ParkHomeNews2025

BEFORE AFTER

DOES YOUR PARK HOME FEEL COLD? DO YOU HAVE ROT, DAMP ? OR MAYBE YOU’RE JUST TIRED OF THE OLD STYLE AND FEEL IF SO, A

FULL

REFURBISHMENT

IS THE WAY TO GO

At PARK HOME SHIELD we will carry out a thorough survey on the home to ensure your refurbishment goes as smooth as possible

To start, the exterior boards of the home are removed. The stud work is then checked for any damp or rot. In some cases the timbers may not be the right strength, in which case they will be removed and replaced, this is then followed by the boarding process. Once this is complete, everything is then sealed, joined and primed. All of this is vital to ensure that your home has the best finish once complete. Your park home will then have a stipple texture applied to the whole exterior with a colour of your choosing.

WELCOME

Editor Alex Melvin introduces Issue 19 of Park Home News and reflects on how to get the best out of this unique way of life…

There’s so much to celebrate about park home living when it’s done properly.

Whether it’s the fantastic communities, beautiful locations or the stylish and practical homes, there’s no doubt that park home living is a lifestyle like no other.

We love to celebrate the best endeavours of park home residents up and down the UK within the pages of Park Home News. As ever, it’s been brilliant to learn about your charity fundraising efforts, your great gardens and the fun you’ve been having with your friends and park neighbours at social events and get-togethers.

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: the amazing people found on the nation’s best park sites really are the key components to making this lifestyle so special!

But to make sure you get the best out of it, it’s so important that you understand your rights and responsibilities, as well as the key differences between the park home and bricks-and-mortar world.

As with any industry, there are a range of businesses from the exemplary to the less so, but it helps no end if you have the knowledge to recognise the difference between the two.

That’s where your new issue of Park Home News comes in! As well as shining a light on the great social side of this lifestyle, we also bring you a wealth of specialist information, help and advice. From expert legal help to key advice from residents’ groups and other support organisations, we’ve got you covered!

Then there are the specialist companies featured inside this magazine – treat them all as useful resources to help you make the most informed decisions possible.

On that note, a special word of thanks should go to the three Park Home News partners too. Paul Baker Insurance Services (PBIS), Park Home Chassis Services (PHCS) and Seekers Estate Agents all care deeply about raising standards in the industry – hence their commitment to delivering this free magazine each year. But over and above that, all three companies pride themselves on the highest levels of customer service and quality.

As well as specialist help and advice on a range of park home-based areas like refurbishment, insurance, buying and selling a home, and choosing a park, we’ve also got plenty of interesting lifestyle features to get stuck in to including nature, cookery, gardening, quizzes and puzzles.

All that remains to be said is ‘sit back, relax and enjoy Issue 19’!

Alex Melvin, Editor

CONTENTS

Blue Chip Park Homes can assist with your

With over 40 years’ experience, Seekers know how to sell Park Homes in a difficult market.

Fundraising for

Everything you need to know when it comes to a

What to look for when choosing

Ibraheem Dulmeer explains the crucial role of specialist legal advice in addressing any park home issues.

Discover the winners of the PBIS Fundraising Competition 2024 and fi nd out how to enter this year.

Discover the benefits of

Underfloor Insulation from PHCS.

The

This

Prestige Developments is

36

Since retiring from Paul Baker Insurance Services, Paul Baker has taken on a very different role.

38 PARK SCENE NEWS

We catch up with the latest residential park news around the country…

40 ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

Pensioners with a long-term health condition or disability may be eligible for a sizeable Government benefit.

43 SEEKERS’ PROPERTY PAGES

With over 40 years’ experience Seekers know how to sell park homes.

44 CARL BOWLES

Transform your park home’s roof with Carl Bowles Park & Holiday Homes Services this year.

58 SEEKERS’ REVIEWS

Hear from a selection of happy Seekers clients.

59 BEWARE! REPAIR WITH CARE

If your home is in need of some TLC you’ll need a reliable, experienced person like James Bowles.

60 IPHAS

The team at the Independent Park Home Advisory Service advise and help their members.

62 SNUGGERWALL+

Discover why SNUGGERwall+ can transform your park home into a haven of warmth, sustainability and style.

64 CREST HOMES

Discover the park home refurbishment services on offer from Crest Homes.

66 INSURANCE FOR OLDER PARK HOMES

A guide to insuring older park homes from Paul Baker Insurance Services.

69 BOWLES PARK HOME SERVICES

You can transform your park home with this insulated cladding system.

71 SNUGGERLOFT+ LOFT INSULATION

Ensure your park home is cosy and energy-efficient all year round with SNUGGERloft+ from PHCS.

72 SUPREMACY PARK HOME RENOVATIONS

From minor repairs to complete refurbishments, Supremacy Park Home Renovations are here to help.

74 ENGLISH WINEMAKING

Richard Webber discovers a trio of vineyards on our doorsteps…

77 COOKERY CORNER

Three classic dishes to share with your friends and neighbours.

78 MORE FROM LESS

Benedict Vanheems explains how a garden of edibles can look just as good as one fi lled with ornamentals.

81 PCB IMPROVEMENTS

No job is too big or too small for this family run business.

83 PUZZLE CORNER

Try your hand at this issue’s puzzles.

86 BIRDS TO SPOT IN 2025

What are the most common birds in your garden?

87 PRAISE FOR PHCS

PHCS customers share why they’re so happy to recommend them to others.

88 STERLING PARK HOMES

Sterling Park Homes offer a range of refurbishment, repair and improvements services.

90 ATTRACTING NATURE

Expert advice on how to attract more wildlife to your park home garden.

92 YOUR LETTERS

We hear from more happy park home owners.

96 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

All the answers to the puzzles.

98 ONLINE RESOURCES

Useful online park home resources.

Park Home Maintenance Services

BCPH Services Ltd can assist with your park home maintenance from your roof down to your chassis.

ROOF CLEANING AND RE-COATING

Moss and lichen growing on roof tiles can damage the protective coating leaving bare patches on the tiles. We have seen numerous times where pressure washers have been used to clean the tiles. Pressure washers will damage the protective coating and can cause water ingress.

Damage to the tiles also occurs where they have been walked upon incorrectly causing dents. Using a brush to remove loose moss and lichen from the tiles is a gentle process that will not damage the tiles. The roof is then sprayed with a special formula that kills all remaining moss and lichen and helps reduce re-growth. After two weeks, if required the tiles can then be re-coated. The tiles are re-coated with special formulated paint that will ensure the roof remains watertight and has the appearance of a new tiled roof.

Please contact BCPH Services Ltd for further advice and quotations 01327 844686 enquiries@bluechipparkhomes.co.uk www.bluechipparkhomes.co.uk

PARK HOME SHIELD

KEEP CALM AND CALL SEEKERS

We sell more Park Homes

With over 40 years’ experience, Seekers know how to sell Park Homes in a difficult market - we are the UK’s largest Park Home Estate Agents selling throughout England and Wales.

PERSONAL SERVICE The owner of Seekers, Keith Morgan will go and see each customer personally - this sometimes surprises people.

NATIONAL COVERAGE Seekers covers the whole of England and Wales. Therefore, if you live in The Midlands, south of England, Cumbria or Wales Seekers can help.

SPECIALIST SERVICE Includes help with the Government Schedule Forms required to be completed, as per the ‘2013 Mobile Home Act’. With the market being adversely affected, it has been noticed that an increasing number of home owners want a specialist estate agent to sell their Park Home. ADVICE AND HELP There are many factors that affect the ability to sell. With Keith Morgan to advise on price, presentation and marketing you are in safe hands. Of course, buyers also need a bit of help too, and whether it’s advice on surveys, conveyancing or finance Seekers are at hand.

“I will come out to see you myself”

It is with much sadness that we report the death of Joan Aylott, president of Independent Park Home Advisory Service (IPHAS), in January 2024 at the age of 93.

Joan and her husband Ernie had enjoyed camping and motorhome holidays for many years, especially when their sons, Rus and Glen, were growing up. This prompted them to visit caravan shows and, at one of these, they first saw park homes. Suitably impressed they decided to investigate the possibility of moving to one as retirement approached.

JOAN AYLOTT BERKSHIRE PARK BOOSTS BOOK WORMS!

However, despite about two years of research, Joan and Ernie still found that there were things they didn’t know. For instance, when they started to dig a pond in their garden they quickly discovered, during a visit from their park owner, that they should have had his permission before embarking on the project.

These experiences led Joan and Ernie to find out more about park home living – its joys and its pitfalls – and they joined one of the national residents’ associations where Joan met the late Roy and Beryl Waite. Eventually, the four decided to form their own national residents’ association, calling it the Independent Park Home Advisory Service (IPHAS).

Sadly, Ernie died in 2021 but Joan continued her advisory work until ill health resulted in her retirement, but she retained her role as IPHAS president and continued to take a keen interest in its progress.

