AWARD-WINNERS

AWARD-WINNERS

We visit Southwaite Green Mill in the Lake District...

EACH OF THE 60 PARK HOMES in-situ has its own private drive and garden

 

The Lake District’s award-winning residential park Southwaite Green Mill Country Park has an interesting backstory. Originally a Corn Mill which ceased production in the 1950s, Southwaite Green Mill was then owned by the Bardgett Family who ran a caravan site in its picturesque grounds on the outskirts of the market town of Penrith. Another local family, the Heaths, who were well-known in the caravan trade having run Lakeland Caravans for several generations, purchased Southwaite Green Mill in 1973. Jill Heath takes up the story: “My husband’s father John used to site and sell caravans in the local area and the Bardgett family was one of his clients,” explains Jill.

 

“After taking ownership of the park, our family continued to operate the site as a caravan holiday park, alongside developing a fish farming business that continued until the early 1990s.” In 1994, the Heaths purchased a plot of land from Lowther Estates that lies behind the original park and decided to develop Southwaite Green Mill as a residential park. “We had noticed that residential parks were starting to become more popular in the southern parts of the UK,” says Jill. “But there didn’t seem to be many developments in the north, so we set upon making our own.” At first, the Heaths thought that their new residential park would attract potential residents from elsewhere in the country who wished to retire in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District.

 

THE HEATH FAMILY work closely with their preferred supplier Stately. Pictured in the foreground, a Stately Carolina Lodge.

 

Southwaite Green Mill is superbly located alongside the scenic River Eamont, just a few minutes’ drive from England’s second largest lake, Ullswater. Instead, Jill explains, they were inundated with enquiries from local residents. “We were really surprised by the amount of local interest. Our aim was to create a nice, village-type environment for the over 50s with private homes and gardens that didn’t require too much upkeep. “We expected people who had perhaps visited the area on holiday to enquire but in the end, many of our residents are people who have lived in the Lakes for a number of years. It makes for a lovely atmosphere here, a real home from home.”

Southwaite Green Mill currently has 60 park homes in-situ. Each of the homes has its own private drive and garden. Most of the plots also have space for a garage subject to local planning. All of the homes have underground piped LPG, metered electric, and mains water services. Great emphasis has been placed on ensuring the residents’ security and peace of mind. The park has electronic entry gates, and its careful landscaping has, in part, led to the park being honoured with the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award. Such is the success of the park that Jill and John Heath and their family are currently working on the second phase of Southwaite Green Mill, which will comprise an additional 40 homes when completed.

 

FLOWERS IN BLOOM at Southwaite Green Mill.

 

The new ‘Watersedge’ development will be phased in gradually over the next few years. The first row of plots, which offers the added attraction of lovely river views, is the first area under development. “The market is pretty buoyant at the moment and there’s been a lot of interest in the new homes,” says Jill. “Recently we had a unit sold on the park within just two weeks!” Timescales for completion are dependent not only on sales but on manufacturers’ ability to fulfil orders for residential homes.

 

 

Jill says that their close working relationship with preferred supplier Stately has ensured that Southwaite Green Mill is ahead of the game. “The industry has seen order dates being pushed back due to the pandemic,” explains Jill, “but we thought ahead and booked manufacturing slots in advance with Stately which has enabled us to be more responsive to customer orders. We work with a number of different manufacturers according to each home-owners wishes but we have always found Stately in particular to offer great quality building and furniture, as well as excellent after sales.”

 

GREAT EMPHASIS has been placed on ensuring the residents’ security and peace of mind.

 

Jill and John Heath have two sons and two daughters who are all involved in the running of Southwaite Green Mill, as well as its sister park, Hillcroft, in nearby Pooley Bridge. The family acquired Hillcroft Park in 2012 and have developed it into a multi award-winning holiday park, covering over 50 acres of land and including 200+ privately owned luxury lodges and holiday homes, as well as traditional camping pitches, pods, glamping, and two fully-equipped, self-catering cottages and a large house in the heart of the lakeside village.

 

THE NEW WATERSEDGE development will comprise an additional 40 homes and is situated next to the picturesque River Eamont.

