Family Values at Dornafield Caravan Park

Posted on June 26, 2015

Above: The environment is a top priority for the park and it has earned a David Bellamy Conservation award at gold level since 2000.

Family Values at Dornafield Caravan Park

Traditional family values have proven to be a winning formula for Dornafield Caravan Park in Devon.

Park owner Peter Dewhirst, who with his wife Tina, first started welcoming visitors to the former farm over 30 years ago.

Today Peter, aged 83, is helped in the day-to-day running of the business by his son Simon and daughter-in-law Linda. Situated on the doorstep of the English Riviera and Dartmoor, the multi award-winning Dornafield Caravan Park attracts thousands of visitors each year.

“Our close knit team of nine staff work tirelessly throughout the season to produce a charming and desirable holiday experience for our loyal customers,” comments Peter. “We value all of our visitors and pride ourselves on our friendly and helpful manner. This is one of the many reasons why we believe visitors come back year after year.”

Having held the prestigious AA 5-Pennant rating for 24 years and the current 5 Gold Pennant rating since its introduction three years ago, Dornafield is well-known for its pristinely landscaped grounds and first-class facilities. The focal point of the site is 13th century Devon long House which dates from 1238, just after Magna Carta and is Grade II listed. The farmyard is the park’s central hub and is the setting for barbecues and Morris dancing throughout the summer season and the surrounding farm buildings have been turned into a shop, games room and tourist information point.

Above: The Dornafield team has supported Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Wear It Pink’ day for the last seven years, which has raised over £1,500.

The 30 acre park is divided into three separate areas; the Orchard, the Buttermeadow and Blackrock Copse. The Orchard comprises of 16 grass tent pitches and is ideal for families with young children as it is enclosed by old walls and hedges. The Buttermeadow has been specially landscaped to provide spacious, level pitches which are all served by luxury toilet and shower facilities. Meanwhile Blackrock Copse is designed to offer the ultimate caravanning experience with 60 deluxe pitches complemented by the climate-controlled facilities building with heated flooring.

“We drew on our 18 years’ experience with Buttermeadow when we created Blackrock Copse and the unashamedly up-market development continues to be a talking point for many of our guests,” says Peter. “We are proud to have been Caravan Club affiliated for 23 years, so all Club members can be assured that the high standards they expect from Club Sites are more than met at Dornafield.”

The environment is also a top priority for the park and it has earned a David Bellamy Conservation award at gold level since 2000.

To read more of this story, please subscribe online.

Splash Landings

Posted on June 26, 2015

The effective selection, combination and positioning of aquatic play features can be a key tool in attracting and retaining guests. Pic: Ustigate Waterplay

Above: The effective selection, combination and positioning of aquatic play features can be a key tool in attracting and retaining guests.
Pic: Ustigate Waterplay

Splash Landings

With the fun factor at the top of visitor wish lists, it is vital for holiday parks operators to continuously not just meet but exceed expectations for safe and fun aquatic play.

While major swimming pool investment can sometimes be ruled out on the basis of budget, splash pads and water play areas offer an attractive value for money alternative. From aquaslides and speed tubes to splash pads, interactive fountains and water jets, water play areas will keep the whole family entertained for hours.

“When families are selecting a holiday park more often than not the on-site facilities on offer will be a major factor, second only to location with an on-site pool being one of the most popular draws,” comments Matt Clark of Country Leisure Fibreglass.

“However these days swimming alone is not enough to keep kids entertained for long. Slides, flumes and an assortment of water features not only liven up the pool environment but keep children occupied for longer and wanting to return again.”

Ernie Hemming of Ustigate Waterplay agrees: “Without doubt, the effective selection, combination and positioning of aquatic play features can be a key tool in attracting and retaining guests. “By using a range of colours, sensations of water and sleek designs, there won’t be any member of the family who will be able to resist taking a dip in the water play area.”

From aquaslides and speed tubes to splash pads, interactive fountains and water jets, water play areas will keep the whole family entertained for hours. Pic: Certikin.

Above: From aquaslides and speed tubes to splash pads, interactive fountains and water jets, water play areas will keep the whole family
entertained for hours. Pic: Certikin.

Ustigate Waterplay advises on a zero-level water play installation which prevents the buildup of water in the play area, therefore eliminating the need for a lifeguard and providing accessibility to all, including wheelchair users. The company’s product index consists of over 300 standard aquatic structures containing items designed to meet all specifications and budgets.

“We advise our clients on creating water play installations which caters for a range of age groups to increase its play value and popularity,” says Ernie. “Carefully selected combinations and positioning of structures and features will attract the target audience to the relevant areas of the park, toddler, teen or family sections which will result into more visitors, because it is suitable for all of the family.”

