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.

HARPA GOES TO WESTMINSTER

Posted on February 10, 2026

HARPA Conference 2026 underlines industry's role in housing and communities...

The newly branded Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA) last week brought the UK parks industry to the heart of Westminster as it hosted its 2026 Conference, marking a high-profile debut for the association’s new identity.

Formerly known as the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, HARPA officially adopted its new name and branding in January 2026 following a member-led rebrand launched at the close of its 75th anniversary year. The Westminster conference provided the first major opportunity to present the new identity, vision and strategic direction to policymakers, partners and the media.

A central feature of the event was a full-scale demonstration of the sector’s contribution to the UK’s housing needs. A brand-new, British-manufactured residential park home was installed at the entrance to the conference centre, offering parliamentarians a tangible example of how modern park homes and responsibly run residential parks could help deliver some of the 30,000–50,000 new later-living homes the country needs to build each year, as identified by the Government’s Older People’s Housing Task Force.

HARPA said the installation was designed to challenge outdated perceptions of park living, highlighting quality design, modern construction and the role of professionally managed parks in creating sustainable communities. Political engagement was a key focus of the two-day conference, with 22 MPs and peers attending across the programme.

CLAIRE FLOWER, DIRECTOR OF BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS, took on the role of National Chair of HARPA at the 2026 Conference

Some of the MPs and peers in attendance were Nigel Huddleston, Dame Harriet Baldwin, Lord Mark Harper, Sir Julian Smith, Sir Christopher Chope, Caroline Voaden and Lord Attlee. Parliamentarians joined delegates for lunches on both days, enabling direct discussions on planning reform, housing supply, later-living provision and the economic contribution of park businesses to rural and coastal communities.

The conference also marked a leadership moment for the association, with Devon park owner Claire Flower, a director of Beverley Holidays, formally taking on the role of National Chair. Flower, who served on the working group that guided the rebrand, said HARPA represented more than a change of name, positioning the organisation as a modern, inclusive and proactive voice for the sector.

HARPA’s new vision focuses on building a strong, sustainable and well-respected parks industry, with connected and engaged members at its heart. Its mission commits the association to specialist advice, raising standards and delivering effective advocacy, underpinned by values of collaboration, transparency and ambition.

With a new identity, a clear policy message and Parliament firmly in its sights, HARPA’s 2026 Conference is designed to position the parks sector as both economically significant and socially relevant — and ready to be heard.

Holiday and Residential Parks Association
01452 526911
www.harpa.org.uk

: The lovely team from Caravan Park Electrical were exhibiting at the HARPA Conference.

: A BUSY EXHIBITION AREA buzzed with activity as delegates networked between seminar sessions

: Designed to challenge outdated perceptions of park living, highlighting quality design, modern construction…

BEST ADULT-ONLY DESTINATION IN SOUTH EAST

Posted on February 9, 2026

THE PARK PROVIDES A NUMBER OF GLAMPING options, hopefully soon to be joined by luxury safari tents

Two Hoots Glamping Site, near Winchester, has been named the Best Adult-Only Site in South East England at this year’s Camping and Glamping Awards. The accolade recognises parks that offer high-quality, peaceful experiences for adults seeking a tranquil escape.

Judges praised owners Shaun and Michele Ascough for providing guests with a “truly great experience” in stunning surroundings. Set in Brighton, close to the South Downs National Park, Two Hoots occupies five acres of countryside rich in wildlife, from hares and red squirrels to deer, pheasants, red kites, glowworms, and pollinators in the park’s wildlife meadow.

Shaun Ascough said the award was a fitting end to a busy year welcoming guests from across the UK and Europe. “There are many superb parks catering to families, but our focus is on peaceful surroundings for adults,” he said. “We attract visitors who want to relax, enjoy the countryside, and leave the stresses of everyday life behind.”

The park has built a loyal following of teachers, childcare professionals, young professionals in campervans, and mature couples. Plans are underway to expand with new luxury safari-style holiday homes. Two Hoots is the only South East England member of the Tranquil Parks consortium and is affiliated with the Holiday and Residential Parks Association. Shaun added: “Our aim has always been to create memorable experiences in an away-from-it-all setting, and this award shows we are on the right track.”

Holiday Park Scene Magazine