 

There’s no doubt that Southwaite Green Mill and Hillcroft Park owe much of their success to having such a superb location in the heart of the Lakes, but personal service has a lot to say for their continued popularity. The fact that Southwaite Green Mill is a family owned and family run park is an added attraction to potential home owners and an asset to residents. Jill and John lived in the old Mill House on site for more than 20 years and like nothing more than stopping by to have a chat with their old neighbours. Such is their commitment to residents that Jill can even be found chipping in and driving their weekly private minibus service into Penrith on Mondays!

 

InterFun Offers Revenue Inspiration

InterFun Offers Revenue Inspiration

Family holiday park managers will converge in Leeds for the second InterFun Expo to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday
April 28 and 29.

Family holiday park managers will converge in Leeds for the second InterFun Expo to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday April 28 and 29. The B2B event will offer, holiday operators, inspiration and ideas to help attract new and repeat business.

The latest in indoor and outdoor play facilities will be on view. There will also be an opportunity to investigate bolting on new facilities, including mini-golf, rope courses and indoor amusements.

The series of free seminars will offer tips and advice on how businesses can benefit from current trends. InterFun Expo’s managing director, Christine Butterworth, said: “Last year’s InterFun Expo proved hugely popular and our free seminars were packed out.

It’s fast becoming an essential date to put in the diary for holiday park managers who want to expand or update facilities or who are looking to network and catch up on the latest trends in our seminar sessions.” The InterFun Expo takes place at the New Dock Hall, Armouries Square, Harmonies Drive, Leeds, and is free to attend by registering at www.interfunexpo.com/register

Bigger and Better Show Promised

Bigger and Better Show Promised

ABOVE: A packed shop window of park accommodation is promised
at this year’s West Sussex event.

Following the huge success last year of the first ever World of Park & Leisure Homes ‘South of England’ Show’, the organisers have confirmed that not only will the event be returning but promises to be even bigger and better!

Held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex, on Thursday April 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, the event offers free entry and free parking. Combined trade and public access will continue from Friday to Sunday, April 3 to 5.

The trade-only Preview Day provides a perfect platform to do business and find the best deals in privacy and comfort. The special day provides a unique and exclusive opportunity for park owners and operators to spend quality time discussing specific requirements and options.

On display will be an outstanding collection of the latest park homes and lodges from the UK’s leading manufacturers plus, new for 2020, visitors are invited to explore the range of ‘Pods’ and alternative leisure living ideas too.

INDUSTRY NETWORK
Complementing the range of Park and Leisure Homes, the visitor experience is further enhanced with a broader and extended range of products to discover and consider.

There are also carefully selected experts, service and product suppliers on hand, all waiting to discuss latest developments, innovations and products in a relaxed and professional environment.

Just turn up with your business card and enjoy this unique shop window, believed to be the South of England’s biggest collection of park and leisure homes on display at any one time.

Park Home and Leisure Show
Tel. 01789 491451
www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk

Hoburne Awarded Trusted Service Status

Hoburne Awarded Trusted Service Status

ABOVE: Top marks for Hoburne Holidays.

Hoburne Holidays has been awarded the Feefo Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers.

Created by Feefo, the Trusted Service Award is only given to those businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine ratings and reviews. Those that meet the high standard are based on the number of reviews collected and their average rating.

As all reviews are verified as genuine, the accreditation is a true reflection of a business’ commitment to outstanding service. Rosie Kennar, chairman of the Hoburne Group, said: “It’s a real honour to receive the Feefo Trusted Service Award for the second year in a row. “To be recognised for delivering exceptional experiences to our customers is a great achievement.,” Rosie continues. “We’ve been working hard to ensure our customers receive the best service possible, going that extra mile to provide truly memorable experiences for our holidaymakers across our parks.”

Hoburne Group was established in 1912 in Dorset and is a family business now in its fifth generation of the Burry family, creating one of the south’s largest and most successful family-owned tourism companies, offering high quality holiday experiences and holiday home ownership.

