Products review – Bosch Universal 18v Leaf Blower and AXT Rapid 2200 Shredder
Is there a more arduous groundskeeping task than clearing up leaves and garden debris? If you’re a park operator it’s got to be done as leaf fall can clog up gulleys, block gutters and damage grass – not to mention the unsightly look of rotting leaves around your grounds. Sure, some satisfaction can be had from creating big piles of leaves, but if the wind picks up or a scurrilous child or pet is passing, all your hard work is undone. So any means of easing the pain of leaf gathering must be welcomed – right? The modern world is constantly inventing labour saving devices and the leaf blower isn’t a new thing. But what is relatively new is the light weight battery powered leaf blower. However, whether you’re a ‘Luddite’ or a fully fledged disciple of the battery revolution, the reality is there are certain things that cordless electric does well and others that old fashioned corded power or petrol power excel at. Below we have tested two products from Bosch to find out if they’re up to the job. The Bosch Universal 18v leaf blower – RRP £134 with battery & charger / £67 tool only. My first impression of the Bosch Universal 18v leaf blower is how small the package is. “How did they fit it in that tiny box?” I said to the bemused delivery man as he unloaded on my doorstep. The item comes in a box no bigger than that of a household kettle. That’s because it is essentially no more than a small motor on a handle with two bits of plastic piping that join together (and a battery of course). Putting it together takes literally five seconds and off you go – providing the battery is charged. A charger is included but a faster one and a bigger battery can be purchased separately Small but mighty? The main advantage of this leaf blower is it is so light – just 1.6kg. In comparison, a higher end rival petrol blower is about 10kg. A quick check of five or six battery powered rivals finds that none are lighter than the Bosch. If you have ever spent some time doing repetitive outdoor tasks you’ll know the weight of the equipment usually starts to bother you sooner than you expected. But with this Bosch Universal leaf blower, it is so light weight that you could use it for hours with absolutely zero arm or shoulder strain. Does small mean gutless? In a word – no! It has just about enough puff to start clearing the mix of wet and dry leaves stuck to my lawn and buried in the flower beds. I’m not sure if I’ve fully got the knack of leaf blowing yet as it seems more like herding cats than the herding of sheep you’d expect it to feel like. My point being, for every few leaves you manage to blow in the right direction it feels like a few blow the wrong way. And one wrong swipe of the arm and you’ve blown them all over the place. Anyway, I digress. In terms of doing what it’s supposed to, this leaf blower hits the mark. Compared with my Ryobi garden vacuum, it is so much easier to use for extended periods without getting pains in your arms, shoulders and back. The Ryobi vac has a carry-strap to mitigate this but I find it pretty useless as it slips off your shoulder very easily. The only way to avoid this is to buy a backpack style leaf blower – which are typically at a higher price point and petrol powered. The Bosch Universal leaf blower has two speeds. Neither is going to blow the local squirrels off their feet – but they are enough for the delicate herding operation referenced earlier. Any more power and you’ll likely be blowing your leaves into your neighbours property, which might not go down well. Fully charged The only caveat to my good impression of the Bosch Universal leaf blower is battery life. The supplied 2.5 amp hours battery lasts just 20 minutes leaving me to turn to a spare 4 amp battery I happened to have to finish the job, clearing a patch of approx 5m2. However, as Bosch is part of the Power For All Alliance, sharing batteries with ten other brands, it is entirely possible that you’ll have that option too. So overall the Bosch 18v Universal Leaf Blower is a decent option for small bouts of leaf collecting or for a medium sized task if you have a spare battery or two. Verdict 4/5 Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 shredder – RRP £297 Meanwhile – Bosch UK also loaned us its mid range garden shredder. While Bosch does make a Universal 2x18v battery powered shredder its lesser power means it can only handle branches up to 25mm. The AXT Rapid is a corded electric shredder with a laser-cut blade capable of shredding challenging loads, including branches up to 40 mm thick. It has a large fast-feed hopper with a practical prodder that allows you to tip a handful of debris in the top and push it down without losing your fingers. Unlike the vastly more expensive AXT 25 TC, it does not come with any kind of collection bin to catch the chippings. It is designed to be towed onto a flower bed or compost area although you could place a small builders bag or bucket under it to catch the debris. The unboxing Much like the leaf blower, the AXT Rapid is very easy to assemble, arriving almost fully built. All that is required is to screw the wheels on the trolley it rests on and then screw the trolley onto it. It is easy to wheel about and turning it on is incredibly obvious thanks to the very large knob on the top. One always feels slightly nervous about operating any device with spinning blades and I must admit to being
Foot golf – the new way to drive revenue to your park
