The new caravan and motorhome drivecation
Caravanning and motorhoming have taken on a new meaning during the Coronavirus lockdown. As ‘vanners are unable to tour the country, many have pitched up on their driveways, making their leisure vehicles into temporary classrooms for home schooling, home offices, games’ rooms, storage space for household supplies or as a makeshift dining room for all the family to retreat to. Insurance specialists Caravan Guard asked their usually adventurous customers to share stories of how they were using their campers to add some fun to their routine and reduce the stuck-at-home blues. Lorisa Talbot of Chalfont St Giles set up her Coachman Vision caravan as a temporary classroom, switching out caravan accessories for books, files, games and teaching aids on the locker doors. The two dining tables in the five-berth caravan have also been transformed into makeshift desks. Bailey caravanner, Jimmy Butler and his caravan-mad young family, from Daventry have enjoyed a night’s stay in their caravan as well as cooking, baking, sewing and reading as they plan their next “wobble box adventure”. And many dogs have retreated to the ‘van for their own “drivecation” and some peace and quiet in their happy place. Emyr Jones, of South Wales has been using his Burstner motorhome as a swish home office and the Janaways, who are normally on their travels touring the UK and Europe in their Bailey Autograph motorhome, enjoyed the sun in “Costa Del Drive” in Kent! Marc Jordan bought a pop top Rapido caravan in need of some TLC and is using lockdown to renovate it from the comfort of his home in Norfolk. Ever resourceful campers have also made use of caravanning items in the house during the lockdown. Jane Pollard, of Northamptonshire, and Caravan Guard employee, Liz Harrison, have both dug out their camping tables for their children to do their home schoolwork on whilst schools are closed. “It’s great as it folds away after use and it’s just the right size for school work,” said Liz. “We’re even thinking about getting the tent out and pitching up in the garden to escape the house for a couple of nights over Easter – it’s the new Staycation! We’ll definitely be using the Cadac barbecue too in the coming weeks.” Other resourceful campers have raided their ‘vans for supplies that have been hard to come by in the shops in recent weeks. Susan Dyson of Cheshire said she’d emptied all the tinned food out of her Vito campervan: “We’re eating like we’re camping now!” she said. And motorhome owner Margaret Drury, from Skipton, added: “Raided our motorhome cupboards for TCP and paracetamol.” Meanwhile Craig Thompson, another Caravan Guard employee, said he’d been able to empty his seasonal pitch caravan of key essentials just before the lockdown. “I was lucky the caravan had a full pack of toilet rolls, pasta and even hand sanitiser gel and antiseptic wipes!” he said. And to help caravanners dream of future trips Caravan Guard has published a video of the top 10 caravanning sounds voted for by its customers. The video features bacon sizzling and rain gently falling on the caravan roof, as well as other satisfying caravanning sounds, synonymous with the freedom and relaxation of caravanning holidays. Visit www.caravanguard.co.uk/sounds to hear the rest! The Caravan Guard team is staying safe with all staff working from home and they’re continuing to service the caravan, campervan and motorhome insurance policies of its customers, as well as provide quotes. For similar articles visit our latest news section
Over half of holidaymakers planning a staycation this year
Over a third (35%) of holidaymakers will avoid taking a holiday abroad this year due to Coronavirus One in six (15%) are planning a multi-generational getaway Beachside holidays still reign supreme, with over three quarters (78%) planning on a holiday by the sea The rising costs of holidays mean that over half (56%) of holidaymakers are planning a holiday in the UK this year, according to new research by booking platform UKcaravans4hire.com. The research, of over 1,300 holidaymakers, found that although 88% plan to take a holiday in the UK this year, just under a third (30%) were also planning on travelling abroad, with one in eight (12%) still undecided. Over a third (36%) are planning to increase the number of holidays they take this year. Even with the travel restrictions currently in place due to the global pandemic, interestingly Coronavirus was not the top concern for holidaymakers, with more people being put off from booking a holiday abroad due to rising costs. The top five factors stopping people from