Hoburne owns eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, plus three golf clubs under the Hoburne Golf brand and a residential and commercial development operation under Hoburne Development.

All-In-One Booking Management System

All-In-One Booking Management System

ABOVE: Camp Manager 2.0 offers the complete end-to-end process for bookings management

One of the most significant changes to Camp Manager since its creation 14 years ago, market leading Camp Manager has launched Camp Manager 2.0 as a cloud-based booking and park management system.

The all-singing and all-dancing CampManager 2.0 offers the complete end-to-end process for managing your caravan park or campsite. Camp Manager 2.0 provides a perfect roadmap for the hundreds of new features and enhancements with feedback from their customers. These include:

• An all-new dashboard
• Multiple bookings in one simple transaction
• Increase direct bookings and compete with online travel agents
• Responsive Interactive site map from any device
• Camp Manager automated communications

“With over eighteen months in development, hundreds of new and enhanced features, we are extremely proud to have released Camp Manager 2.0,” says Andrew Norris, Technical Director for Camp Manager.

“We are now introducing it to, more than 450 clients, and so far, the feedback has been extremely positive,” Andrew continues. “Camp Manager is dedicated to understanding the needs of each customer, we pride ourselves on delivering a tailored system that works for every business.”

With outstanding customer service, the host of new features and functionality, sites are challenged to put Camp Manager 2.0 to test by logging on in the first instance to www.campmanager.com

Haulfryn Group Appoints New CEO

Haulfryn Group Appoints New CEO

ABOVE: Newly appointed Haulfyn Group CEO Echo Lun boasts an impressive CV.

Haulfryn Group which owns and manages a range of luxury holiday parks throughout the UK, has appointed its new CEO, Echo Lu, who took the reins of the company, from February.

Haulfryn, which employs nearly 500, prides itself on delivering a five-star experience for holidaymakers and holiday home owners, with state-of-the-art food and beverage outlets, activities, spas, fitness centres and waterparks on selected parks.

Born and raised in China, Echo completed her military service and attained her first degree there, before moving to the USA to complete her Masters degree.

With an impressive CV spanning over 20 years, her general management experiences include COO for Tesco China, Property Director for Tesco UK/ Ireland and later on Managing Director for Homebase and Holland & Barrett International. Echo is currently a serving Non-Exec Director of Coats Group plc and a Be Inspired Ambassador for Retail Week.

Charge Of The Electric Brigade On-site charging is a win, win situation for holiday destinations…

Charge Of The Electric Brigade On-site charging is a win, win situation for holiday destinations…

ABOVE: EV Charge.Online enables operators to manage and monitor both customers and employees charging behaviour.

Ladram Bay has upped the stakes in its bid to become one of the UK’s most sustainable holiday parks where guests can enjoy their stays with a clear conscience. Recently, the Devon park spent around £300,000 on a state of- the-art solar energy system across various buildings in its grounds.

The move will be preventing a massive 171 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually from entering the atmosphere. The family-run holiday destination, winner of a David Bellamy Conservation Award, has also swapped two more of its fossil fuel vehicles in favour of the latest green technology.

It brings to five the number of electric run-arounds in use at Ladram Bay in Budleigh Salterton, and at its sister-park Castle Brake in Woodbury, near Exeter, where multiple charging points are installed so that customers don’t suffer from ‘range anxiety’ during their stays. “Our team need to make a lot of stop-start journeys around Ladram Bay and Castle Brake, and this isn’t an efficient use of petrol and diesel vehicles,” says Ladram Bay director Zoe House, whose family has owned the park since 1943. “We were also concerned about the noise they created, and the effect of the engine emissions on our wildlife as well as the atmosphere generally. “Electric vehicles are a perfect solution as they are nonpolluting and much quieter – something which I’m sure our guests who enjoy a lie-in will appreciate!” added Zoe.

GOVERNMENT POLICY

The UK government has brought forward its intention to end the sale of new combustion engine-powered cars and vans to 2035, fuelling concerns about the future of the automotive industry and the UK’s readiness for the advent of electric vehicles.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced his decision to advance the government’s 2040 target for petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicle sales. The policy was disclosed as the government prepares to withdraw its plug-in car grant in March.

