Wiltshire

FORESTRY ENGLAND LAUNCH SEARCH FOR CAMPING OPERATORS

Posted on March 9, 2022

FORESTRY ENGLAND LAUNCH SEARCH FOR CAMPING OPERATORS

Following the announcement last week that the Camping and Caravanning Club have sold the Camping in The Forest (CiTF) business to Forestry England and Forestry and Land Scotland, Forestry England are now looking for new operators to run their sites.

There are 13 sites available in England (on a leasehold basis), and they have been split into four lots. The existing offer at these sites includes a total of over 4,000 pitches and represents a significant opportunity within the camping industry.

The lots are at Sherwood Pines (Nottinghamshire), Bracelands (Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire), Postern Hill (Savernake Forest, Wiltshire) and 10 sites across the New Forest (Hampshire).

These hugely popular and market-leading campsites provide guests with forest immersion and direct access to miles of walking and cycling trails and other outdoor activities. Each site is individual, and they range from those without any facilities, to sites with full amenity blocks, as well as some with cosy glamping pods and pre-erected tents.

The camping and touring market in England has remained resilient over recent decades and is now considered as being in a growth phase linked to the continued strength of the domestic tourism market and the affordability of camping as an accommodation choice. In recent years the standard of the camping and touring offer has had to evolve and innovate to meet the demands of a wider range of customers leading to an increasing sophistication in camping equipment and motorhomes, and the introduction of alternative accommodation types such as glamping.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant boom in camping and touring as UK residents, and increasingly, families, have sought to enjoy experiences closer to home. Forestry England Camping provides an excellent opportunity for operators to benefit from the sustained, elevated interest in camping, especially as camping is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to holiday.

Forestry England are very excited about the potential of working with new operators across these sites. Although the offer at each campsite is established, they are looking for operators that are keen to innovate and expand the offer at these special locations. This could include experiential activity packages linked to nature, wildlife and recreation, and broadening the portfolio of camping accommodation where appropriate.

Working with Forestry England gives operators the unique opportunity to capitalise on the millions of people that come to enjoy the nation’s forests by converting day-visitors to overnight guests.

The campsites will be continue to be operated by the Camping and Caravanning Club in 2022 and there will not be any disruption to the high levels of service and experience for customers during this transition.

Forestry England are inviting expressions of interest from organisations who would like to hear more about the opportunity to operate and evolve one or more of the campsites. More information including how to register your interest can be found here.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Posted on October 28, 2021

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

 

LONG CARRANT enjoys spectacular vistas of the Bredon Hills and is located in a designated area of outstanding beauty

 

Highgrove Parks aims to offer an exceptional lifestyle for the over 50s…

Highgrove Parks Limited, formerly Fury Park Home Estates is an established family business with six park home estates across the southwest of England.
The Highgrove portfolio includes Long Carrant Views in Evesham and Three Counties Park in Malvern, Worcestershire; Beverley Hills Park in Amesbury, Wiltshire; Lea Villa Park in Lea, Herefordshire; Poplars Park in Cambridge, Gloucestershire; and Greenacres Park in Yeovil, Somerset.

Directors Jim and Eliza Fury first decided to invest in residential parks around 25 years ago after being inspired by the nature of the business:
“Looking in from the outside, I always thought it [the parks industry] was an interesting business to be in. What a lovely way to live when you’re over 50. A close community. Safety and security, as well as great quality and affordable homes. I can’t think of anything better!”
Each of the Highgrove Parks cater exclusively to the over 50s and their scenic countryside locations are ideal for those wishing to enjoy a leisurely semi-retirement and retirement.

 

BEVERLEY HILLS PARK in Amesbury is the largest of the Highgrove Parks. The head office (pictured) is also at the park.