booking a holiday abroad this year are: Cost – 51% Coronavirus – 35% Require a pet sitter – 17% Travel time – 6% Environmental reasons – 6% Interestingly, Brexit barely scraped the top ten factors, with just one in 20 (5%) stating our departure from the EU as the top factor from stopping them from booking an overseas getaway. The family dynamic of holidays seems to be changing, with one in seven (15%) holidaymakers planning a multi-generational holiday. Over 38% of holidaymakers are planning a trip with their children, while 29% will be going on a romantic getaway. When it comes to location, the beach was the most favourite location for a UK getaway, with over three quarters (78%) claiming it as their favourite holiday location. Just 13% prefer to holiday in the countryside. Gareth Irving, Managing Director at UKcaravans4hire.com said: “With the coronavirus pandemic creating such a huge impact on the travel industry, it is no surprise that many of us are looking to holiday a little closer to home this year. Whether you prefer a romantic weekend at the seaside or a family trip to the country, the UK really does have something for everyone”. For similar articles visit our features section
Create family-inclusive spaces to keep visitors coming back year after year
With more choice than ever before for today’s holiday-goers, standing out from the crowd is essential. There are many ways to achieve this, but upgrading your holiday park’s sports areas to create family-inclusive spaces is one of the best, simplest and most cost-effective. The emphasis here is on family-inclusive – especially when you consider that families are the group that takes the most holidays, according to a report by leading travel experts, ABTA. But what does a family-inclusive space actually look like? To me, it’s a place where the whole family – regardless of age or ability – can come together to equally participate in an activity, sporting or otherwise. But how many sports areas do you know (or have at your park) that truly tick this box? If I asked you to picture your typical sports or play area, most of the parents would probably be sat or stood around the edge, while a few of them push swings and play other supporting roles in their children’s activities. With that said, it’s easy for sports areas to feel like ‘child-only’ zones that are off-limits to adults, but if you break down that barrier, magic can happen. No-longer are adults the spectators, they’re now the participants – enjoying activity side-by-side with their children. That’s when the real interaction occurs. That’s when the real memories are made – the type that will encourage visitors to your park to return time and time again. You’re probably thinking that all sounds great, but how is this achieved? Depending on the condition of your current sports areas, you could go to town and give them a complete overhaul, but there are also some quick, easy and more budget-friendly ways to upgrade what you already have. Target games, which are relatively inexpensive and can be retro-fitted to any spare wall or fence system, can instantly add more life and variety to your sports areas. And because they combine physical skills with mental skills (such as maths, logic and strategic thinking), they’re highly interactive and can be enjoyed as graduated challenges by individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. What’s more, target games are also great for breaking up larger sports areas into smaller zones or ‘pockets’ as we like to call them at Playinnovation™. This, in turn, makes them feel less intimating and encourages the shyer adults and children to enter and enjoy these spaces. Other quick and relatively inexpensive ways to spruce up your sports areas are adding funky, customised line markings and surface graphics, and installing colourful, pop-art inspired basketball hoops, which can turn any grey space into something beautiful and inviting for the whole family. If you’re not looking to upgrade, but are instead starting from scratch, this provides an amazing opportunity to create a purposefully designed, family-inclusive space without the usual limits. To make this even more straight forward to achieve, Playinnovation™ has designed The HEX Court – a genuine multi-use games area which can be tailored to suit every individual park. Consisting of six ‘pods’ – each offering a different sports activity or target game – The HEX Court provides ‘personal pockets’ for children and adults to play, whether they’re on their own, with friends or family, or part of an organised group. In one pod, you might find our patented ‘Street Pool’ target