This had supported electric car sales growth and provided customers with as much as £3,500 to purchase low-emission vehicles. Knowing that for holiday operators, revenue can be generated by simply providing a power supply to the charge point location, should encourage operators to electrify their sites.

With this in mind, specialist suppliers to the holiday park sector, Rolec has also recently launched its new electric vehicle charging back office system, EV Charge. Online that enables operators to manage and monitor their customer’s/employees’ charging behaviour via a web enabled device. “Year on year, the uptake of electric vehicles increases and because of this, the demand for EV charging also increases,” advises Head of EV Charging at Rolec Services, Frankie Mellon.

“With more and more EVs on the road, EV drivers are conscious about whether their chosen destinations are equipped with charging facilities to cater for their requirements. “As a result, we are witnessing a proliferation in leisure and hospitality venues offering their visitors the ability to recharge, providing EV drivers with peace of mind,” Frankie adds.

JOURNEY PLANS

EV drivers now plan their visits and journeys around EV charging; if a destination offers EV charging, the driver is more likely to visit that particular location as opposed to destinations that lack charging facilities.

Frankie says: “We will 100% witness more and more destinations offer EV charging to their customers. “It’s a no brainer. Whilst customers are satisfied with charging their vehicles on-site, network operators will benefit from an additional revenue stream, boosting overall income.”

The return on investment is down to the network operator, they have the capability of changing and controlling their fees to various groups of EV drivers. Some have stated that they have generated the costs back in just one year. It is also worth noting that caravan and holiday parks are eligible for up to £10,000 of OLEV grant funding which is a great method of offsetting the costs of the purchase and installation of the EV charging points. Caravan and holiday parks only require a single phase electricity supply and mobile phone signal to start their EV charging roll out.

It is a win, win situation for operators. “The EV market is increasing at rates like never before, incentives such as the 0% BiK tax rate will only heighten the demand for charging infrastructure, therefore those who act now and offer EV charging to their customers are in a prime position,” explains Frankie.

“Added benefits also include: positions the destination on the map as offering EV charging (Zap Map); at the forefront of modern and innovative technology; committed to the environment; dedicated to providing excellent service and facilities to their customers,” she continues. Rolec’s back office system is required to ensure network operators can control and manage their energy usage when the EV charging points are in use and enables operators to understand charging behaviours; if a charging point is in use and for how long, how much power is utilising and electricity costs to facilitate the recharging of the vehicles.

Network operators simply have an account that informs them of their driver group activity, allowing them to understand key figures such as power usage, costs and charging times. Frankie says: “This can all be viewed, monitored and managed via any web enabled device. EV Charge.

Online also allows network operators to be completely flexible with their pay-to-charge costs, for example, network operators may opt to provide employees with free charging as opposed to charging their visitors a flat rate and residential park industries,” comments Rolec’s Sales Director Martin Georgeson.

Rolec’s ParkServ services includes free-of-charge site surveys and no obligation quotations based on local rates as well as installation work, and rapid response callout services, by local engineers. Add to the equation, local after sales support, electrical testing at local rates and locally stocked spare and replacement parts by local engineers – and it is not hard to see how Rolec’s team will underline its position as the industry’s leading hook-up specialists.

COMPANY CONTACTS
Ladram Bay Tel. 01395 568398
www.ladrambay.co.uk

Rolec
Tel. 01205 724754
email uksales@rolecserv.co.uk
www.rolecserv.com

The Perfect Balance

The Perfect Balance

Landal GreenParks offers more than three million visitors a back to nature experience…

ABOVE: Landal GreenParks support the local economy by pro-actively promoting local areas.

More than three million holidaymakers chose one of Landal Green Parks’ 31,000 places to stay last year – a far cry from its origins in 1954 as an insurance company offering employees holidays in natural surroundings. A little bit of that ethos still holds true to today as Landal GreenParks is still committed to providing the perfect balance between getting away from it all, getting back to nature and enjoying life’s luxuries.