Joan will be sorely missed by all those with whom she shared her extensive knowledge of park home matters.

CAN YOU HELP WITH PARK HOME RESEARCH?

Robert Amato Lastman, a PhD student at Kingston University in London, is researching UK park homes. He needs your help and here’s how…

Do you live in a park home community? Do you have opinions on what life in a park home community is like? If you like the idea of sharing your thoughts and contributing to research on the subject of park home communities, this is your chance.

Robert Amato Lastman is a PhD student at Kingston University conducting voluntary and confidential interviews about park home living in the UK. Interviews can be online or over the phone.

Robert explained: “I hope to find out about the key aspects of living in this accommodation and its long-term viability when it comes to the future of UK housing options. The experiences

of the residents provide a valuable insight into park home living.”

To share your experiences and to schedule an interview contact Robert on k2036424@kingston. ac.uk or call 07561 574482. You can also scan this QR Code.

Warfield Park has made a second contribution to a book vending machine at King’s Academy Easthampstead Park (KAEP) in Bracknell.

Warfield Park made an original contribution to the machine upon its opening in July 2023. Executive director of Warfield Park, James Sumner, met KAEP students to mark the restocking of the vending machine.

“I am delighted that the donation we provided to offer books for the book vending machine at KAEP has proved to be popular with the students,” said Mr Sumner. “I am pleased, as part of our ongoing support for KAEP, to provide a further donation to keep the vending machine stocked with books that are enjoyed by the students.

“By providing a wide array of books, we not only offer valuable resources but also an opportunity to ignite curiosity and a passion for learning. Warfield Park’s support of the school’s book reading campaign will continue, as will the close relationship that has developed.

“Each book has the potential to unlock new worlds, inspire creativity and foster a lifelong love for reading and learning.”

As usual there’s been lots happening around our park home communities, and so we’ve been catching up with all the news…

PARK ANNIVERSARY BENEFITS LOCAL CHARITY

To mark 20 years as a successful residential park, Glasgow park Red Deer Village held a very special open day, raising cash for charity in the process.

The park, in Stepps, topped off its 20-year anniversary celebrations by raising £680 for charity at a special open day event.

During the event, residents and friends mingled, while prospective park home buyers viewed residential park homes for sale. All the

while a sizeable amount was donated to charity, Cardowan Community Meadow, which provides the local community with wellbeing activities and strives to protect and maintain the beauty of the area.

Members of the charity joined Red Deer Village for the open day, chatting to residents, helping to sell raffle tickets and giving away healthy green ‘super shots’ as a taster. They even donated a fantastic raffle prize of green fruit and vegetables, to continue with Red Deer Village’s ‘emerald’ 20-year anniversary

theme. Local councillors Claire Williams and John McLaren of the Stepps, Muirhead and Chryston area attended the day too.

Red Deer Village’s dedicated and hardworking staff were also recognised at the event. Peter Thomson, George Girdwood and Elizabeth Fern, for example, were presented with BH&HPA Exceptional Service Awards.

There was a competition for residents to create a green food or drink item to mark the ‘emerald’ anniversary, which was won by Marie Shaw and Anne Glen. The ladies made some Aero rocky road bars and a fruit tree forest respectively.

Red Deer Village also announced its gardening competition winners during the open day, and they were David Anderson and Raymond and Margaret Williams.

Red Deer Village is always trying to do its bit for charity. In addition, the park has raised £37.40 for Scottish SPCA along with £44.61 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), £54.29 for Help for Heroes and £60.71 for Make A Wish.

A CHARITY EFFORT LIKE THIS TAKES A LOT OF GUTS!

We find out more about the big-hearted charity endeavours on a Kentish park…

The residents at Reculver Park Homes were thrilled to present a cheque to Guts UK, the only UK charity funding research into the digestive system, for

£3,860 following two years of fundraising activities. The fundraising, which focuses on socialising and having fun, was through a mixture of activities and was organised by members of the Reculver Qualified Residents’ Association. Brian Lamb, Chairperson, along with Gill Martin, Secretary, and

Karen Shipper, committee member, explained that their main aim was to raise awareness of the charity itself, especially across other residential parks in the UK.

A charity close to their hearts, this is the second time they have raised funds for Guts UK. The charity was brought

to their attention several years ago when a friend of Gill’s sadly passed away due to pancreatic cancer, and it became clear that knowledge of this disease and other aspects of the digestive system weren’t receiving enough publicity, or research funding.

They first started fundraising around six years ago, and since then have raised over £12,000 for several charities. Their next campaign is for the RNLI and Air Ambulance.

One key method of raising funds is their monthly lottery, which is based around the main lottery. Further activities include social events, with raffles, sponsored walks, fish and chip nights, street parties and basically any excuse for a social event where residents can get together, have fun and at the same time contribute to a charitable cause.

What are the signs to look out for when considering a survey?

• Squeaks and creaks

• Dips, uneven or soft spots in your floor

• Fluctuating weight in the home

• Hidden leaks or flooding

• Rust

• Cold floors

• Cracks in the base or around the home

• Coastal air exposure

• Rodent damage

INSURANCE FOR PARK HOMES

Ian Hayter, from Paul Baker Insurance Services, explains what to look for when choosing insurance for your park home.

Even the most ardent insurance professional has to admit that nobody would see buying an insurance policy as a purchase of desire. If you treat yourself to an item of jewellery, you would most likely spend some time when you first open the box and admire the item. I doubt that anyone has ever opened the envelope containing their insurance policy and spent time admiring its form – in fact, in my experience, many people do not give their insurance documents a second glance when they arrive in the post and immediately file them away in a drawer without anything as much as a scan read.

However, whether when first purchasing or renewing insurance, it is important to take time to read through all of the documents to ensure the policy meets your needs. An insurance purchased in haste, and without ensuring it suits your circumstances, needs and requirements, could end up costing you much, much more than the annual premium and leave you substantially out of pocket or, worse still, homeless.

Ensuring that you have the right insurance protection for your home and your own circumstances can be a challenge – insurance policies are, after all, contracts and subject to terms and conditions which can sometimes seem confusing. In this article, Ian Hayter of Paul Baker Insurance Services provides some guidance to help you make the right choice for you.

NEW FOR OLD

Given that your Park Home is your permanent place of residence, it is important that you look for an insurance policy that will be best placed to ensure that you can continue living at the home and location you have chosen. When cover is provided on a New for Old basis, the age and condition of your existing home is not a factor in determining how much the Insurer will pay to repair or replace your park home. This is particularly important should you ever be unfortunate to suffer a large loss as

a result of, for example, a fire. With the heavy use of wood in the construction of a Park Home, a small fire can take hold very quickly and result in the complete destruction of your home before the firefighters arrive. Under these circumstances, you will want the reassurance that your Insurer will work with your site to acquire a new home to replace the fire-ravaged Park Home, pay for the removal of the damaged property, the delivery of the new one and for its connection to the services at the park.

You might think that all insurances will be on this basis. Regrettably not; if your cover is issued on an Indemnity or Market Value basis, the insurance will only pay the value of the property at the time of the loss taking into account its condition immediately beforehand. This could leave

Check your policy carefully - never assume everything is as before

It is important that you take the time to read through your insurance documents

you with a substantial shortfall between the cash you are paid by your insurer and how much you have to pay for another home which will, almost certainly, be at a different place to where you chose to move – possibly not even at the same park, or in the same part of the country.

You should also check that the insurance will pay for the cost of somewhere for you to live while the claim is being dealt with through to its conclusion, especially as it can take several months for a new Park Home to be available for delivery to your site. Such cover is commonly referred to as Alternative Accommodation. Even if your insurance says this is included, check to what level as there will nearly always be a limit to how much the Insurer will pay for such costs.

EXCESSES

An Excess is the amount that you are required to pay in the event of a claim for loss or damage which is covered by your insurance. It is increasingly unusual for an insurance not to have any Excess but, at the time of writing, there are still a few such insurances within the Park Home field – our Select policy, for example, has no Excess as standard.

Most insurances do have an Excess, so it is important for you to establish what this is when comparing one policy to another. Also, bear in mind that the amount of the Excess can vary depending on the nature of the damage that you are claiming for or other factors, such as the age of your Park Home. By way of an example, the Economy insurance offered by Paul Baker Insurance Services has a £100 Excess for claims arising from most incidents it provides cover for (for example Storm, Flood, Burglary/Theft etc), but this increases by a further £250 if the claim is for water damage caused by, say, a leaking pipe. This increased Excess for Escape of Water losses has, in recent years, become more commonplace.

What is less commonplace, but which has now started to appear in the Park

Home insurance field, are variable Excesses depending on the age of the property –potentially the Excess payable by the owner of a 20-year-old Park Home could be more than double that payable by the owner of a brand-new, or nearly-new, Park Home in the event of water damage.

