance is a necessity that is sometimes overlooked with the result of blockages and the need for expensive pump outs. With regular use of Aquarius SC you will discover that blockages and pump-outs can be virtually eliminated. Description Aquarius SC is a dry, multi-culture preparation specifically designed to liquefy and consume organic wastes and almost all factions of animal fats and vegetable oils found in sewage/septic tank systems, drains and grease traps. The microbial cultures found in Aquarius SC continue enzyme production to consume the organic wastes and grease, restoring and maintaining the bacterial balance required for effective operation. Aquarius SC is non-toxic, non-caustic, non-corrosive, non-pathogenic (harmless) and is biodegradable. Septic Tanks and Drainage Systems The performance and efficiency of septic tanks, drainage and sewage systems depends entirely upon the type of waste throughput and the amounts and strength of the bacterial agents present therein. The bacteria lives and multiplies by feeding on the waste matter within the septic tank and as such causes decomposition of the soluble waste into less harmful and inoffensive effluent, which may then be safely dispersed through the system. The increasing use of household detergents, bleaches and cleansers destroys the very bacteria required to digest the sewage in the purification system. Should the waste materials not be activated and transformed into liquids, they will ultimately build up and cause a blockage in the system, which will in itself cease to function effectively. The result will be that the system will begin to emit foul and offensive odours and may be in need of costly repairs or pumping. Prevention as well as the cure Aquarius SC is supplied in a soluble sachet, as a pre-measured treatment of 1 x sachet per month for standard size domestic tank, to be simply entered into the drainage, septic tank and sewage system either through the sink waste or flushed down the toilet. Aquarius SC will assist in breaking down the waste build-up within the drains and will reactivate the sewage system with its high concentrate of microbial cultures and enzymes, restoring the bacterial balance required for effective operation. Doses can be varied dependent on specific applications and also used to assist in breakdown of fatty build ups in grease traps. Keeping Septic Tanks clean for over 65 years – visit our website www.aquarius4u.com for more information and place orders – Aquarius Agriculture (A division of Morgan Hope Industries Ltd)
New biocide Enclean offers caravan parks an eco-friendly cleaning solution
A new biocide which is being used to clean decking on holiday parks is being praised thanks to its eco-friendly cleaning credentials and its effective performance. Following its recent launch, new biocide Enclean has made a successful introduction into the caravan park sector following positive reports from early adopters confirms agronomist Robert Bone, Amenity Specialist with Agrovista. Mr Bone, who has over 35 years of industry experience, first saw the biocide in its development phase 18 months ago and was impressed with both its speed of action in eradicating algae and its positive effect on dealing with other green deposits that often build up on hard surfaces. “I followed Enclean’s progress across a number of trials during 2019 and although it’s designed primarily to remove algae, trials have consistently shown the biocide’s main active ingredient, Nonanoic acid, also has a secondary effect on breaking down other green deposits that can accumulate on hard surfaces. “Enclean is plant-derived, safe to use, and it has no environmental hazard classification. It’s fast-acting and, once applied, it quickly degrades into natural elements leaving behind no harmful residue,” he confirms. Since the March launch Robert has been working with his customer base of ground maintenance contractors, county councils and local authorities conducting operator training courses to help them better understand the new biocide, its efficacy and level of control under different operating conditions and on different surfaces such as pavements, the outer surfaces of greenhouses, wooden decking and fence panels. Despite the restrictions on face-to-face meetings due to Covid-19, Robert believes that Enclean has rapidly gained wide acceptance amongst his clients due to the success of the training courses and product demonstrations. “Application advice is a key part of the agronomic service I provide to customers and the training courses are a good way of promoting best practice. Although there are a number of established biocides able to deal with algae, Enclean’s very low dilution requirement of 1L of product to 14L of water offering users over 550m2 of coverage is a potential game-changer allowing the operator to apply the product using a small knapsack sprayer. “Often, when there is a build-up of algae, it occurs in narrow pathways that have limited access to sunlight or wind. Many biocides tend to require large water volumes and that can be a serious problem if the large