 

“We believe our parks offer an exceptional choice based on both location and lifestyle,” explains Jim Fury.
“We strive to manage and maintain our parks to the highest standards and are proud to be Members of the BH&HPA, which assists with park legislation, regulation and safety issues for the benefit of park owners as well as our residents.”
Largest of the Highgrove Parks with 128 homes, Beverley Hills Park in Amesbury lies in the heart of the Salisbury Plains, well-known for Stonehenge just a short drive away. The main head office of Highgrove Parks is on site and all of the homes have private gardens and enjoy widespread views across open countryside, whilst also being conveniently located close to local shops and facilities.

 

WIDESPREAD VIEWS

At the other end of the scale is Green Acres Park in Somerset. The smallest park in Highgrove’s portfolio, Green Acres has just 17 residential park homes and is also the most southerly of the Highgrove Parks.
“Green Acres is a real little gem,” says Jim Fury proudly. “We bought this park in the early 2000s. It’s fairly traditional in style but a real favourite with prospective buyers and residents who appreciate the quiet location but easy access to amenities on the outskirts of the vibrant market town of Yeovil.”

 

GREEN ACRES PARK in Somerset is a ‘little gem.’ It has just 17 residential homes at the moment.

 

Green Acres will shortly be expanding with three new plots due to be released in the near future. Also currently under development is Highgrove’s Lea Villa Park, which boasts a superb rural location on the doorsteps of the beautiful Forest of Dean and Wye Valley in Herefordshire. Five new plots will be available at Lea Villa Park in the first quarter of 2022, bringing the total number of homes on the estate to 73. Residents at Lea Villa enjoy participating in village life, as well as venturing to nearby Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester.
Highgrove’s remaining three parks are all relatively close to Lea Villa. Three Counties Park at Sledge Green offers 74 residential park homes nestled in glorious Worcestershire countryside enjoying beautiful views across to the Malvern Hills. More plots will be available to purchase at Three Counties early next year.
Poplars Park is a small quiet estate with 37 homes located in the village of Cambridge, close to the famous nature reserve of Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.

 

POPLARS PARK is a small quiet estate with 37 homes in the village of Cambridge, Gloucestershire.

 

The Fury’s acquired their final park, Long Carrant Views in December 2020 and the park is currently being further modernised and developed. Long Carrant Views is licenced for 52 homes and there is a lake and a well-stocked woodland area with picnic benches for residents to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
“Long Carrant enjoys spectacular uninterrupted vistas of the Bredon Hills and is located in a designated area of outstanding beauty,” explains Jim. “We’re very excited about the development of this park which is set to become the flagship in our portfolio.”
Long Carrant Views is situated just a short drive from the beautiful honey- coloured, period homes of the scenic village of Broadway, often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds.

 

PREMIUM SPACE

Another advantage of Long Carrant is space – an absolute premium in this area.“Not many parks can take the size of homes that we can install at Long Carrant,” explains Jim. “The plots have space for homes up to 54 x 22. They also have super large gardens and splendid views. The potential at this park is really great for the future but we’re always on the lookout to expand and add more parks to our portfolio.”

 

THE FURY’S acquired their flagship park, Long Carrant Views in December 2020. Pictured, an Omar Middleton at Long Carrant Views.

 

The Fury’s have developed good links with all the main home manufacturers in the UK and work particularly closely with Stately Albion. A maintenance team works across all the parks and Jim and Eliza are assisted by Susie Moxey in Sales and Marketing who works directly from the head office, as well as the smaller offices at Long Carrant and Three Counties.
Visiting each and every park on a regular basis is a key commitment and residents know Jim as a personable and approachable owner – not just as a name on a piece of paper.

 

HIGHGROVE PARKS is a team effort. Jim Fury – second from the right – with Susie Moxey, Sales & Marketing, and Chris Andrews and Mark Andrews from the maintenance team.

 

“I like to meet all the customers personally if I can,” says Jim. “I enjoy explaining the very real benefits of park home living and what it means to move to a park community.”
“My wife and I came into the parks business with a fresh perspective and we’ve worked hard to establish and build an excellent reputation within the industry,” adds Jim. “Taking time to get to know residents personally is really important to me. I truly believe that a hands-on approach is the only way to successfully do business.”