Landal GreenParks UK, one of the UK’s fastest-growing resort groups, was established originally in Holland and is now seen as a leading destination brand, not only in the Netherlands but across Europe. Part of Awaze - Europe’s leading managed vacation rentals and holiday resorts business, Landal GreenParks has over 90 locations across ten countries in Europe. It offers wide range of parks catering for every holiday experience with units ranging from 50 – 600 across different locations.

Venturing overseas to the UK, Landal GreenParks noticed a gap in the market for holidaymakers to get back to nature and basics, whilst enjoying high-quality accommodation and amenities in some of the UK’s stunning counties.

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FASTEST GROWING

The first two UK parks opened in 2017 and three years on, is one of the fastest growing park businesses in the country. Paul Hardingham, Vice President of Portfolio at Awaze UK believes the reason behind its success is down to the unique locations and beautiful surroundings with 2020 bookings for June to August up by 39%.

With holiday resorts in Northumberland, Cornwall, Peak District, Scottish Highlands and Lincolnshire, families, friends and couples can enjoy a UK staycation in luxury woodland lodges, with hot tubs, restaurants, spas and activities all on site along with indoor pools to extend the season. Paul says: “What makes us different to other UK holiday providers is that we are committed to introducing people to the local areas around the parks and supporting the local economy and community.

We encourage a pick-n-mix approach to facilities and activities, so guests can do as much or as little as they like. In every lodge, we provide guests with guidebooks and inspire them to experience something different each time they visit, whether it’s a new walking route, new attraction or hidden gem.” This approach builds up great brand loyalty among the guests, who then decide to swap and try out the different destinations to experience something new each time. Not only do guests visit from the UK, but Landal GreenParks also receives high numbers of overseas holidaymakers and vice versa who are reassured by the familiar brand that they know from home.

Landal Piperdam in Scotland is currently the most popular region for inbound guests from the Netherlands whereas, Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall welcomes the most holidaymakers from Germany. Customer service plays a huge role within the brand and business, with every employee undertaking ‘Hostmanship’ training to ensure they make a positive difference to the guest’s stay. The success in this training is evident with Landal GreenParks positive reviews and the range of awards they have been nominated.

NATURE BREAKS

With the brand encouraging back to nature breaks, it only seemed right for Landal GreenParks, along with their European counterpart, to strengthen its sustainability and green credentials by launching their own green initiative. By working closely with each park owner, Landal GreenParks UK has launched their Green Pledge demonstrating how Landal GreenParks UK is investing in a brighter, cleaner future and committing to offer unforgettable natural getaways with a positive impact on the environment.

Paul Hardingham said, “We are working closely with our resorts and partners to ensure a sustainable future; however, this pledge will further our actions and impact enabling us to reach our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. We are dedicated to raising further awareness of sustainable travel and driving positive change among our resorts and customers.”

The holiday resort company have also been awarded the prestigious Green Key accreditation, an eco-label awarded to accommodations and other hospitality facilities that promote a culture of sustainable development and environmental awareness, whilst taking steps to reduce their own level of consumption and carbon footprint. Working closely on this initiative highlights the close relationship the Landal team has with each of its owners. The Landal GreenParks group is a franchise model allowing independent park owners to retain their parks whilst being part of a much bigger international organisation benefitting from all the experience and knowledge that comes with it.

Paul continues: “Owners are vital in the success we have we the Landal brand. That’s why we have dedicated teams to look after, guide and advise both our existing owners and our prospective ones” The key members of the Landal GreenParks UK team alongside Paul include Robbie Davies, Business Development Director and Ryan, Senior Marketing Manager, all of which have years of experience having previously worked on sister-brands such as Hoseasons and cottages.com.

Robbie says being part of a big group like Awaze brings benefits to owners, including a huge customer database, a dedicated marketing machine and a trusted reputation.

ABOVE: Landal GreenParks has over 90 locations across ten countries in Europe.