With some insurance providers you may be able to voluntarily accept an Excess in return for a small reduction in the premium compared to what you would otherwise be paying each year. Always bear in mind that any Excess you have accepted by choice will apply in addition to any Excess that would otherwise apply, not instead of.

As with everything else, when it comes to insurance, the key thing is making sure you know about what Excesses apply when you purchase the insurance, and make sure you are comfortable with, and could afford to pay this, should you have to make a claim.

SUMS INSURED

The Sum Insured stated in your policy documents for your Park Home and/or Contents represents the maximum amount your Insurer will pay in the event of the total loss of the property insured. Indeed, in some instances this is simply stated as the “Maximum Amount Payable”. It doesn’t mean that the Insurer will pay you this amount should the worst happen; it just sets the limit they will go to.

Many Park Home insurance providers issue their policies these days with what is often referred to as a “blanket” Sum Insured i.e. rather than you having to assess how much replacement of your Park Home, its Contents etc. would cost, you are given a maximum amount. Sometimes this might seem far in excess of what figure you feel is needed but, if this is the case, at least you can be comfortable that you have ample headroom should the very worst happen.

“Blanket” Sums Insured are of particular use for Park Homes because the cost of replacing your Park Home may not be readily identifiable beforehand. As an

example, the cost of a brand new Park Home is not generally quoted by the manufacturer because, unless you are siting a new home on your own land, you would always be dealing with a site owner who purchases the unit from the manufacturer. Also, the cost of clearing away the old damaged Park Home is difficult to quantify and could be influenced by factors such as how dangerous the condition of the damaged home would be to contractors seeking to remove it from the park and/or how accessible the pitch is to said contractors.

Thankfully most specialist Park Home insurance providers try to set the Sum Insured levels at a high enough value that it should be more than adequate for most cases. You should still satisfy yourself that it is enough – after all, if the Sum Insured doesn’t prove sufficient, it is you who will have to shoulder the shortfall. If in doubt, always look for a higher Sum Insured.

This is one of the reasons why the majority of policyholders with Paul Baker Insurance Services choose our Select policy ahead of the Economy policy we offer (although the wider Accidental Damage cover and absence of any standard Excess will also be very important factors I’m sure).

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

While the primary function of any Park Home Insurance policy has to be to cover the cost of repairing or replacing property that is damaged through an insured event, policies will often include a few extra features. These could be access to a legal helpline, or some form of Home Emergency cover (such as sending out an electrician to your Park Home to restore power if your own home suffers an unexplained failure).

Some of you may feel these “extras” are unnecessary and simply increase the cost of the policy – from my experience, any additional cost resulting from their inclusion is minimal within the overall price, they are also often the elements of the policy that are most readily accessed, so should never be discounted as a stunt.

That said, you should check the fi ner details of these additional features with the same rigour that you apply to the main policy features to ensure you understand under what circumstances you can access the additional benefit and, if in doubt, ask!

ALREADY HAVE A POLICY? ONE (ALMOST) FINAL WORD OF CAUTION

For those of you reading this article, nodding in agreement with everything written, and feeling happy that you have done all that is suggested, and that you have found the right policy for you… well done! You have successfully navigated your way through the labyrinth of insurance and have the peace of mind that you were looking for when you fi rst set out on the journey. At least until the policy is to be renewed, that is.

You must never assume that the terms of your insurance, and the cover provided, will always be the same as when you fi rst bought the policy. From time to time, Insurers may decide to revise their terms – in some cases this may be beneficial to you and afford you a little more coverage than the prior year but, more likely, any change will be more beneficial to the Insurer. In more extreme situations, an Insurer may decide that they no longer want to offer cover at all.

Either way, the provider who arranged your insurance for you in the fi rst instance is required to draw your attention to any changes (bad or good) and this notification

to you should be “prominent”. However, with the sheer volume of information that Insurers are required to send to you, any changes might not be as easy to spot as would be ideal. This is why it is vitally important that you read through everything you receive and never assume everything is as before. If unsure of what any changes mean for you, never be afraid to ask your provider.

AND (FINALLY) THE LAST WORD…

Many of you reading might be thinking… what about price? And you would be right to because, at the end of the day, we all want to get the best deal for ourselves. The reason I have left this important consideration to the very end is intentional. What you pay for your insurance is important – it should not, however, be the single-most critical factor used when you are comparing one insurance with another. No two policies will be the same and sometimes the old adage of “you get what you pay for” is true! To my mind, the best thing to do is to fi rst make sure that the cover provided meets your needs and the price you have to pay is one that you are comfortable with. That means the insurance provides value for money, and is not simply cheap!

Make sure you know about any Excesses that apply to your policy

NEW FOR OLD COVER ON EVERYTHING

FOR OLD COVER ON EVERYTHING (INCLUDING CLOTHING & LINEN) (EXCEPT CLOTHING & LINEN)

TO £600,000

OUTBUILDINGS, SKIRTINGS, EXTENSIONS

PORCHES ALL INCLUDED

LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY STORM, FLOOD, ESCAPE

OF WATER OR OIL, THEFT OR ATTEMPTED THEFT, IMPACT BY ROAD VEHICLES, FALLING TREES/BRANCHES, MALICIOUS DAMAGE

LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY SUBSIDENCE OR HEAVE OF

THE SITE ON WHICH THE HOME STANDS EXCLUDES THE BASE (OWNED BY THE SITE )

SITE CLEARANCE, RE-SITING AND DELIVERY

FEES ALL INCLUDED

HOUR HOME EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

central heating or boiler failure, boiler must be less than 15-years-old and annually serviced)

the

SNUGGER range

Specialist Legal Advice from a Park Homes Law Barrister

Ibraheem Dulmeer, a Barrister-at-law at www.parkhomeslaw.com explains the crucial role of specialist legal advice in addressing any issues that you may have related to residential park homes or holiday parks.

Ibraheem has provided counsel to park home residents, site owners and local authorities. His advice offers insight into the unique legal framework relating to residential park homes.

This article will explain why you may need specialist legal advice in a matter you are dealing with against another party.

Potential Pitfalls of General Advice

While general or free advice can seem great on the face of it, it can mean that you misunderstand your position, which may lead to:

1. The other party may not take your legal arguments on board.

2. Incorrect or difficult-to-follow legal submissions to the Court or Tribunal.

3. Unresolved matters.

4. Unfavourable outcomes.

Specialist Advice

While general advice may offer a broad understanding of your situation during a dispute, Ibraheem emphasises the vital role of specialist advice.

A couple of pointers for the reader to consider, when specialist advice may advance your position:

1. You may be able to understand your legal position fully.

2. As a result, you will be able to put forward resolutions with the other party.

3. If a resolution is not successful, you may decide to proceed with Court/ Tribunal action.

Having someone “on your side” to advise you on any pitfalls and strengths of your case, will give you a realistic perspective.

Ibraheem Dulmeer can help you fully understand your legal position

Feedback:

As the old saying goes, ‘the proof is in the pudding’. Here’s what a range of recent clients said about Ibraheem…

“After seven long years and four previous patch repairs, with the help of Ibraheem Dulmeer of Park Homes Law I have finally had my home completely reboarded. THANK YOU Ibraheem, job well done.”

[Client A] May 2024

“Would just like to say a big thank you to Ibraheem Dulmeer for the help, guidance and support in helping us win our case. Ibraheem

Getting Advice from Park Home Law

Ibraheem and his team would be happy to see if they can help. You would be able to obtain this by following the below:

1. Submit an enquiry on www.parkhomeslaw.com

2. Receive an information request form after a brief consideration of your matter.

3. Get a fi xed fee and recommended work from Ibraheem (subject to confl icts of interest and suitability of taking this matter on).

was very approachable, easy to deal with and kept us updated throughout the process. We fully appreciate all the time and effort he put into helping us. If you need legal advice regarding park homes, then we would highly recommend him. Thank you from all of us.”

[Client B] May 2024

“We wish to thank Mr Dulmeer and yourselves for all the help, understanding, generosity of time and patience, also the expertise and clarity of the advice given.”

[Client C] July 2024

4. Agree to the work and proposed fee, allowing Ibraheem to allocate time for your case.

Seeking Ibraheem’s early guidance can prevent years of stress, worry and escalating costs.

Upon instruction, Ibraheem provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your case/matter, helping you navigate challenges effectively and with careful attention.

If you are unsure about your legal position in any park home matter, please get in touch and obtain specific legal advice. Ibraheem Dulmeer is a barrister at Normanton Chambers and KBG Chambers.

Ibraheem may accept instructions directly without requiring a solicitor, as a public access barrister on any park home matter. This means you may instruct him directly. Please note that not all matters are appropriate for direct access.