Highgrove Parks
Tel. 01386 335434
www.highgroveparks.com

SIX-UP FOR CENTER PARCS IN UK

Posted on August 6, 2021

SIX-UP FOR CENTER PARCS IN UK

WEST SUSSEX has been identified as the sixth UK village site for Center Parcs with trademark accommodation like these waterside lodges at Elveden Forest.

Center Parcs has confirmed it has identified a site for its sixth UK village having secured an option agreement to acquire 553 acres of woodland off Balcombe Road in Worth, West Sussex. The forest at Oldhouse Warren, near Crawley, has been chosen because of its location (to the south of London) and its excellent transport links. The development is expected to cost between £350m and £400m and will create around 1,500 permanent local jobs once operational, as well as around 1,000 jobs during construction.

Center Parcs anticipate the development will add an additional £40m to the local economy each year. CEO Martin Dalby said: “It’s really exciting to have identified a potential site for another Center Parcs village in the UK. “The proposal we will be submitting will create a significant number of jobs and bring major benefits to the local and national economy.” Center Parcs has five villages across the UK and Ireland; Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest inWiltshire, Whinfell Forest in Cumbria,Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire and Longford Forest in County Longford, Ireland.

Each village is nestled within 350- 400 acres of woodland with a variety of activities to choose from, restaurants and cafes. There is also a Subtropical Swimming Paradise and award-winning spa called Aqua Sana. As the leader in the UK short break holiday market, Center Parcs achieves average annual occupancy in excess of 97%. Center Parcs’ villages are sympathetically designed to blend into the existing landscape, with no visual impact on the surrounding area, and the company is committed to both protecting and enhancing the forests in which their holiday villages are located.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Center Parcs ethos and the new village will be constructed and operated in the most sustainable way possible. Hoping to submit a planning application in 2022, work is now underway on rigorous site surveys, detailed designs and pre-planning works to make sure the woodland meets the specific requirements for a Center Parcs village, as well as beginning a programme of community engagement with the local area. In line with the other Center Parcs villages, it is intended that the site at Oldhouse Warren will include lodges, a range of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a variety of restaurants and shops and an Aqua Sana Spa.

TRIPLE TRIUMPH FOR BEST OF BRITISH

Posted on August 6, 2021

TRIPLE TRIUMPH FOR BEST OF BRITISH

SOUTH LYTCHETT MANOR won the overall gold title in the Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year

The family owners of three Best of British holiday parks are celebrating after winning top honours in the year’s South West Tourism Excellence awards. The awards drew hundreds of contenders from across Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the Isles of Scilly.
South Lytchett Manor in Poole, Dorset, won the overall gold title in the Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year category.
In the same hotly-contested category, Polmanter Touring Park in St Ives, Cornwall, took the silver trophy for the standard of excellence it provides to holiday guests. Owned for over 50 years by the same family and run today by husband-and-wife team Phil and Becki Osborne, the seaside park provides spectacular views along the Cornish coast.
In the Holiday Park of the Year category of the awards, Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, came away with one of the main awards. The Carter family has owned the park for over 60 years and, like the two other BoB winners, has received many regional and national awards for its high standards and welcoming atmosphere.

Holiday Park Operator Focus featuring Haulfryn Group

Posted on May 5, 2021

Holiday Park Operator Focus featuring Haulfryn Group

The 20-strong Haulfryn Group is celebrating its 85th birthday…

THE WARREN’S PRIVATE BEACH LOCATION boasts golden sands and soul-reviving views of Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia

The origins of the Haulfryn Group date back to the early 20th century when Frank Minoprio, the son of an Italian immigrant entrepreneur, invested in the beauty of the North Wales coastline. Having spent holidays enjoying the outstanding scenery of the region, Frank invested in his very own piece of land on which he built a fine granite house. He called it Haulfryn, meaning ‘sunny hill’. Over the years, Frank continued to invest and build up his estate in North Wales. He believed strongly in giving back to the community and with this in mind he built the primary school in Abersoch alongside many other philanthropic activities. In 1935, The Haulfryn Estate Company was officially founded with the aim of developing the land at TheWarren, just down the road from the family holiday home at Abersoch.