PARK OWNERS

He says: ‘We work very closely with our each one of our park owners sharing insights and knowledge from our many years of successful operation across different brands as well as countries. We help owners to get the most out of their parks, for example by sharing data and insight to help them maximise the lodge rental return and the on park spend opportunities.” Three years on since the first UK resort opened, Landal GreenParks UK is looking to expand its portfolio and grow further across the UK.

Owners, management companies or developers interested in working with Hoseasons should contact the Business Development Team, email joinus@hoseasons.co.uk

Macbeth Country We soak up the wonders of Verdant Leisure’s latest holiday destination…

Macbeth Country We soak up the wonders of Verdant Leisure’s latest holiday destination…

ABOVE: Erigmore House lies at the centre of the estate.

Enrigmore Estate is Verdant Leisure’s tenth leisure park and is the second holiday park purchase in the last 18 months for the bespoke leisure park operator. Erigmore is located on the site of the old ‘Birnam Wood’, made famous by Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It is just minutes from the picturesque village of Birnam and small town of Dunkeld, in the heart of Perthshire and borders the beautiful River Tay. Within easy reach of Edinburgh, Glasgow and central Scotland, it’s a breathtaking woodland retreat with amazing attractions nearby. At the centre of the estate is the Grand Victorian Baronial Mansion, Erigmore House. Once home to Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir John Everett Millais, the house and its estate now offers a unique holiday experience, with apartments, cottages and holiday homes for hire. Erigmore also has top class facilities and a world of adventure right on its doorstep, making it the perfect location for holidays in Perthshire.

Erigmore offers a stunning countryside location which is perfect for those who are seeking a tranquil and relaxing break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, making Erigmore the perfect choice for holiday home owners and holiday makers. On-park facilities for the ultimate relaxation include:

• Indoor heated pool
• Sauna and spa
• Woodland and riverside walks
• Outstanding local area attractions
• A well-stocked bar has a range of light bites and snacks to suit all appetites.

Erigmore features a hugely diverse range of accommodation, sleeping between 2 and 9 people within the caravans, spa lodges with hot tubs, apartments and cottages available. Luxury spa lodges come with private decking area, and hot tub for guests to enjoy the ultimate relaxation overlooking the Perthshire countryside. With patio doors out to the semi secluded decking area, guests can enjoy the views, the living area also boasts contemporary furnishings, a 55” TV with surround sound, Bluray player and Bluetooth connectivity.

There is also a TV in the master bedroom, and ensuite shower room, several which have innovative colour changing lighting. These lodges are the ideal option for those looking to soak away the hustle and bustle of everyday life in a hot tub, or experience a boutique hotel style holiday, but with the privacy that a lodge offers. This acquisition of Erigmore will continue the company’s growth strategy to create a strong regional group with significant scale, and Verdant Leisure remains keen to add further parks to its group during 2020.

ABOVE: Hot tubs are available in one and two bed boutique lodge options.

Erigmore Leisure Park
Tel. 01350 727236
www.erigmore.co.uk

Verdant Leisure Supports Teenage Cancer Trust

Verdant Leisure Supports Teenage Cancer Trust

ABOVE: Verdant Leisure staff and guests have put their significant support behind a worthy charity.

Over the past two years, employees, holiday homeowners and holiday guests across Verdant Leisure parks and Lancaster Head Office have held numerous fundraising events to raise a total of £76,033.69 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Verdant Leisure have worked tirelessly to raise an impressive £38,753.04 for the charity in 2019, compared with the previous year’s notable total of £37,280.65. 2019’s fundraising events and activities saw members of the Verdant team skydive over 10,000 feet, shave their hair and host weekend family fun days.

The monies raised will help Teenage Cancer Trust provide care and support for young people aged 13-24 facing cancer in the UK. To decide on its Charity of the Year, Verdant Leisure called upon holiday homes owners, holiday guests and employees to nominate a charity. The nominated charities were shortlisted and decided by a public Facebook poll, with Teenager Cancer Trust being the overall winner with an outstanding 80% of the vote.

Verdant Leisure offers a wide range of bespoke accommodation from self-catering caravans, deluxe lodges to camping pods and touring pitches at selected parks across South East Scotland, Ayrshire and North East England.