For a free quote, he can be contacted by telephone on 0207 081 2909 or by email at info@parkhomeslaw.com

You can also contact him using his website: www.parkhomeslaw.com

The information provided in this article serves as useful guidance. Please note that this is not intended to be comprehensive and should not be relied on in substitution for specific legal advice. If in doubt, you could seek specific advice from Ibraheem Dulmeer. This material should not be replicated without the author’s consent. Ibraheem Dulmeer © 2025

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PBIS FUNDRAISING

COMPETITION 2024

Thanks to your incredible fundraising efforts at parks all around the country, huge amounts of money has been raised for charities nationwide. Here we share the winners of our PBIS Fundraising Competition 2024.

Last year was the first time we ran our Fundraising Competition, instead of our usual Good Neighbour competition that had run previously here at Paul Baker Insurance Services.

We had the pleasure of reading a range of great entries, but there were two which stood out whose charitable efforts have helped fundraise a substantial amount for their nominated charities.

WINNERS!

The first-place winners are Mr and Mrs Notley! We received a fantastic letter detailing not only their recent fundraising efforts for Marie Curie, a leading end of life charity, but their amazing efforts from over the last 35 years. After seeing firsthand the brilliant care the palliative care nurses gave to a family member, Mr & Mrs Notley first started by volunteering to fundraise as part of the regular Great Daffodil Appeal. Mr Notley himself has also completed activities such as sky diving, abseiling, publishing a book of poems, appearing on The Weakest Link and Countdown as well as 48-hour scrabble marathons to name just a few. They’ve raised money not only for Marie Curie but Breast Cancer Research, the Big C, Cancer Research and Parkinson’s UK.

We are delighted to award £250 to Mr & Mrs Notley’s nominated charity, Marie Curie (www.mariecurie.org.uk).

The runner-up award winner is Ceri Stone. He has fundraised £4,460 for his charity, William Wates Memorial Trust (wwmt.rideleloop.org), by cycling the entire route of the Tour de France in 2024. An impressive feat to say the least and he hopes to do this again in 2025! The route covers over 3,400 kilometres and 57,000 metres of steep terrain (that’s 2,100 miles and 187,000 feet in old money!), completed throughout 21 days. We were very impressed with this dedication to fundraising and are pleased to award £150 to add to his donation efforts.

ENTER THIS YEAR!

A big congratulations to our winners, and we are excited to see what park home residents will fundraise as the competition enters its second year in 2025. If you have any planned fundraising efforts or want to enter, please write to us and you could be our 2025 winner! Please include information on the following:

n What fundraising have you done?

n How much were you able to raise?

n Which charity do you support and why?

n What good work does the charity support, either in your local area or further afield?

Please write to Sarah Swaby at PBIS, 16 Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6AA or email sarah.swaby@pbinsurance.co.uk Closing date for entries to be considered is 1st December 2025.

For more fantastic examples of park home residents’ fundraising efforts, please turn to the Community News section (pages 8 and 9).

LOOKING AHEAD

The Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign plans the way forward in 2025. The group’s inspirational founder, Sonia McColl OBE, explains more…

Do you want to bring about changes in residential park home living? If so, join PHOJC. We are the only campaign group to have changed the law (twice) to benefit all park home owners.

We have stopped sale blocking and all residential park home residents are now enjoying the change from RPI to a CPI increase on their pitch fees. We have pushed ahead to get a change to the 10 per cent Commission charge (with nothing added to

the pitch fee) and will continue until a decision is made.

We know that many park home residents live on happy, well-run parks, but sadly there are a lot that do not. Unfortunately those who live in park homes cannot afford to be complacent. Parks get sold and residents have no control over who will buy, and sadly it is often one of the growing number of rogue site owners.

Whilst many parks are operated within

the law, there are also a substantial number of rogue site owners who bully, intimidate and exploit residents by providing poor facilities, infrastructure and exceed licencing conditions. The Mobile Homes Act 2013 (as amended) sought to provide park home owners with additional protections against rogue site owners. Whilst satisfactory in theory, many Local Authorities are either ignorant of their obligations under the law or ignore their obligations.

Park home owners, including Sonia McColl, marched on Downing Street in 2023

A Busy Year

PHOJC has listened to the cry of many residents who are suffering and has put forward to the Government its campaigning plan for 2025. It will be a busy year, with meetings and rallies in London as we push for:

● Rogue site owners to be brought under complete control.

● Regulatory enforcement by Local Authorities in planning, licensing and the prevention of bullying and intimidation.

● To have a park homes officer, conversant in LA’s duty under the law who is able to receive and investigate complaints by residents.

● To impose a statutory duty on local authorities to review site licences and site licence conditions and to take into account representations by residents.

● To impose a statutory duty on Local Authorities to publish a public register of all site rules deposited with them in accordance with the regulations.

PHOJC has put forward its 2025 campaigning plan to the Government

“Whilst many parks are

operated within

the

law,

there are also a

substantial number of rogue site owners who bully, intimidate and exploit residents by providing poor facilities, infrastructure and exceed licensing conditions”

● To properly monitor planning applications for both new parks and extensions to existing parks to ensure compliance with licence and planning requirements and, wherever possible, ensure the supply of utilities is undertaken on the same basis as any other housing development – thus providing supplier choice for the home owner.

● To impose a statutory duty on a local authority to issue, refuse or impose conditions within a specified time period following an application for a fit and proper person certificate.

PHOJC strongly believes that a national enforcement body is critical to the future of the park home sector, which has to be a much greater force in the expansion of the UK housing sector.

Much To Do

As you will see from the above, the PHOJC team has much to do. PHOJC has already delivered a ‘Name and Shame’ list of over 100 alleged rogue site owners to the Government, along with reports on the Fit and Proper person criteria and pitch fees.

We are a stakeholder at the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group on Park Homes) and are speaking on a monthly basis with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. In addition, we are planning to go to Downing Street in the spring of 2025, along with a meeting in the Palace of Westminster and a further rally, which we hope you will want to be involved with.

We are also appearing on Rip Off Britain in the early part of 2025 and have been approached for a further BBC programme.

Strength In Numbers

Together with the help of thousands of park home residents, we have achieved much of what we set out to do. There is strength in numbers, so please join us and receive regular monthly newsletters. You can also follow us online at www.phojc.co.uk and on Facebook and X (previously Twitter) too. Membership is free and you can join by contacting our membership secretary at memsec@phojc.co.uk.

Sonia’s New Book!

For those who would like to know the true story of PHOJC, a book has been written by its founder, Sonia McColl. Endorsed by Sir Peter Bottomley and Dame Annette Brooke, it is titled ‘Beware: There is a Dark Side to Park Home Living’. The paperback will be available in 2025. It is available on Amazon and you can order it from ‘Sonia’s PHOJC story’ page at www.phojc.co.uk.

A donation from the sale of this book will be equally divided between the National Park Home Owners JUSTICE Campaign and Helping Homeless Veterans UK. The veterans charity was chosen because Sonia was made homeless and her late husband was a soldier. Both organisations give 100 per cent of their income to their cause.

THE UK’S NUMBER 1 PARK HOME AGENT

VALUE Is important these days more than ever, therefore Seekers normally charge less than non specialist agents - yet do more. They cover all of England and Wales, with millions of pounds worth of sales each year.

EXPERTISE It is not often that the owner of the business will travel to meet clients, but Keith Morgan does. When you book an appointment with Seekers Park Homes it is Keith, with over 40 years of experience, who will see you.

SERVICE Seekers not only have a superb team to provide help and service to buyers and sellers, they also now help with the Schedules and Conveyancing once a buyer is found. So keep calm and call Seekers.

Park Home Shield, one of the UK’s leading park home refurbishment companies, specialises in offering park home owners refurbishment and maintenance services as well as surveys.

Amajor consideration in choosing to live in a park home is the lower maintenance requirements when compared to living in a conventional bricks and mortar home, however that doesn’t mean zero maintenance. This is especially true when it comes to maintaining both your home’s standard and its lifespan. While we can carry out many jobs ourselves there are others which require the help and advice of experts.

The same is true when it comes to renovations. Depending on the vision you have for your home, not only can an expert carry out the work to an incredibly high standard but they will be able to advise and give suggestions as to what you can do. Quite often this will include ideas that you wouldn’t have considered or thought were beyond your budget.

Working around the country, Park Home Shield has a long track record of assisting park home owners carry out both their refurbishment and renovation projects, which can range from a new roof to painting the exterior of homes.

With a good reputation, built up over many years, Park Home Shield’s work, which is carried out by fully trained tradespeople, is also guaranteed ensuring peace of mind for home owners.

EXTERIOR CARE

When it comes to the outside of your home you can regularly check the exterior for cracks and chipping as well as giving it a clean. However, a new coat of paint will also be required from time to time to keep your home looking good and also to protect it. Park Home Shield has a range of exterior textured paints and masonry coatings specially formulated for use on park homes. The team will be able to advise on suitable products for your home.