By the start of the 1960s, TheWarren had become a popular destination, setting the standards for holiday parks across the country. Replicating the success of The Warren elsewhere, The Haulfryn Group continued to invest in holiday parks in outstanding locations. The 1970s and 80s were years of further expansion with Gimblet Rock and Crugan added to the portfolio, among others and further investment at The Haulfryn Group’s flagship park, TheWarren. Expansion beyondWales followed, including strategic moves into the South West of England. Today, the Haulfryn Group’s estate includes 20 holiday parks throughout England andWales. The Haulfryn Group’s CEO since February 2020 is Echo Lu.With an impressive CV spanning over 20 years and senior experience within national and global brands including Tesco, Homebase and Holland & Barrett, Echo oversees the Group’s 500 team members. David John, Group Operations Director joined The Haulfryn group back in 2013, bringing with him a wealth of experience in Leisure and Hospitality, most notably Nutfield Heath, De Vere Hotels and Leisure, as well as early years spent in Local Authority.

caption: David john, Group Operations Director

The Group continues to invest in its portfolio to ensure Haulfryn resorts continue to meet the high expectations of its growing and loyal customer base. The Group’s leisure and entertainment venues, facilities and services are widely renowned as among the best in the business. David John comments: “The 85th birthday of the founding of the company is a fantastic milestone to achieve and testament to the company ethos and the hard work of every member of our team at every level. “As a company we’re extremely proud of everything we have achieved so far and look forward to welcoming holidaymakers new and old to our parks to create more special memories to last a lifetime,” he adds. “When you strip everything back to basics, the core of what we do today is the same as it was 85 years ago. The family values on which Haulfryn was established are as relevant today as ever, and these coupled with our outstanding locations is what brings holidaymakers and buyers back to us time and time again,” he emphasises. “Our main driver is to bring joy to every moment of a customer’s stay with us and we’re proud to have been doing that since 1936!” The Haulfryn Group offers a wide choice of accommodation for all tastes and for all ages. Popular holiday lodges provide home-from-home comfort, many with added luxuries such as wine coolers and hot tubs.

caption: Haulfryn Group Locations

For those seeking a modern twist, a selection of glamping pods provide quirky, comfortable accommodation bringing you closer to the outdoors. Some of Haulfryn’s long-standing suppliers include Lissett, Prestige and Omar whilst more recently they have partnered with Aspire and Armadilla Pods. The Group’s original site, TheWarren, is often thought of as Haulfryn’s flagship park but David insists: “We firmly believe each and every one of our parks are flagships. “Whether it’s ancient woodland, lakeside living, beautiful beaches as well as charming scenic settings - we always provide the accommodation and facilities to complement the surroundings environments.” TheWarren’s private beach location boasts golden sands and soul-reviving views of Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia. A boat launch ramp accesses internationally recognised sailing waters alongside first class leisure, sports and spa facilities. Haulfryn’s Delamere Lake offers a beautiful oasis in the midst of the Cheshire plains. Situated in Cheshire’s largest area of woodland, with incredible views over the sparkling lake, Delamere is located within easy reach of Manchester and Liverpool. Finlake Holiday Resort is set within 130-acres of Devon woodland, Finlake is an exclusive Devon holiday home destination for all the family. On-site facilities include a gym, spa, sauna, swimming pools, including flumes, slides and fountains, a restaurant and bar, tennis courts and more. Praa Sands is situated on the edge of turquoise waters and golden sands on the furthermost tip of west Cornwall. The resort is ideally located to make the most of the spectacular local area including beautiful beaches, walks, and cycle tracks. On-site facilities include a gym and heated indoor swimming pool. Before 2020, the Haulfryn Group’s biggest challenge would have been continuing to exceed customers’ expectations. Since the pandemic hit, Haulfryn’s overriding objective has been the safety of local communities, their teams and owners.

 

caption: contact the Haulfrun Group today