game, then, in the neighbouring pod, a table tennis table or some cool, outdoor gym equipment. Together, these pods create the ultimate fun and family-inclusive space. Upgrading a sports area can often seem like a mammoth task, but hopefully, you can now see that it doesn’t have to be that way. If you stick to three keywords – zones, variety and interactivity – you’ll create sports areas that engage and delight all family members, leading to happier customers that can’t wait to return to your park year-after-year. For more information about Playinnovation™, The HEX Court, and its sports area design services, visit playinnovation.co.uk. Contact Marco via marco.boi@playinnovation.co.uk or phone 0203 409 5303. By Marco Boi, Founder and Director of Playinnovation™
Caravan Security Made Simple
A caravan can become a home from home for your family – but unlike a brick and mortar home, it can be a lot trickier to keep your caravan secure! Owners of mobile caravans and motorhomes are particularly at risk, with police warning caravan owners from Manchester to Wales of the rise in thefts in recent months. Reported numbers vary, suggesting anywhere from 5000 to 1,200 caravans are stolen in the UK annually. Despite these high numbers of thefts, the numbers of recovered stolen caravans are incredibly low. With this in mind, buying caravan security equipment is an incredibly worthwhile investment. Not only will the right tools save you the cost of replacing your whole caravan in the event it is stolen, but it can also often lead to a reduction in your insurance. Any assessment of your caravan security needs to factor in both protecting your contents against break-ins, and protecting the caravan itself from theft. We’ll talk you through both of these. Caravan Security: Contents Protection Here’s a few quick tips to protect anything you might leave in your caravan, especially while on holiday. Keep expensive items out of sight. If you can’t bring items with you, keep valuables in a secure, hidden location in your car. Never leave Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme documents (CRiS) in your caravan, as the CRiS registration form can be incredibly helpful for anyone reselling your vehicle. Curtains can be great for privacy while you’re in, but remember to open curtains while you’re out so that thieves aren’t tempted to find out if there’s something of value inside. Park in a busy location if possible, burglars are less likely to attempt a break-in with witnesses nearby. Leave cupboard doors open if there’s nothing of value in there. A cheap tent alarm can be a great cheap solution if you don’t have the money to repair or replace your caravan’s built-in alarm system. Make sure to test the sensitivity at home though- you won’t make the best impression on your neighbours if you’re out for the day and you’ve left an alarm that cries wolf back at the campsite! Caravan Security: Protect Your Caravan Caravans are primarily stolen from driveways or in storage. While camping it is easy to be more vigilant and conscious of your caravan, but in day to day life we can often forget the caravan is even there. Here we have a couple of tips you can do right now, without spending a penny, followed by a few security products you can buy that will help you secure your caravan. Caravan security – what to do: When parking up your caravan for storage, leave cupboards open and all surfaces clear to make sure that thieves can’t spot any valuables while your caravan is in storage. A simple but effective tip for parking at home is to park your caravan nose first to your house to give thieves limited room for manoeuvring. If you’re going away on holiday without your caravan ask a neighbour to check on your caravan as well as the house. Ask them to look for signs of tampering on any security devices, locks and clamps. Be mindful of your social media posts; many criminals are actually opportunistic friends of a friend. Make sure you aren’t advertising that you’re not going to be at home by posting it online. Update your privacy settings on your social media so that your posts are only shared with people you trust- this is especially important for families with kids who might be posting online. Take photos of the interior to help with identifying the caravan in case of theft. Sadly the rate of recovery for stolen caravans is incredibly low, and anything you can do to help identify yours later down the line can make a difference. Be careful where you leave your caravan over the winter! Do your research; higher security caravan storage parks are often a specific target of caravan