As well as caring for the exterior walls, it’s important not to forget the windows and doors. Again regular checks and cleaning can be carried out by home owners who should look out for damaged or broken seals which can lead to mould and damp. Park Home Shield can help here too, replacing external window and door seals and dealing with damp ingress in your home in general.

ON THE ROOF

It’s easy to focus on the exterior walls and windows to ensure they look attractive (and are in good order of course!), but the roof can build up problems of its own. If left unattended issues can arise, like moss and

PARK HOME SHIELD SURVEYS

Surveys are a great resource when buying a park home, potentially saving you a great deal of money and definitely providing peace of mind. An average park home survey, which can be carried out by Park Home Shield, takes around two to three hours and results in a survey report. Not just for home buyers, a survey can be carried out at anytime to remove owners’ concerns and assess the condition of a home. However, even if your survey comes back with no major issues, it’s imperative that you continue to look after your park home and deal with any issues as they arise.

“Park Home Shield has a long track record of assisting park home owners carry out both their refurbishment and renovation requests, which can range from a new roof to painting the exterior of your home”

loose tiles, which can lead to further issues both inside and outside. Therefore, any problems should be dealt with as quickly as possible and, ideally, by an expert in the field like Park Home Shield who can undertake a complete refurbishment if necessary. Whatever the size, condition or age of your home, they can retile roofs and also increase the pitch.

Is your roof insulated? Though many park homes do not have loft hatches, this does not mean that your roof cannot be insulated. Park Home Shield can offer you numerous types of insulation for your roof.

Staying up top, while you’re checking your roof you can make sure there’s no debris building up in your guttering and that it isn’t damaged. This is another area where Park Home Shield can assist you; uPVC cladding, fascias and guttering are available in a choice of colours and styles to suit your park home.

MAINTENANCE PACKAGE

Park Home Shield is both a maintenance and refurbishment business and offers a park home maintenance package for owners looking to protect their home. Specialist park home roof repairs and other structural damage can be extremely costly, so preventative inspections and a rapid response are essential for protecting your home.

Taking out a Park Home Shield maintenance package will help ensure your peace of mind in regard to defects and general wear and tear. If you’re interested in fi nding out more, they can inspect your home and advise you about any potential concerns. For those who qualify for their maintenance agreement, Park Home Shield also include long term guarantees such as a second year inspection certificate and a fourth year external repainting plan.

So, maintaining your park home will not only keep it looking good but will prolong its life too… it’s a win, win! Follow the regular checks we have advised and call in the experts at Park Home Shield when it’s time for bigger maintenance jobs or if you’re looking to refurbish your home. They’ll be only too happy to help you.

”

PRESTIGE DEVELOPMENTS

Prestige Developments is a park home renovation and refurbishment company that prides itself on customer service and quality workmanship.

Established in 1991 by three industry professionals who had already built up a national renovation company for a large home manufacturer, Prestige Developments quickly became a major business, with satisfied customers all over the UK.

The company’s philosophy has always been to: ‘Provide the very latest products to the highest possible specifications at competitive prices, and to back this up with the industry’s finest installation teams and first-class customer service and aftercare.’

In 2001, the company established its own uPVC fabrication company called Prestige Plastics Ltd, which supplies high quality windows, doors, porches and conservatories, all of which have been specifically designed for park homes.

If that wasn’t enough, the company also founded its own home manufacturing company, Prestige Park and Leisure Homes, back in 2007. This company quickly gained a reputation for producing high quality homes, to the extent that it was able to acquire a rival manufacturer, Homeseeker Homes, to expand its portfolio of park home related companies.

RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS

Prestige Developments offers a vast range of park home renovations and improvements. When it comes to roofs, the company can completely replace an older home’s roof, as well as re-tiling existing roofs using its own range of roofing systems.

Prestige can also fit new fascias, guttering and soffits to a new or existing roof, using premium grade uPVC products which are virtually maintenance free.

EXTENSIONS TO CANOPIES

If you want to do a major upgrade of your home, Prestige Developments can design and build the perfect extension for you, in the form of a conservatory or garden room, or perhaps a new study or hobby room.

At the smaller end of the scale, the company offers a range of tailor-made porches which can transform the entrance to

LOOKING AFTER YOUR PARK HOME

Here are some practical tips from Prestige Developments to keep your park home snug, secure and prepared for the elements, along with a little expert help that could make all the difference.

WEATHERPROOF YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS

Draughty windows and doors are often the culprits of cold spots in your home. Replacing older windows with doubleglazed options or upgrading to energyefficient doors can drastically improve your home’s insulation. Park homes, especially older ones, may have outdated frames that let cold air in and warm air out. One solution is to install custom uPVC windows and doors, designed specifically for park homes. Not only do they enhance the energy efficiency of your home, but they also provide extra security and style. Prestige Developments offers made-to-measure window and door systems that are a great fit for any park home.

UPGRADE YOUR INSULATION

A well-insulated home is your first line of defence against the winter chill. If you notice that your home struggles to stay warm, or if your energy bills are creeping up, it might be time to check your insulation. Poor insulation can cause draughts and energy loss, making it harder to keep your home comfortable. Prestige Developments can help you reduce heat loss and keep the warmth inside where it belongs.

You could opt for low maintenance cladding

PROTECT YOUR ROOF AND GUTTER

Winter weather can be tough on your roof and guttering system. Heavy rain, snow and ice can cause damage if your roofline isn’t in good condition. This is where new fascia and guttering comes in handy. Ensuring that your gutters are free of debris and your roof is in good repair can prevent leaks and water damage that could be expensive to fix later. Consider having a professional take a look before the weather turns for the worse. Prestige Developments can install high-quality uPVC roofline systems that are designed to stand up to the harshest winter conditions, helping protect your home from moisture and potential damage.

LOW-MAINTENANCE CLADDING

Cladding your home not only improves its appearance but also boosts insulation and provides a barrier against the elements. If you’re looking for a no-hassle solution to keep your home looking great year-round, composite cladding is a solid choice. It requires minimal upkeep and can be installed even in winter. Prestige Developments offers a variety of maintenance-free cladding styles, so you can choose a look that suits your home while reaping the benefits of better insulation and protection from the weather.

your home, while blending in with its existing style. You can also opt for one of the company’s storm canopies to go above your front door to offer shelter from bad weather when entering your home.

CLAD ALL OVER

One of the company’s additional areas of specialisation is park home cladding, where it offers its own unique cladding system which is designed to transform the look of a home, as well as boosting its thermal efficiency. It’s available in a variety of finishes and colours, to suit your requirements. Prestige also has its own cavity wall recladding and coating system, bringing your home up to the latest insulation standards, as well as being rot-proof and fire-proof.

If you’re looking to have some renovation and improvement works done to your park home, why not give Prestige Developments a call? Their expert staff will be able to assess your case and provide you with a comprehensive quote for the work. Check out the company’s website to see the many testimonials from happy customers, as well as some images of the work they have carried out on park homes across the country!

Prestige Developments can help you protect your roof and gutter

Ensuring your roof is in good repair can help prevent leaks

MEET THE MAYOR

Although Paul Baker has retired from Paul Baker Insurance Services he is now enjoying a role of a very different kind…

Following my retirement from Paul Baker Insurance Services a couple of years ago, having spent most of my working life in the park home insurance sector, I was delighted to be asked to write a column for Park Home News, a magazine that Keith Morgan of Seekers, Silvano Geranio of Prestige and I first launched some 20 years ago. Who would have thought that all these years later I would be contributing in my role as the Mayor of Cheltenham!

I have been a Liberal Democrat Councillor on Cheltenham Borough Council for over 20 years and thoroughly enjoy doing my best for the residents that I represent and doing everything that I can to enhance our wonderful town and to preserve its amazing regency heritage with its beautiful buildings, parks and gardens.

It is a town with a rich culture offering a wide range of festivals throughout the year, from jazz to science, from film to literature, from cricket to racing and lots more besides. Like all towns it also has many challenges with areas of deprivation, a lack of affordable housing and high rents.

BECOMING MAYOR

To be the Mayor of Cheltenham you firstly have to be a Borough Councillor, it is then down to who has served the longest, irrespective of party, and who has not done it before. And of course you must be able to do the job; it is unpaid and involves around 250 events a year, so if you have a young family or are in full time employment it can be a very difficult role to take on.

Following my retirement I was finally able to take on the role. It is a huge honour and privilege, particularly for someone like me who was born in the town, educated here and has spent his entire working life here. I have been very fortunate indeed.

The role of Mayor in a Borough Council is essentially ceremonial, I chair the Council meetings, which I do enjoy, but most of my time is spent out and about visiting voluntary groups and charities, opening new businesses, attending graduations and school prize giving events, which involve a lot of clapping, speaking at business clubs and social groups, switching on Christmas lights and being invited to lots of lovely carol ser vices when I am often asked to do a reading.