tank on an ATV or UTV mounted sprayer can’t access the area you need to treat. If you’re working in a relatively remote place, far away from a water source, another potential issue is accessing significant volumes of water to be able to do the job. Using a biocide that requires a relatively small amount of water from a knapsack sprayer can be a major advantage,” he explains. Trials prove Enclean is an “effective hard surface biocide” Colin Simpson, Estimating and Purchasing Manager with Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Limited, also sees a positive future for Enclean following extensive product trials this year across a number of the company’s school maintenance contracts. “We’re one of the largest horticultural and ground maintenance service providers in North Yorkshire and, until recently, we had been struggling to find a really effective hard surface biocide. With many schools closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic earlier this year it had caused a build-up of algae on pathways around many school buildings due to the simple fact that people weren’t using them as often. “One of the key considerations when we apply any chemical is the safety aspect. Not only the safety of our operator, but the health and safety of children using the pathways and making sure we don’t harm the environment. Enclean’s very low environmental hazard classification combined with a high level of operator safety ticked both boxes. “When we look at contracts where we are spraying large areas, time is also a factor so the fact that Enclean does not foam in the tank meaning it can be cleaned out quickly following use was another positive. Based on our experience it is best to apply the product in dry, sunny conditions. Try to find a 2-3 day window of dry weather after application if possible. In the right conditions surfaces were completely clear within 14-21 days of application and there was no requirement for a follow-up spray,” he confirms. Simon Race, Director of Sports Turf Services Limited – a family run business based near York – also found that tank cleaning post-application was both time-consuming and problematic when using biocides that required large water volumes. “We used to use a different biocide but, although it performed well enough, it foamed in the tank leaving a residue that required significant washing out of both the tank and pipes after the product was applied. We wanted something that was both quicker to mix and easier to apply using smaller quantities of water. Enclean was the obvious answer. “As long as you apply at the advised rate in dry conditions you should see the correct visual signs of the algae and other green deposits beginning to turn brown and decay after just 2-3 days. Whilst 1 application will generally clear most surfaces we did find that when dealing with black algae engrained into older stone surfaces a follow-up application will often be required to complete the job,” he concludes.
Remote site toilets
The arrival of the pandemic has brought increased opportunity for British caravanning, camping and glamping with staycationing becoming the new preferred and often necessary means of a break for many of us. This year NatSol have seen many enquiries from landowners interested in setting up an area for people to stay and looking for toilet solutions. With 15 years’ experience in provision of waterless toilets for remote sites NatSol can provide a solution for most such sites. Camping sites are often open to the public, many of whom will not be familiar with dry toilets. It is important to take this into account when choosing a toilet solution so as to make the use and management of facilities as simple as possible. For those sites which have access for a slurry tanker the NatSol Zero Discharge toilet (ZD) is the lowest maintenance system. It is the company’s most recently introduced product and is proving popular for busy public sites where a number of toilets are required in a facilities block. The National Trust and The Royal Parks are amongst our customers for this model of toilet. We will soon have available a smaller version of this which will be easier and cheaper to install where single toilets are required. The ZD is also good for sites where discharge to ground is undesirable or difficult, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Some campsite owners may prefer to opt for the NatSol Full Access Composter (FAC). This is a urine separating toilet (urine is sent to a soakaway) and it can cater for around 6 campers as a daily average spread across a year. It will absorb peaks and troughs in use and, like the ZD, is conveniently free from freezing risks over the winter. The running costs are very low and it will provide a reliable solution on sites where users are respectful of facilities. Both the ZD and the FAC are waterless toilets which can operate without mains connections. They can both function with a passive venting system to eliminate odours. For more information visit www.natsol.co.uk or call Ellen on 01686 412653, or email her at ellen@natsol.co.uk.