Highlands End Holiday Park in Dorset has hailed the success of its new foot golf course and recommended other parks to consider creating one. The park, near Bridport, launched Dorset Foot Golf in May 2024 and it was an instant hit with thousands of customers flooding in. Marketing chief, James Loveridge, had the idea after visiting other foot golf facilities and enjoying his experience. He said: “Our pitch and putt was just not very well used so I’ve been pushing for it for a few years. “We converted it into an 18 hole foot golf course and have had more than 15,000 visitors since opening. “It brings in 20 times the revenue of the pitch n putt course and has been attracting people staying at other holiday parks and other accommodations in the area, to the park, as well as lots of local residents such as football clubs and other sports teams or groups.” Family appeal James said he was always confident that the conversion would pay off. The park management has created it with a range of features similar to ‘crazy golf’ to boost the appeal to families and children. Data shows 45% of the users so far have been kids. He said: “I knew it was a growing sport and thought our site would be perfect for it. “I think pitch and putt is much harder to play for most people. “Footgolf has much wider appeal and it’s definitely easier for children to do. “The idea was to get visitors up here to see our facilities and the views, and also keep our customers on site. Hopefully this has an impact on future bookings too. “We have been getting a lot of players from other holiday parks and a decent amount from the local community as we leafletted the area, which did help get the word out. “We’ve also got listings out on Visit Dorset website and some paid for Facebook posts advertising it.” The stats The design and build process Dorset Foot Golf, as the course is named, did not require a huge investment. It has been designed in a more playful way than most foot golf courses, which are more akin to traditional golf. James explained: “There’s not been a huge amount to do to convert the pitch n putt. “I designed the course myself and came up with the idea for obstacles and we’ve used our own maintenance team and a range of local tradespeople to design and manufacture the various features on the course, such as ramps, tunnels, hoops, loops, nets and local landmark themed signs. “The only thing that’s come from a national footgolf supplier is the holes and the flagpoles. “The capital cost was fairly low, just a few thousand pounds, and the labour. “The running costs are also minimal as we manage it from our on-site shop. Customers book online and collect their score card and football from the store. “We might staff it next summer to improve customer service but there’s not been any issues at all running it this way.” Advice to other parks “It’s definitely something parks can do quite easily if they’ve got the land,” said James. “My main advice, or if I was to do ours again, is that I would make it a bit smaller. “Ours is on seven acres and I think I could have done it on half that. A lot of our holes are 100 yards long, so if I was doing it again I’d make a lot of them shorter so it’s a bit easier for children. “The other issue to consider is how flat the site is – if it’s too slopey the ball can run away if the grass is short or there’s not enough grass.” http://www.wdlh.co.uk/ All images courtesy Dorset Foot Golf
Grantham’s caravans supports Cancer Research UK with hilarious video
Grantham’s, an award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership and long-standing member of the National Caravan Council (NCC), has launched a bold and light-hearted awareness campaign in support of Cancer Research UK — showing how the leisure industry can use creativity and community engagement to make a meaningful impact. The campaign centres around a witty video that has quickly caught attention across social channels. In the clip, a Grantham’ technician finishes explaining a customer’s completed caravan service, before saying, “Other than that, I think that’s it — unless there’s anything else?”. The customer replies “Actually, you couldn’t take a look at these could you?”, then humorously drops their trousers, implying a “check down below,” prompting the reply: “We just service caravans.” The video concludes with the impactful reminder: “You check your caravan… so why not check yourself?” 🎥 Watch the campaign video Through the Work for Good platform, Grantham’s has said it will donate 10% of all proceeds from caravan and motorhome habitation services directly to Cancer Research UK, funding life- saving research while driving vital health awareness among its customer base. “If it encourages one person to get checked, it’s worth it.” Mitch Brown, Director of Marketing at Grantham’s, said: “We wanted to do something that not only raises funds but starts conversations. The idea behind the video was to take something our customers are familiar with — a caravan service — and use it as a way to highlight the importance of looking after yourself, too.Cancer affects so many people, and if our message encourages even one person to get checked, it’s worth it.” The initiative runs throughout the season, with all donations made transparently through Work for Good, ensuring every contribution goes directly to Cancer Research UK. Championing positive engagement within the leisure industry As a proud NCC member for many years, Grantham’s continues to demonstrate how dealerships can use their platform to promote positive causes while strengthening customer trust and engagement. By combining brand personality with purpose, the dealership shows that creative marketing and social responsibility can go hand-in-hand — helping both the community and the industry’s reputation thrive.