Ustigate specialises in splash pads and offer the full range of Vortex equipment which includes more than 140 different water play jets and above ground sprays. Not only do splash pads appeal to the kid in all of us, but they also tap today’s pressing issues of water conservation, parents’ heightened concerns for safety, the ongoing search for revenue and multipurpose usage.

To read more of this story, please subscribe online.

CERTIKIN INTERNATIONAL
Tel. +44 (0)1993 778855
www.certikin.co.uk

COUNTRY LEISURE FIBREGLASS
Tel. +44 (0)1980 629555
www.countryleisure.co.uk

USTIGATE WATERPLAY
Tel. +44 (0)1322 424445
www.ustigatewaterplay.co.uk

AQUA DROLICS
Tel. +31 499 393 540
www.aquadrolics.com

Working Smarter on Insurance Matters

Posted on June 26, 2015

Working Smarter on Insurance Matters

Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

Selecting the right insurance company can be more complex than is readily apparent. For example, the lowest price is not necessarily the best value.

Smart buyers seek out insurers that offer a tailored product to suit their requirements at a competitive price.

Peter Heffer of Lorica Insurance advises buyers to take their time when choosing a provider: “Look for a partner who specialises in the sector and tailors cover to your specific needs.

“Failure to understand the level of cover provided by a policy is a common pitfall for buyers, particularly in the holiday park sector. A generic broker is unlikely to understand the nuances of the sector - you need a specialist.”

With this in mind, Lorica has created an exclusive holiday and residential parks combined policy. The product is both competitive in terms of premium and provides extensive cover designed specifically for parks.

Peter comments: “Of course we cannot guarantee to save you money and improve your cover, but you can be confident that we will give it our best shot. We have experts around the country who are on hand to meet you to explain more about how we can help.”

The biggest type of claims affecting holiday parks can be split into two categories; the first is low likelihood but high severity, meaning they don’t happen very often but when they do the impact is catastrophic, for example a flood. The second type is high likelihood but low severity, meaning they happen frequently but only impact individual policyholders. For the privately owned parks these tend to be customer injury related.

Peter adds: “All policyholders have a duty to ensure reasonable precautions are taken to prevent injury or damage. This is an underlying principle applying to all insurance and owners should act as they would were they not insured.”

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
www.loricainsurance.com

Marina Work Is Underway

Posted on June 26, 2015

Marina Work Is Underway

Refurbishment work at Port Haverigg Marina Village will improve the quality of the park.

Wyldecrest Parks is breathing life into Port Haverigg Marina Village in Cumbria as part of a £1.2 million refurbishment programme at the park.

Soon to be a flagship holiday park for Wyldecrest, improvements will include new tarmac roads throughout the entire site, new drives for all plots, new plot bases and also a brand new play area.

A selection of premium plots will also be added to the park’s current offering of 197 caravans and lodges.

Wyldecrest Parks’ chairman Alfie Best comments: “I’m completely delighted with this improvement programme. We are working to increase our holidaymakers’ quality of life, but also moving forward, to offer even more people the chance of spending true quality time with friends and family at this stunning park which is full of potential.”

Old Oaks Pamper Pooches

Posted on June 26, 2015

Old Oaks Pamper Pooches

A range of dog-friendly initiatives have been implemented at Old Oaks Touring Park near Glastonbury.

It’s famous the world over for its music festival – but now Glastonbury is also hitting the right note for dog lovers, thanks to the Old Oaks Touring Park.

The award-winning camping and caravan site is putting pooches on a pedestal by providing them and their owners with a range of dog-friendly facilities.

A hot water doggy shower has installed at the park as well as a dedicated washing machine and tumble dryer for laundering pet bedding. A large securely-fenced exercise area has been sectioned off specifically for dog walking and the park has compiled a list of dog-friendly discovery walks, restaurants and local attractions. But, of course, not all establishments relish Rovers – so the Old Oaks has teamed up with a local dog walking business which will take the lead when owners wish to venture out alone.

James and Tara White are the husband-and-wife management team at the Old Oaks Touring Park which has been in the same family’s ownership for over 30 years.

New Park Guests Create a Buzz

Posted on June 26, 2015

New Park Guests Create a Buzz

Drovers Way Holiday Caravan Park took delivery of two hives for up to 100,000 honey bees this summer.

The family owners of a Tees Valley holiday park are welcoming thousands of extra guests this year – each of which will be accommodated and fed for free.

