HARPA

HARPA WELCOMES MORE NEW MEMBERS TO STRENGTHEN ITS CAMPAIGNS

Posted on August 4, 2026

WITH HARPA’S MEMBERSHIP continuing to grow, Director General Debbie Walker welcomed a record number of delegates to the association’s annual conference in Westminster this year.

The Holiday and Residential Parks Association reports a steady growth in its membership base this year, reinforcing HARPA’s position as the industry’s largest and most dynamic representative body. Now championing more than 3,000 park enterprises across the UK, the Association is using its mandate from members to lobby across a broad range of issues affecting their businesses.

In recent months, HARPA has voiced to Government the industry’s strong opposition to the so-called “tourism tax” – and seen its opposition to the proposals widely reported in national and regional media. The Association has also sparked debate in Westminster and beyond about the costs and extra admin demands imposed on parks when arranging the movement of abnormal loads.

And across many other matters affecting the ability of parks to achieve their business ambitions – from planning reforms to fairer rates and taxation policies – HARPA engages in active and constructive dialogue with decision-makers about how change can support a sector delivering important economic and social benefits right across the country.

The association is assisted in this work by the success of its Parks Make Places campaign, which highlights how communities across Britain are strengthened by the presence of park businesses. Our case studies show specific examples of how parks generate tourism income, create employment, and enable local people, charities and other community bodies to share in their success.

A recent independent YouGov poll of MPs found that 76% now recognise the social value that holiday and residential parks brings to rural and coastal areas. HARPA is now reinforcing this message through its relationships with new senior Government figures, including the ministers and cabinet members who will be shaping future policies impacting on the parks industry.

HARPA members gain more than becoming part of a strong and influential body leading the way forward for our sector. They also enjoy hands-on support ranging from training programmes and webinars to conferences, a telephone helpline and specialist advice – plus HARPA’s regional branch network where fellow-members have, for more than 75 years, supported each other to reach their goals.

HARPA
01452 526911
www.harpa.org.uk

HOW HARPA SUPPORTS A STRONG PARK SECTOR

Posted on May 1, 2026

The Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA) represents 3,000 park businesses across the UK, helping them respond to a complex and evolving operating environment. We work alongside our members to promote good practice, share expertise and address the practical challenges that affect parks day to day.

A key part of our role is engaging with policymakers on issues that directly impact the sector, including taxation, planning and regulation. We create opportunities for decision-makers to hear firsthand from park owners and operators about the contribution parks make to local economies and communities. At our Westminster conference in January, more than 20 MPs met with members to discuss these issues and the realities of running parks.

This work is supported by our Parks Make Places campaign, launched in 2025. The campaign highlights the social and economic value parks deliver all year round, from supporting local employment and tourism to providing much-needed accommodation and community spaces.

Following this campaign, a YouGov poll of MPs found that 76% now agree that the holiday parks sector delivers social value, an increase from 67% the previous year, highlighting growing recognition among policymakers of the tangible contribution parks make to the communities in which they are based. Alongside our policy work, we provide members with practical support to help them operate successfully.

This includes access to training programmes, webinars, conferences, a telephone helpline and specialist advice. Members also benefit from opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences and learn from one another. Our Next Generation Network continues to grow, bringing members together through meetings, online forums and park visits.

It is open to anyone working in the sector, regardless of age, experience or role. Now in our 76th year, our Association remains as committed as ever to championing the industry and supporting our members to thrive.

HARPA
01452 526911
www.harpa.org.uk

EUROPE’S FAVOURITE CAMPING DESTINATION

Posted on February 11, 2026

Castlerigg Hall Holiday Park in Keswick has been voted the most popular camping destination in Great Britain by campers from 33 European countries. The accolade comes from the ACSI, Europe’s largest publisher of camping information, which represents more than 9,400 campsites across the continent.

The family-run park, operated by the Jackson family since 1938, topped the poll for its combination of location, quality, and hospitality. David Jackson, who runs the park with his wife Jill and son Josh, said the award was “ a fantastic feather in the park’s cap” and praised his team for their contribution.

Castlerigg Hall offers a range of accommodation, from traditional camping pitches to luxury holiday caravans and touring pitches for motorhomes. The park also features innovative Hex Pods, sustainable glamping units with underfloor heating powered by renewable energy, furnished living areas, and kitchen and bathroom facilities beneath hexagonal glass roofs.

Earlier this year, the park won the 2025 Cumbria Tourism Award for Regenerative Tourism, recognising its commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Castlerigg Hall is a longstanding member of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA).

ABOVE: Outside the Dutch headquarters of the ACSI, David Jackson and his wife Jill and their son Josh receive the organisation's top UK award from two of its senior holiday park inspectors.