Caravan Guard named Best Caravan Cover Provider at 2025 Insurance Choice Awards
Specialist leisure vehicle insurance provider Caravan Guard has won Best Caravan Cover Provider at the 2025 Insurance Choice Awards, based entirely on customer feedback collected by Smart Money People. This is the second consecutive year that Caravan Guard has taken the title, reinforcing its reputation for specialist expertise, excellent value, and outstanding customer service. The business was also a finalist in three other categories: Best Motorhome Insurance Provider, Customer Service Champion, and Treating Customers Fairly, and remains the highest ranked motorhome insurance provider on the Smart Money People Best motorhome insurance webpage. Its average product review rating is 4.96/5, and it has more than 9,500 reviews, with over 3,500 of those generated in the 2025 voting period. Caravan Guard Partnerships Director, Neil Menzies, said: “We’re extremely proud to be recognised once again by both our customers and the wider industry for delivering outstanding service and specialist insurance products. “Awards like the Insurance Choice Awards really matter because they’re based entirely on genuine customer feedback and from people who’ve experienced our products first-hand. “To receive thousands of votes and maintain an average rating of 4.95 out of 5 shows an exceptional level of customer satisfaction, which in turn gives our partners complete confidence in referring their customers to us. “Winning Best Caravan Cover Provider for the second year running, and during our 30th anniversary year, makes this recognition even more special. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate three decades of ‘insuring freedom’ for our customers.” Jacqueline Dewey, CEO of Smart Money People, “Winning Best Caravan Cover Provider for the second year running reinforces Caravan Guard’s reputation for excellence. Customer reviews regularly commend their clear communication, straightforward insurance process, and excellent value.” Caravan Guard and its sister brand Leisuredays have provided specialist caravan, motorhome and campervan insurance for 30 years serving more than 125,000 customers across the UK. To find out more about how your dealership can earn valuable insurance commission by introducing customers to our team of champions, please email development@caravanguard.co.uk. Park operators can email development@leisuredays.co.uk or visit www.leisuredays.co.uk/operators to find out more about how our team can protect your customers.
Gavin Malone, Founder of Energy Park, selected for the 2025 Meaningful Business 100
Gavin Malone of Energy Park has been named as one of this year’s Meaningful Business 100 (MB100), the annual award programme championing leaders combining profit and purpose to tackle complex social and environmental issues. Evaluated by a panel of expert judges representing organisations like Google, Mastercard, Unilever SAP, Temasek and the World Economic Forum, winners were selected from over 900 nominations, across 86 countries. These outstanding social entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders, Corporate CEOs and impact investors were scored across five key areas: equity, impact, innovation, leadership and scalability. As part of the ongoing MB100 programme, now in its 7th year, winners will gain access to investment opportunities, capacity-building resources, and pro-bono services from a range of leading organisations, including EY, Hogan Lovells, Forster Communications, Green Frontier Capital, Kenya Climate Ventures, and The Portman Estate. They also join the Meaningful Business community – a global network of social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and corporate sustainability leaders. Gavin Malone, Founder and COO of Energy Park said: “It’s an honour to be recognised among so many inspiring leaders who are using business as a force for good. “At Energy Park, we’re passionate about driving fairer, more accessible EV charging solutions for everyone, especially those living in existing apartment buildings, and this award reflects our team’s commitment to creating lasting environmental and social impact.” Commenting on the 2025 MB100, Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO, Meaningful Business, said: “Firstly, a big congratulations to Gavin Malone, whose inspiring work at Energy Park demonstrates how combining profit and purpose can tackle complex social and environmental issues. The calibre of this year’s applications was exceptionally high, and we’re honoured to have Gavin join our global community. We are looking forward to supporting their work in the coming years, as they scale their influence and impact.” As one of the MB100 judges, Stasia Mitchell, EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader, added, “Congratulations to the MB100 Class of 2025! These inspiring leaders in social entrepreneurship, sustainability, corporate innovation and impact investing show how entrepreneurial thinking can be truly transformational. “Chosen from over 900 nominations across 86 countries, they are delivering scalable solutions to global challenges by aligning purpose with profit. It was an honour to serve as a judge and see firsthand how they are shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
Trex RainEscape drainage system creates valuable under-deck storage space
Trex RainEscape transforms the space beneath an elevated deck into the perfect place for keeping holiday home essentials safe and dry while not in use. Whatever the design or size of a holiday home, functional storage space is always in high demand. For homes, caravans or lodges with an elevated deck, the innovative Trex RainEscape drainage system is the perfect way to turn what is usually dead, unusable space into a flexible area for storing everything from sports equipment to gardening supplies. Trex RainEscape is a network of troughs and downspouts installed above the joists of a deck’s substructure and below the decking boards. The system captures and diverts water away from the deck, creating a space beneath it that stays completely dry and protected from rain and snow, while also preventing moisture damage to the deck substructure. It is compatible with any type of decking material, including composite, timber or PVC, and can be installed on new