Drovers Way Holiday Caravan Park near Stockton-on-Tees is now a safe haven for honey bees which have been dropping dramatically in number over recent years. Park owners Chris and Helen Brown took delivery in April of two hives which will become the homes for up to 100,000 honey bees this summer.

Their thriving future at Drovers Way is almost a certainty thanks to the large number of high nectar-bearing blooms on the ten acres of grounds.

The park’s initiative follows news that it has been named as a 2015 winner of the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award for protecting the natural world.

New Owners For Center Parcs

Posted on June 24, 2015

New Owners For Center Parcs

Center Parcs UK has been acquired by Canadian investment firm Brookfield Property Partners.

The UK Center Parcs holiday resorts business has been sold to a Canadian investment firm.

Brookfield Property Partners, a Toronto-based company, announced it was buying the UK holiday village company from its private-equity owners, Blackstone for an undisclosed sum of funds.

Brookfield will take ownership of five Center Parcs sites in the UK, each consisting of holiday homes set in 400 acres of woodland. The company’s occupancy levels have averaged approximately 97 per cent over the last five years. The transaction is due to complete by the end of July. Center Parcs Europe will remain a separate business.

Martin Dalby, chief executive of Center Parcs, commented: “This announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Center Parcs. From the first time we met, Brookfield has demonstrated a real understanding of our business and I am absolutely convinced that we can work together to achieve our strategic goals”.

Camping Boost For Happy Kids

Posted on June 24, 2015

Camping Boost For Happy Kids

Camping has a positive impact on children’s lives according to new research by The Camping and Caravanning Club.

Children who camp in the great outdoors at least once a year do better at school and are healthier and happier. Those are the findings of a UK study carried out by the Institute of Education at Plymouth University and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

Parents and children around the UK were asked a series of questions which looked at the educational, psychological and social benefits of the camping experience to children of all ages.

More than four out of five parents thought camping had a positive effect on their children’s school education. 98 per cent of parents said camping makes their kids appreciate and connect with nature; while 93 per cent felt that it provided useful skills for later life.

Sue Waite, associate professor at the Plymouth Institute of Education said: “Interestingly, the parents surveyed believed camping supported the key curriculum subjects of geography, history and science and actually, that stacks up because the most common camping activities were natural – such as rock pooling and nature walks – where children were getting to understand ecosystems and identify lifeforms, respecting nature and the environment.”

Chemical Leak At Haven Park

Posted on June 23, 2015

A chemical leak at Wild Duck Holiday Park near Great Yarmouth led to around 40 people needing treatment for breathing difficulties.

Chemical Leak At Haven Park

Almost 40 people were treated by paramedics following a chemical leak at a Haven holiday park swimming pool.
Emergency services, including police, fire and ambulance crews, were called to Wild Duck Holiday Park in Belton near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.
Norfolk Fire Service said vehicles including an environmental protection unit dealt with a chlorine leak. The immediate area was evacuated and a 20 metre cordon was put in place.
Casualties were taken to three local hospitals to be treated for breathing difficulties.
Superintendent Roger Wiltshire of Norfolk Constabulary said: "The incident was quickly contained and the site has now been declared safe by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. The casualties have now been transferred to hospital to be treated and there is no further risk to those staying on the site or to anyone living locally.”

It Pays To Be Crystal Clear On Glamping

Posted on June 10, 2015

Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers offers his views on the ever-growing world of glamping

It Pays To Be Crystal Clear On Glamping

As more and more parks take the plunge into the ever-growing glamping market, there’s more to it than meets the eye in terms of having the right insurance policy.

“From an insurance perspective, glamping raises a few questions,” says Peter Heffer, director of holiday and residential parks at Lorica Insurance Brokers.

“Firstly, it is important to check whether a policy provides cover for property in the open. This is a common exclusion particularly for storm, flood and other weather related perils.

“Secondly, park owners should be aware of how the policy will operate in the event of damage to a tented structure. Will the insurers insist upon repairing a tear leaving a potentially unsightly blemish in the quality of the customer experience or will they provide a replacement?”

Peter also advises park owners to think carefully about other glamping accessories that could potentially affect the insurance policy. Glamping tents with cooking facilities, for example, could increase the likelihood of fire and insurers should be made aware – otherwise they could use this as a way to avoid a claim settlement. Likewise all portable electrical devices should be considered and routinely PAT tested.

“The key message really is that you need to make your insurer aware of what you are doing and that they must fully understand the exposure,” says Peter. “Once again, working with a specialist insurance broker really does add value.”

Talk to the Lorica team today for advice on glamping insurance policies that are tailored to suit your needs.

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
Email. pheffer@loricainsurance.com
www.loricainsurance.com