theft. The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) recommends that owners storing their caravans over the winter still check in to confirm that their caravan is safe. A reminder on your phone or calendar can be a simple way to keep on top of this. Tim Booth, of NaVCIS, says: “Whilst many newer caravans are equipped with tracking equipment, a high proportion of these require the owners to be aware that their property has been stolen…In many cases, it was some considerable time before the owners became aware and the activation of tracking equipment failed to reveal the current locations.” Caravan security- What to buy: A motion sensor light above the caravan door can be a cheap and effective added layer of security, as potential thieves can easily be scared off if they feel more visible. Wheel clamps are the bread and butter of caravan security, which most owners will already be familiar with. If your wheel can’t turn- your caravan can’t be rolled away! If you own your home, installing a security post or bollard is a great option. Thieves tampering with a bollard will be slowed down, and far more visible to passersby. Installation can be relatively cheap, and can also greatly reduce your insurance. It’s worth ringing up your provider and asking how much you could save to assess whether what security measures will be the best investment for you. Caravan hitch locks simply prevent the hitch handle from being used, which prevents the coupling from being securely attached. There are a lot of products out there, we would recommend something like the Saracen Gullwing hitch lock which has a lightweight design that can be quickly installed even at service stations and rest stops. Always opt for a product that you can use easily, as cutting corners increases the odds of an opportunist robbery. Caravan leg locks are excellent as an additional layer of security by making the caravan difficult to move- causing more of a commotion in case of theft. They are
No one likes muddy, boggy ground
No one likes muddy, boggy ground. Its messy, slippy, unattractive and can be dangerous. It’s never a good day if you get your car stuck on the grass. But with all this wet weather saturating the ground, what is the answer? How do you keep your holiday park looking nice and running smoothly without losing all of your grass to concrete or tarmac? Is there a solution that won’t cost the earth! Fortunately, yes there is. Several in fact. TERRAM products are used to protect and reinforce grass surfaces that are trafficked. Easily installed onto bare soil or grass, they will help reduce grass wear, abrasion and rutting. TERRAM is a market leader in the design and manufacturer of innovative geosynthetics including geocomposites, geotextiles and geocells. We supply a range of plastic pavers and mesh products which are ideal for constructing stable, natural-looking areas where you have vehicle and pedestrian traffic. These products ensure that soft grassed areas remain healthy and are able to recover from damage to the crown. We have temporary grass protection products where occasional grass protection is required, so if for example you need to transform grassland into a temporary overflow car park then we have the products to help you. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a longer-term solution then we have products that can be used with gravels to provide a hard-landscaped effect. Our most popular products for caravan, campsites and holiday parks are: BodPave® 85 and 40 TERRAM Bodpave® pavers are a strong interlocking 100% recycled cellular porous plastic paving grid system designed for grass reinforcement, ground stabilisation and gravel retention for areas used by pedestrians and vehicles. Use for: • Parking / Coach Parking bays • Overflow grass car parks • Walkways and disabled access routes • Golf buggy paths • SUDS source control Benefits: • Units easily connect together. Installation is quick and easy. • Fill with a sand/soil rootzone and seed for a grass surface, or fill with an angular aggregate for a gravel surface • Manufactured in the UK – keeping the carbon footprint low • UV Stabilised 100% recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) • Strong, chemically inert & non-toxic • The open cell structure provides high surface water infiltration and is suitable for source control within a • Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) • Bodpave® 85 offers a load bearing capacity up to 400t/m² – will cope with static axle loads up to 60kN • Parking markers also available to purchase TurfProtecta® A lightweight plastic mesh for grass reinforcement and protection where