decks or added to an existing deck during resurfacing before the new deck boards are fastened. Dave Kile, decking expert and owner of the company behind Trex RainEscape, said: “No matter how roomy your holiday lodge is, storage space for the things we tend to keep in a shed or garage when at home is always at a premium. “From keeping outdoor furniture dry and clean when not in use to tucking away bikes, seasonal toys, barbecue equipment or even wood for the firepit, RainEscape creates the ideal space for things you use on or around your deck, or that you want to store during the off-season. “Once it’s been installed, you can customise the space with cabinets, shelves, hooks or storage boxes, or just leave it as it is, safe in the knowledge anything kept there will stay dry and protected from the weather.” Trex RainEscape troughs and downspouts are made from durable polyethylene. Backed by a 25-year warranty, the system is straightforward to fit, with full written instructions provided and videos showing each stage of the installation process available online. Find out more about Trex RainEscape here.
HARPA conference bookings at all time high
The British Holiday and Home Parks Association – soon to be rebranded HARPA – is anticipating the busiest-ever annual conference in its 75-year history in January 2026. The association says that advance bookings are at an all-time high for the two-day event which takes place on the 21st and 22nd of the month. It will be held at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London and will be attended by hundreds of holiday and residential park business from across the UK. Many delegates will also be hosting visits to the conference from their constituency MPs who will be taking time out from the Houses of Parliament opposite the QEII Centre. HARPA 2026 conference ushers in new era The event will additionally see the rebranding of BH&HPA to its new identity as the Holiday and Residential Parks Association, or HARPA, as it will be known in the future. The association says that a packed agenda for the conference is now in the final stages of preparation. Guest speakers will include senior political figures plus experts from industry-related organisations and businesses, and high-profile personalities well known from across the media. Running alongside the conference will be a traditionally well-attended exhibition featuring many major suppliers of goods and services to park businesses. The association will also be marking the culmination of its year-long Parks Make Places campaign which has successfully highlighted the benefits brought by parks to their local communities. As ever, the conference will provide plenty of opportunities for members enjoy social get-togethers with colleagues both during and after each days’ business sessions. They will include a banquet on the final night when Devon’s Beverley Holidays director Claire Flower will be formally installed in the role of HARPA’s national chair. Claire will be taking over the position from West Country parks group director Ian James of Coast and Country Parks following his two-year term in office.
UK Landowners Could Earn £8,000 per MW with New Onshore Wind Marketplace
Significant new income streams unlocked by connecting landowners such as holiday parks with clean energy digital marketplace The UK government’s lifting of the ban on onshore wind developments is offering landowners across the country the opportunity to generate significant and sustainable income streams, supported by a digital marketplace, transforming how wind projects are initiated and delivered. The easing of planning restrictions forms part of wider government net zero and clean-energy initiatives, and comes in lock-step with the UK launch, earlier this year, of a digital platform that is accelerating the development of wind energy projects across Europe. By streamlining the entire wind energy planning and project brokering process, Caeli’s Platform for Renewables not only connects landowners and developers in a transparent and competitive process, but also provides the potential to significantly increase a landowner’s traditional leasing rates, on completed projects. “On a typical onshore wind development in the UK today, landowners would expect to receive between £5,000 to £8,000 per MW/year, depending on the site and contract,” explains Hans-Georg von Lewinski, Caeli’s head of international development. “In Germany, we have been able to double those traditional leasing rates, and UK landowners have the same unlocked potential. A wind turbine with a tip height of 140-160m could quite comfortably generate in excess of 3-5 MW, so we can see huge potential income streams,” he adds. Building on a strong track record working with landowners, land agents and developers across Germany and into Europe, Caeli is now well established in the UK as it delivers efficient, and commercially viable, wind projects. “Too many projects lose momentum because developers are forced to spend time on side issues,” continues Mr von Lewinski. “We can put projects on the fast-track, bringing speed, reach and certainty to the market. As an ‘onshore wind accelerator,’ Caeli works with farmers, landowners and other stakeholders, to identify sites for wind energy projects. This is achieved by matching project developers with pre-analysed and screened sites, through its Wind Energy Site Check. Launched in the UK in September 2025, the Wind Energy Site Check provides landowners with instant insights into a site’s potential, with the results providing information on wind conditions, grid access, planning constraints and expected turbine yield. This information can then be matched with qualified investors and developers in a transparent process that saves resources and increases project visibility. The platform brings unprecedented transparency and efficiency to one of the most crucial bottlenecks in renewable energy development, access to suitable land. “Our digital platform brings structure, speed and reliability to onshore wind development. The result of this is a stronger exposure for projects, shortening the wind development cycle and making transactions faster, more efficient and more profitable,” concludes Mr von Lewinski. Caeli also supports landowners on planning, contractual terms, community benefits and co-operative projects.