Often the best part is chatting to the volunteers, listening to what they do, the challenges they face and thinking about how the Council may be able to help; it is very much a listening and learning role with lots of enjoyment thrown in.

Meeting the local Samaritans was incredibly enlightening; they are all volunteers, they man the phones 24/7 and really do make a difference to people who are struggling for so many different reasons.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS

I have opened a wide range of businesses from a dentist, which was my best ever visit to a dentist, a funeral parlour where I was invited to sit on a fabulous motorcycle hearse, a care home with rooms at £1,750 a week – it certainly was 5 star, and bizarrely a new charity shop in a former branch of NatWest bank where I used to work many years ago!

I have been lucky to attend some wonderful musical events such as meeting our young musician of the year James Li, a violinist with a magical touch, an evening of opera with the Cheltenham Italian Society,

Paul Baker with the Mayoress Beth Nixon and her grandchildren

Paul Baker met with the local Samaritans, who are all volunteers

A more unusual day - sitting on a motorcycle

And finally CCP, Caring for Communities and People, a local charity which helps people facing homelessness, supports food banks and works with families going through difficult times. It is a wonderful charity who, in addition to everything else they do, will be delivering over 2,000 food parcels and Christmas present to local families.

an afternoon with young musicians from Ukraine and a splendid concert by the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.

One of the highlights so far was our Remembrance Day service in the Promenade, attended by thousands, with the Cheltenham Silver Band, bugler and march past by veterans and young army and sea cadets. A truly emotional and thought provoking occasion, do we learn nothing from war?

CHOSEN CHARITIES

Another of my roles is to raise money for my chosen charities. It is always difficult choosing which charities to support, there are so many and they all do an incredible job.

I am a Trustee of Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees, so that was my first choice. No one wants to be a refugee, forced to flee their home, their friends and their culture due to war or oppression, so this charity makes refugees welcome and does all it can to help them start a new life in our town.

My second charity is called Aim Up, and it cares for and gives opportunities to adults with physical and mental health issues, they really do make such a difference to people’s lives.

In Cheltenham we are fortunate to have ‘Friends’ Groups which help look after our wonderful parks and gardens, doing litter picks, helping with maintenance and raising funds to invest in improvements such as seats, table tennis tables and outdoor gym equipment. My local group, which I helped to launch nine years ago, is the Friends of Sandford Parks who do an amazing job.

To raise money for these wonderful charities we have held a series of events from Afternoon Tea with Pru Leith and a wonderful Summer Ball at the majestic Pittville Pump Room to walking the 22 mile Three Peaks Challenge (yes I did manage to complete it!) and a more leisurely day at the races and a golf day. All in all we hope to raise well over £70,000, with a big sleep out planned too.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

All in all I am enjoying a fabulous year as Mayor of my home town. It is pretty much full on given my other roles as a Borough and County Councillor, and as the recent owner of a very energetic cocker spaniel puppy, but I am really enjoying it and hopefully making a difference to my town of which I am so proud.

I still keep in touch with the lovely team at Paul Baker Insurance Services; it’s difficult not to as I live above the office, and I am delighted that the business continues to go from strength to strength, it is in good hands with Ian, Jennie, Jacqui and co.

GET IN TOUCH!

For more information about Paul Baker Insurance Services (PBIS), please contact:

T: 0800 0385 090 (freephone) or 01242 505840

E: enquiries@pbinsurance.co.uk

W: www.pbinsurance.co.uk

A charity event attended by Paul included an Afternoon Tea with Pru Leith L-R: Anne Evans, Paul Baker and Pru Leith

The latest family member, a cocker spaniel puppy called Lola!

hearse!

Park Scene News

We catch up with the latest residential park news around the country…

PARK OWNER TO PAY COMPENSATION RECORD DEMAND FOR HELP WITH ENERGY BILLS

A Buckinghamshire park site owner has been ordered to pay a resident £7,500 after a new road ‘encroached’ on her pitch.

A Buckinghamshire mobile homes boss has been ordered to pay £7,500 after a new road ‘encroached’ on her pitch.

Park owner Joe Burns was ordered to pay the money to Liz Phillips within 28 days, according to the ruling handed down at a first-tier property tribunal. Burns is the director of Silk Mills Leisure, the owner of the Nook Park mobile homes site in the village of Great Horwood.

The businessman has been upgrading facilities at the site and preparing it for new homes. However, Mrs Phillips and some other residents expressed concern with the way Burns has carried out the improvements. After taking over Nook Park in 2021, Burns’ company removed hedges, paths and gardens from the site as he sought to expand it.

Judge Shepherd and surveyor Mary Hardman said in their tribunal decision that they had found ‘significant encroachment’ on Liz Phillips’ pitch by the new road. They said: “The old roadway was a point of delineation on the plan. Accordingly, the land up to the old roadway was part of the pitch. This land was removed from the pitch with the construction of the road.” They said that they did not consider it reasonable to order Burns to remove the road or to move it as this would be ‘expensive and cause further disruption to residents’ and instead decided to award compensation to Mrs Phillips.

NEW HONORARY MEMBERS

The Park Home Owners’ Justice Campaign has revealed the names of two new honorary members.

The Park Home Owners’ Justice Campaign (PHOJC) has announced that Sebastian O’Kelly, CEO of LKP Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, and Katie Kendrick, founder of NLC National Leasehold Campaign, have become honorary members of the PHOJC.

The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership is a professional organisation that has the ear of Labour and Conservative MPs and the leader of the Liberal Democrats. LKP is also the secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform.

Katie Kendrick said: “There are many similarities between ourselves and the PHOJC. We will continue to work together for the benefit of

those we are trying to help, and I am so pleased that we can unite like this for justice.”

These sentiments were echoed by Sebastian O’Kelly.

You can read more about the PHOJC on page 24.

A record number of park home dwellers applied for this winter’s Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme. We learn more…

Over the winter, there have been a record number of applications to the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme - an initiative set up by Charis to help park home residents with their energy bills.

Thousands of people applied for the £150 payment from the Ofgem-regulated scheme which, this year, is being funded by E.ON Next, Utilita, OVO and Rebel Energy.

“Historically, many park home residents have missed out on much needed financial help as a consequence of not knowing about the support available to them, but this is slowly changing,” said Charis Director of Client Services, Jonathan Hunt. “And increased contributions from our energy partners this year have enabled us to distribute support to more people than ever before.”

Due to the limited nature of the funding, applications are assessed on a first come, first served basis. The level of demand means that at time of publication the available funds were near to being fully allocated.

Jonathan added: “The number of applications this winter re-emphasises how invaluable the scheme is. We’ve had recipients telling us how the payments will mean they are not having to switch off their heating to save money and that they are more likely to stay fed and healthy and feel less stress and anxiety.”

To see more about the Park Homes Warm Homes Discount scheme visit charisgrants.com/ partners/park-homes.

Katie Kendrick

Sebastian O’Kelly

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE

Nick Timothy

Park home matters made it into the House of Commons last year.

A question about park site licences was raised in Parliament in July 2024. Nick Timothy, MP for West Suffolk (Con), said: “Around three years ago, two of my constituents, Paul and Joanne Snodden, bought a new home in a residential park. The park turned out to have no licence and now, unable to sell apart from to the park owner, they stand to lose £100,000.

“Park owners often impose punitive increases in pitch fees, and there are complaints of basic maintenance failures. Could we have a debate on how to toughen laws and enforcement on residential parks?”

Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central (Lab), replied: “I am sure that many colleagues across the House will share similar stories. That sounds like a good topic for a Westminster Hall or Adjournment Debate. I am sure that he would have lots of support if he wanted to put in for that.”

A video of the event can be viewed at: https://shorturl.at/mBuTl

SAFE AS PARK HOMES!

A park operator has revealed the safest places to live for retirees and downsizers who want to enjoy their best years with as little worry as possible…

Regency Living has analysed England and Wales regional crime rate data on a postcode district level to identify which areas have the lowest overall level of crime, as measured by the number of reported crimes per 1,000 local residents.

For example, if an area saw 20 crimes reported per 1,000 residents, the crime rate is stated as 20. The data reveals that Cornwall and Exeter dominate the top 20 safest postcodes,

representing six spots each, while the South West region is home to 15 of 20 safest areas.

The lowest crime rate in the country is recorded in Exeter’s EX24 postcode district where 2023 saw just 12 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Two more South West postcode districts come next, with PL8 in South Hams having a low crime rate of just 14 and EX37 in Exeter scoring 16.

Wales is represented in the top five safest areas, as LL27 in Conwy has a crime rate of 18, followed by another Exeter postcode, EX21, where the crime rate stands at 20.

Find out more about Regency Living at regency-living.com.

AT TENDANCE ALLOWANCE ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

Thousands of UK pensioners with a long-term health condition or disability may be eligible for a sizeable Government benefit. We find out more...