occasional light vehicle or pedestrian use is required. Mesh is unrolled and pinned in place for a temporary solution for boggy ground. Use for: • Infrequent overflow grass car parks • Grass access routes • Pedestrianised grassed areas • Grass footpaths • Wheelchair / Disabled access routes • Side of caravan/lodge parking Benefits: • Limits surface damage and reduces soil compaction. • Simple to install; after cutting the grass short, unroll the mesh and pin to the surface using metal U-Pins or plastic pegs. • The grass sward will intertwine with the plastic mesh filaments to create a strong, discreetly reinforced surface • The grass can then be cut as normal and will have regained its natural appearance • Supplied in two grades, ‘Standard’ and ‘Heavy’ • Manufactured from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene • Mesh is UV stabilised • Fixing Pins and Pegs sold separately GrassProtecta® A heavy-duty thick slip resistant polyethylene plastic mesh grid for reinforcing and protecting grassed surfaces prone to wear, rutting and smearing which can result in a muddy surface incapable of withstanding vehicular or pedestrian traffic applications. Use for: • Grass car parks • Overflow grass car parks • Pedestrian paths • Disabled access routes • Grass verges • Caravan park access and caravan bays • Golf buggy paths Benefits: • Developed with an oscillated mesh structure to increase traction and improve slip resistance by up to 97% • Installation is very simple; Cut the grass short, unroll and pin mesh to the surface using metal U-Pins or plastic pegs. • Can be installed onto newly landscaped areas with the soil seeded • The grass sward will intertwine with the plastic mesh filaments to create a strong, discreetly reinforced surface • Up to 8 tonnes per axle (imposed load) • Fast and cost effective installation compared to plastic paving grids • Use as part of Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) • Available in three thickness grades (Lite 10mm, Medium 13mm & Heavy 14.5mm). Choice of grade is determined by the application, frequency of use and the type of vehicle traffic. • Manufactured in the UK from high quality recycled and virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE). • Fixing Pins and Pegs sold separately Geocell A 3D cellular confinement system. Manufactured from permeable geotextile fabric, TERRAM GEOCELL is supplied as flat packed panels which are opened and expanded on-site to form a honeycomb-like structure which can be filled with sand, soil or other site material. Use for: • Soil Stabilisation • Retaining Walls • Slope Erosion Control • Load Platforms • Tree Root Protection • Flood Defence Benefits: • Lightweight • Permeable • Easy to install • Easily cut to size without damage • Allows free flow of water • Position and pin to the ground using fixing pins, sold separately • Flexible enough to be formed around trees and other obstacles. For free samples, advice, a quote or more information visit www.terramdirect.co.uk
Park or Land to Sell?
Do you have a park or land to sell? Park Home owner, Serenity Parks is enjoying success and is continuing to look to expand its portfolio by acquiring further parks in locations across the UK. Renowned for being a discerning residential park home provider, Serenity’s gated communities offer an exceptional quality of life in rural areas where significant investments have been made to enhance the standard of living for residents with great success. Marie Hanby marketing manager Serenity Parks commented; “We have a genuine desire to elevate the status of park home living as an ever-increasing number of people discover the benefits associated with this type of home. In order to support these communities we are keen to acquire existing parks so that we can continue our vision and business expansion. We are happy to consider purchasing caravan parks, whether they be residential, holiday or touring and are also interested in buying land.” Serenity Parks have adapted a very flexible business model; one where their expertise in land and homes of modular construction can help not only existing park owners but also land owners to deliver their desire to diversify, driving growth and revenue expansion. The acquisition and creation of more parks is focused across the entire country. Plans are in place to double the size of the portfolio year on year over the next three years to support the growing demand in this market. With a finders fee available, if you are looking to sell your park or land, please give the team a call on 0800 644 4499. Further information can be found at serenityparks.co.uk.