Glamping businesses invited to apply for The Secret Garden Franchise
The Secret Garden Glamping founder Derry Green is offering to sprinkle some of his magic dust on fellow glamping industry businesses. The award winning businessman, who made a success of the Secret Garden Glamping after a successful pitch on BBC show Dragon’s Den, has launched The Secret Garden Franchise, an opportunity for park owners to gain access to the winning formula for glamping success. Derry has launched The Secret Garden Franchise to provide opportunities to both existing glamping site operators and aspiring ones. Derry, who was recently re-elected as Chairman of the Glamping Industry Trade Association (GITA), said: “This is a first. What we’re trying to do by creating the franchises is to get people away from the OTA (Online Travel Agency) booking sites. “Rather than having to set up a site and then instantly give away 15 to 20% of revenue to Airbnb or Booking.com while getting no support from them, I think there’s a better way. “Right now if you don’t use OTAs there’s almost no way to get visibility. “We know how to get bookings – we turn away thousands of bookings a year. “But it’s not just that, I believe we can help the site owners with all the other things. “I know what the pitfalls are, what owners struggle with on a daily basis because I struggled with it too.” What do franchisees get? How many franchises are available? It is planned to accept up to 15 sites as franchises by the end of 2026 with continued future expansion into 2027/28. There are also ambitions to expand overseas. What does it cost? The costs will be based on the number of units on the site with Derry willing to offer franchises to both small, medium and larger operators. What criteria are there to be accepted? The types of accommodation are very flexible, from simple yurts, lodges and huts up to more quirky or unique options such as domes or bespoke tree houses. The Secret Garden Glamping is looking for a range of sites to partner with across the UK and is willing to look at any location so long as it has the feasibility to offer certain key facilities. What are the timescales? With permissions and regulations varying depending on the part of the UK it’s very hard to give set timescales, however, some existing sites could benefit from a Secret Garden makeover and rebrand within 6-8 weeks. Escaping the grind of running a business Derry believes the franchise scheme will give participants the dual benefit of boosting their revenue and freeing up their time to enjoy being a site owner. He added: “A lot of people get into this as a lifestyle business but they end up getting trapped in the day-to-day operations, because you are every part of the business. “One minute you’re changing some beds, the next minute you’re fixing a toilet, then you’ve got to send some emails, do some Facebook posts and so on and so on. “The question that comes up over and over again is; how do you go on holiday? “How do you get a holiday if you’re a site owner, because you’re stuck within the business. What I quickly realized from setting up The Secret Garden is that 90% of the work is actually all the back end. “It’s all the emails and the phone calls and the booking system and the marketing and social media and the content creation. “The remaining 10% is actually the bit we all get into it for, which is the forward facing customer stuff. “That’s what I love doing, and it’s what most site owners love doing. “None of us get into owning a glamping site so we can send more emails. “So this franchise scheme is the result of me trying to find a way out of all the problem points that I’ve had over the past five years. “How can I get rid of them for either new site owners or existing site owners? “And that’s what we do, everything, and I do mean everything, up until the customer turns up at their door before them. “Airbnb will get you a booking, and then it’s your problem to speak to them and find out why they’re coming and what time they’re arriving, and do they need any extras? “All these sorts of things are down to you to resolve. “But for our franchisees, we do all that. So by the time the customer gets to your gate or your door or your bridge or whatever it might be, they’ve got everything they could possibly need.”To find out more call Derry on 07732 812409 email him directly via info@thesecretgardenglamping.uk or visit www.thesecretgardenglamping.uk/franchise READ MORE https://caravanindustryandparkoperator.co.uk/news/glamping-breaks-canvas-ceiling/