One of the Government’s most controversial decisions to date was making the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) means-tested. During winter 2023, nearly 12 million people in the UK received the benefit, according to the Department of Work & Pensions, but the following winter the lion’s share of pensioners were stripped of a payment worth £200 or £300.

While the policy won’t have any major fi nancial consequences for those on bumper pensions, it’s members of the public who found themselves just over the cut-off point who’ll suffer most during these straitened times.

OTHER HELP AVAILABLE

Back in December, Radio 4’s popular programme, Money Box, spotlighted changes to the WFP and explored what other help may be available to those pensioners.

One benefit pensioners on a tight budget might, unknowingly, be missing out on is Attendance Allowance (AA). Carers UK describe AA as “...extra money if you have a long-term physical or mental condition or disability. It doesn’t matter what your condition is – what matters is how it affects you.”

Money Box’s reporter, Dan Whitworth, says that it’s estimated that a lot of people eligible to claim AA don’t. “Figures are hard to come by, but the Department of Work & Pensions told us that this year it’s forecast to spend £7.7 billion helping 1.5 million.”

That’s all well and good, but what about all those who could claim the benefit but don’t? Policy in Practice, a social policy software and analytics company working with councils, government, housing providers and community organisations, helps people access benefits. A report from the company suggested that just over a million people weren’t claiming who could. It’s difficult, of course, to state accurately how many people fall into this category but it’s certainly a large number.

There could be benefits available to you that you haven’t accessed yet

“You could qualify if you’re over state pension age and have a disability or health condition which means you need help – even if it’s just a little bit of help – in your home. Things like giving yourself a wash, using the toilet, getting in and out of bed and so on,” explains Dan Whitworth, who points out that it’s not means-tested.

TWO LEVELS OF SUPPORT

There are two levels of monetary support: £72.65 per week if you need assistance in either the day or night or £108.55 per week if you need help at both times. To apply, you must complete a form which can be downloaded online or a paper version can be requested.

Don’t be put off by the fact the form extends to around 30 pages; take your time and fi ll it in over several days. That way, the task won’t feel so arduous. If you want, you can request a form and ask questions by calling the helpline on 0800 731 0122; lines are open Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm.

Joining the Money Box team in the studio was Ian Greaves, author of the Disability Rights Handbook. He felt that many people believe that claiming AA will adversely affect other benefits they receive, like Pension Credit. Ian was keen to address these concerns: “The exact opposite is true. If you’re receiving

Attendance Allowance, you’re more likely to get help. It can open up doors to other types of assistance: Pension Credit, extra on housing benefit and help with Council Tax.”

Asked who should consider applying, Ian explained that: “If you have difficulty doing something, have to do something slowly, are in pain doing something or there is a risk involved in doing something, you do need help. That’s what counts for Attendance Allowance, it’s a need for help, not whether you’re getting that help.”

As the years pass by, one’s needs change gradually in most cases which results in people not regarding themselves as someone who has a disability or additional health needs. This is yet another reason why many pensioners aren’t applying for AA.

KEEP A DIARY

Some people may also fi nd it challenging pinpointing just what health needs they have. To help, Ian Greaves suggests people keep a diary for 24 hours. “You can then list all the times when you need help; or the times when you’re struggling to do things or they’re taking a long time. Then, attach a copy of that diary to the claim form.”

For anyone who needs assistance fi lling out or even understanding questions on the form, there are several options. Either call the helpline, contact a local advice centre – such as Citizen’s Advice – or refer to the informative guides and factsheets produced by, among others, Age UK and Carers UK.

Having a warm home isn’t a straightforward choice for everyone

“You could qualify if you’re over state pension age and have a disability or health condition which means you need help – even if it’s just a little bit of help – in your home”

“Decoration

with Protection”

companiesuseResitex,there’sprobably nobetter way to protectyourhome. Butdid youknowyou ca nbuyit yourself,directfromthemanufacturers? Theycaneven supplyaninexpensiveeasy to useapplication kitifyouneed to paintyourparkhome yourselfand willdeliver to yourdoor generally thenextday.Collectionsfromthe factory canalsobearranged by priorappointment.

It’s no surprise that many leading park home manufacturers and refurbishment companies use Resitex, there’s probably no better way to protect your home. But did you know that you

buy it yourself, direct from the manufacturers? They can even supply an inexpensive easy to use application kit if you need to paint your park home yourself and will deliver to your door generally the next day. Collections from the factory can also be arranged by prior appointment.

Recommended foruseonall texturedhomes e.g: Manor Park Homes,Omar,Tingdene,Prestige,Stately-Albion, Homeseeker,Wessex, Pathfinder,CountryHomesandothers.

Resitexisspeciallyformulatedtocreate a flexible,tough,decorative,breathablebarrier between yourhome’sstructureandtheelements.

Recommended for use on all textured homes e.g: Omar, Prestige, Stately, Pathfinder, Homeseeker, Oakwood, Manor,Tingdene, Oakgrove, Pemberton, Country homes and others. have also developed ROOFPROOF a unique roof coating formulated to protect, enhance and prolong the lifespan of Metrotile, Decra and other roof tile tems.

alsodeveloped nique roof coatingformulatedtoprotect,

PROPERTY SECTION

WE ARE PARK HOME SPECIALIST ESTATE AGENTS

With over 40 years’ experience Seekers know how to sell Park Homes, where normal non specialist agents struggle.

Affordability is key to using Seekers, with a choice of commission or zero commission fees upfront.

Seekers are Experts in selling Park Homes with a dedicated website and Park Home News Magazine, as well as advice on surveys, conveyancing etc.

Seekers’ Service is focused on providing help to sellers and buyers with their helpful staff, and the owner Keith Morgan who is able to visit all sellers from day one. Keith prides himself on seeing all customers face to face, so that they quickly understand the years of experience he brings, including clear advice on valuations and guidance on how to speedily sell their park home in a difficult market.

Thank you Seekers for selling my park home and helping with schedules.

Dion Evans, Grovelands Park, Berkshire

183 Victoria Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1JU

Telephone: 01252 313554

Email: office@seekersestateagents.com Website: www.seekersparkhomes.co.uk

Very professional and value for money. A buyer was found very promptly, and a complicated sale was handled magnificently. Wouldn’t use anyone else. Friendly, approachable and professional service. Just brilliant. Kate

Keith and Susan were the two people I dealt with most. They were very helpful, explained how things are done, as it’s not like selling normal housing so would have been very confusing. Keith even helped us fill in the paperwork over the phone. I would definitely recommend Seekers when buying or selling a park home, they really know their stuff. Thank you to all at Seekers for your attention to detail and kindness. Sandra

Re-Coating Your Roof

Transform the roof of your park home or holiday home this year with Carl Bowles Park & Holiday Homes Services.

With park home roof coating becoming increasingly popular, more and more people are being caught out by poor practices and false information and paying considerable amounts, but less than it should cost. Only to find a year or two down the road, it all starts to peel off and needs doing again, at twice the cost, because the coating makes it much more difficult to clean. So how can you avoid this situation?

First of all, you need to understand the roof. Park home roof tiles have been made by various companies over the years, Decra, Metro, Tuff Tile, Gerrard and Britmet to name a few, but they all share the same make up. Firstly, they are made of mild pressed steel with a thickness of 0.9mm, then primed and finished with paint and granules.

Park home roofs have a pitch of around 15 degrees on average and, being this shallow, rain water flows down the tiles very slowly, which allows moss and lichen to grow unhindered, keeping the tiles almost permanently damp. So, your roof tiles are a thin steel sheet, with two coats of paint, covered in damp moss; how long would a car body last in this environment?

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

There is a popular belief that a jet-washer damages the coating, which is already damaged from the moss eating into the top coat and granules. If you are cleaning the tiles for re-coating, a jet-washer is the only way to remove all the moss and damaged top coat. This cannot be achieved by any other way!

This is the most important part of a re-coat, and if not thoroughly cleaned you will be wasting your money as the new coating won’t last long. It is a bigger task than people think and the cleaning up of the home walls, windows and patios/paths also has to be taken into account.

Another misconception is the use of patio cleaners to remove the moss; many of these are sodium hypochlorite based, or better known as chlorine. Imagine washing your car with this; it would burn the paint off in time and that’s what it will do to your roof as the products are meant for concrete.

Another thing to consider when having your roof re-coated is who will be walking around up there? Remember, the tile thickness is just 0.9mm. This is the

thickness of the steel before the coating; very thin and these tiles dent very easily if unexperienced feet are walking on them. If a park home roof is badly dented, it will fail any survey if up for sale.

So, to sum things up. If your roof is covered in moss and lichen, the coating will be damaged to some degree, depending on how long it has been this way. If the primer coat is exposed to UV light, this will break down in time and the

metal tile will start to rust and it is at this point re-coating will not work.