Elfin Kitchens launches comprehensive new website
Elfin Kitchens has launched a new improved, redesigned and feature-packed website, showcasing the company’s full range of pre-built, compact steel kitchens. The site can be viewed at www.elfinkitchens.co.uk and has been designed with all types of customer in mind, including landlords, building contractors, architects and homeowners. Visitors to the site can find comprehensive details of every kitchen Elfin has to offer, as well as information on the additions and accessories available. Plus, a newly introduced filter allows users to find the kitchen best suited to their needs by choosing from a range of different sizes, colours and features. This also allows for a quick and simple comparison of the different ranges (Entry, Economy, Economy Plus and Premium models), depending on the application. The website is further bolstered by dedicated sections containing FAQs and installation guides, as well as the latest case studies and company news. The site also details the latest sale items and special offers, alongside the latest exhibition dates, videos and social media posts. In addition, a commercial area has been incorporated with larger applications in mind, and features the new “Project kitchens” area for developments requiring 50+ kitchens of similar design. This allows customers to link up with the Elfin team directly, with the company offering a bespoke design service to meet their exact needs. Commenting on the new site, Bob Andrew, Managing Director at Elfin Kitchens, said: “We supply kitchen units to projects of all sizes throughout the UK and work closely with customers throughout the supply chain to ensure products are supplied on time and to the exact specification required. The new website adds to this process, allowing existing and potential customers to find out more about the different kitchens available, their features and benefits, as well as suitable applications. Not only is the new site functional and looks great, it is also an essential tool bringing us and our clients even closer together.” Elfin’s compact kitchens are manufactured to fulfil all aspects of modern living – regardless of the space available and the unit’s size. As a result, there are no compromises in the construction process. For over 10 years, the company has been redefining the UK market, offering intelligent and practical solutions that always deliver durability, style and flexible design. With an expanding portfolio of products, Elfin Kitchens is now the home of compact living. For information on Elfin’s entire range of kitchens and accessories, visit: www.elfinkitchens.co.uk
New Owners App puts the power in holiday home owners’ hands
Elite Dynamics, a leading provider of software solutions for the Holiday Parks industry, has launched a brand-new Owners App to strengthen communication between holiday park operators and their holiday home owners. The App is available as part of the award-winning EliteParks software solution and helps to connect owners with the holiday parks operations and financial processes, automating many labour-intensive tasks. In what promises to make life a whole lot easier for holiday home-owners, the App will allow them to view and change their contact preferences, view and pay any outstanding invoices, print account statements, create maintenance requests, buy and schedule the delivery of miscellaneous items and receive personalised notifications Elite Dynamics have worked closely with existing holiday park customers to develop the Owners App and have included various functions and features based on first-hand customer experiences – all with a view to improve the overall journey for customers as well as increasing efficiency within operations. Jamaine Campbell, co-founder and Commercial Director of Elite Dynamics, said: “Nowadays people want to easily access information and contact people when and where it suits them, and Apps are being used for everything; from shopping and banking to ordering takeaways. Even when they’re not on the park, owners will still be able to access their account and even make sure any outstanding maintenance work is dealt with prior to their next visit. “Holiday home-owners are crucial to the success of a holiday park business and by developing this App, we are helping our customers demonstrate to owners that their needs will always come first. It’s a game changer in outstanding customer service as well as improving office efficiency.” The EliteParks Owners App is the newest addition to its award-winning range of software solutions. For more information on the App or to arrange a demo of EliteParks software, visit https://www.elitedynamics.co.uk.
Eviction And The Caravan Sites Act 1968
Part of running a caravan site involves the collection of debt and eviction of tenants – for a variety of different reasons you may need to remove tenants from your site. Shelter explains that park home residents who have a contract with the owner of a protected site may be protected under the Caravan Sites Act 1968. This applies to all occupiers of park homes who: a) live on a protected site (one which requires a site licence, or would if it were not owned by the local authority), and b) have a residential contract with the park owner (this includes agreements under the Mobile Homes Act 1983). How you remove tenants from your site is of paramount importance and, if not done carefully, could result in a lengthy and costly lawsuit. How residents are protected from harassment is defined in the Caravan Sites Act, as amended by the Housing Act 2004, as any action that interferes or is likely to interfere with the peace and comfort of the occupier, or the persistent withdrawal of services or facilities reasonably required for the occupation of the caravan on the site. These acts must be carried out within the knowledge that they are likely to cause the occupier to abandon the caravan, remove it from the site, or to refrain from exercising any right in relation to the caravan. Park home occupiers covered by the Act are protected from eviction during the period of their contract – and after their contract expires, unless a court order for possession has been obtained. Occupiers are protected against the actions of site owners and their agents. Offences under the Act are both civil and criminal offences, and action can be brought in the same way as action under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. If you are having issues with a tenant and they are reaching the end of their contract, or if you feel they have breached the terms of said contract, then get in touch with a specialist legal advisor who can guide you through the process of eviction.