If you are considering having your roof re-coated, Carl Bowles is one of the most experienced people in the park home industry, having been in business since 1987. You can contact Carl on 07785 272933 or 01269 824313 (he has an answerphone) or carlbowlesphhs@gmail.com.

Here is a dirty roof before Carl gets to work

Half and half – showing how e ective cleaning is!

This roof has been re-coated

Attractive 2 bed holiday home, 32 x 12, 2019, Willerby Linwood, long licence until 2040, set in 35 acres of woodland & countryside, 12 month open leisure park, no chain

Large 2 bed leisure lodge, 40 x 13, 2022, Delta Superior, available furnished, 12 month leisure park, family park, secure gated entry

2 bed lodge home, 42 x 13, 2023 Victory Lakewood Lodge, en-suite, long licence. 12 month leisure park, parking by home, family park, attractive countryside location

2 bed luxury lodge home, 45 x 20, Lissett Utopia, 2018, available part furnished, own drive, attractive garden, 12 month leisure park, no chain, tennis courts, swimming pool & gym on site

2 bed holiday home, 40 x 13, 2014 ABI Ambleside, 11 month open leisure park, comes furnished, own drive, family park, beach side location, no chain

2 bed lodge home, 42 x 20, Omar Kingfisher, 12 month open leisure park, own drive, family park, available furnished, Surrey Hills location, no chain

2 bed park home, 40 x 2, 2010 Omar, 2 bathrooms with 1 en-suite, study, 12 month leisure park for over 50’s, large drive, own garden, use of clubhouse & pool

As new 2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 2023, Omar Ikon model, en-suite, 12 month leisure park, own drive, family park, pets/dogs welcome

Luxury 2 bed lodge home, 40 x 20, 2015 Victory Park View, long 99 year lease, 12 month open leisure park, family park, available part furnished, seaside beach location, no chain

Luxury 2 bed lodge home, 40 x 20, 2016 Omar Apex, air conditioning, available part furnished, 12 month open leisure park, ample parking on drive, family park, viewing recommended

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, Stately Albion Cardigan Cottage, 2 bathrooms with 1 en-suite, 12 month leisure park for over 50’s, large drive, own garden, use of clubhouse & pool

Juliots Well MLP, Camelford, Cornwall

Pilgrim Fathers Park, Doncaster, Notts.

Cotswold Grange Country Park, Glos.

Edgeley Park, Guildford, Surrey

Romney Sands Holiday Park, Kent

Edgeley Park, Guildford, Surrey

Pilgrims Retreat, Maidstone, Kent

Oakleigh Park, Clacton on Sea, Essex

Edgeley Park, Guildford, Surrey

Pilgrims Retreat, Maidstone, Kent

Widemouth Fields, Bude, Cornwall

Unsited 3 bedroom park home, 50 x 20, 2008 Stately Albion, oil fired central heating, fitted kitchen, two bathrooms; en-suite, recently redecorated, buyer to pay for transportation

mains gas central heating (new boiler 2023), semi retirement park, own garden plot, no chain, parking nearby, sought after Shalford Village location

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, Tingdene, mains gas central heating, 2 drives for ample parking, semi retirement park, no

Sherwood Park, Walesby, Nottinghamshire

Dagley Farm Park, Guildford, Surrey Brookside

1 bed park home, 28 x 12, 1995, Omar, parking near home, own garden plot, semi retirement park, no chain

Modern 2 bed park home, 44 x 20. 2004 Stately Albion, mains gas central heating, 2 bathrooms; 1 en-suite, own drive, semi retirement park, no chain

chain

1 bed park home, 29 x 10 model, no chain, parking near home, large garden plot, semi retirement park

2 bed park home, 44 x 12, Omar Waveney, gas (LPG) central heating, modernised extensively in recent years, avai lable part furnished if required, no chain, semi retirement park

Orchard

Surrey Hills Park, Normandy, Surrey

Homestead Park, Wells, Somerset

Birtley

Loddon Court

Birtley

2

2

Torksey, Lincolnshire The Compasses, Cranleigh, Surrey

Chilton

Cleevewood Park, Bristol, Somerset

The Ranch Park, Ipswich, Suffolk

Bury

Braemar Park, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Surrey

retirement park, dogs welcome but no cats permitted, attractive countryside location

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, gated community, CCTV, fully fitted kitchen, own drive, two bathrooms, open plan layout, no chain

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 1995 Tingdene, mains gas central heating, no chain, externally reclad & insulated, en-suite, long drive, semi retirement park

bed park home, 40 x 12, 2005 Omar, oil fired central heating, modern fitted kitchen/dining room, semi retirement park, parking opposite home, no chain

bed park home, 29 x 20, Omar, externally reclad and insulated, parking near home, own garden plot, semi retirement park, viewing recommended

1 bed park home, 36 x 10, Omar, modernised inside & out, modern kitchen & bathroom, family park, allocated parking, no chain, 1 domestic cat or assistance dog only

2 bed park home, 44 x 20, 1992 Willerby, mains gas central heating, 2 bathrooms; 1 en-suite, under chassis insulated, semi retirement park, ample parking

Extensively modernised 2 bed park home, 40 x 10, Tingdene, mains gas central heating, new kitchen & bathroom, re-decorated throughout, under chassis insulation, no chain

Attractive 2 bed park home, 30 x 20, Sandringham model, extensively refurbished in 2019, modernised kitchen & bathroom, long drive, good size garden, semi retirement

2 bed park home, 34 x 12, 2008 Homeseeker, own drive, own garden plot, semi retirement park, sought after Ascot location, no chain

The Willows Park, Normandy, Surrey St John’s Park, Enfield, Middlesex

Merrywood Park, Boxhill, Surrey Woodland

Caerwnon Park, Builth Wells, Powys

Weybridge Park, Addlestone, Surrey

Warren Farm Park, Woking, Surrey

Ascot Park, Ascot, Berkshire

Beckenham Park, Gillingham,

1-2

park home, 40 x 10, Homeseeker Chilton, LPG central heating (new boiler 2023), own garden plot, modernised kitchen and bathroom, over 45’s park

park

2 bed park home, 36 x 10 model, externally reclad & insulated, own drive, over 55’s park, attractive outlook over fields to rear, no chain

1 bed park home, 40 x 10 Omar, beautifully modernised, mains gas central heating, new kitchen and bathroom, newly decorated throughout, semi retirement park, available furnished

2-3 bed park home, 32 x 20, Omar Breckland, LPG central heating, own garden plot, potential for own drive, semi retirement park, modern kitchen and bathroom

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 2003 Homeseeker, double glazed conservatory, 2 bathrooms; 1 en-suite, own garage & drive, no chain, available furnished if required, family park

Brand New 2 bed park home, 40 x 12 ‘Elegant Amber’, fully fitted kitchen, french doors, garden area with decking, semi retirement

2 bed park home, 28 x 20,

and

Chilton Farm Park, Farnborough, Hampshire

Bury St Edmunds Park, Suffolk

Eastern Green Park, Penzance, Cornwall

Woolacombe Park, Devon

Green Park, Hardwicke, Gloucestershire Brookfield

2 bed park home, 42 x 10, 2007 Omar, mains gas central heating, double glazing, own drive,

2 bed park home, 40 x 12, Omar Waveney, mains gas central heating, own garage and drive, garden plot with woodland to rear, semi retirement park, sought after Boxhill location 2 bed park home, 36 x 14, Modular, double glazing, fully fitted kitchen, gated development, 24 hour CCTV, private, no chain, semi retirement park Modern 2 bed park home, 40 x 12, 2016, Homeseeker Landale, mains gas central heating, no chain, own drive, semi retirement park, convenient location for shops & beach

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, circa 2004, Tingdene Dolben Lodge, mains gas central heating, en-suite, own garage and drive, semi retirement park, good access to local shops

1.5 bed park home, 33 x 18 Lyndhurst Lyndly Court, externally reclad & insulated, own drive, semi retirement park, own garden plot

park, 5 min drive to beach

Tingdene Villa, recently modernised

refurbished, mains gas central heating, under chassis insulated, available furnished if required

2 bed park home, 22 x 20, Omar, own drive, own garden plot with fields to rear, double glazing, semi retirement part

Large 1 bed park home, 38 x 12, Tingdene, new boiler 2023, newly re-fitted kitchen & bathroom, externally reclad & insulated, semi retirement park, no chain

Chilton Farm Park, Farnborough, Hampshire

Kingsmead Park, Godalming, Surrey

Caerwnon Park, Builth Wells, Powys

Linton Park, Bromyard, Herefordshire

Surrey Hills Park, Guildford,

own garden

2+ bed park home, 36 x 20, Donnington, mains gas central heating, externally reclad & insulated, modern Decra roof, study, own drive, semi retirement park, no chain

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 1997 Tingdene Milton, mains gas central heating, own drive, own garden plot, semi retirement park, viewing recommended

Nicely presented 2 bed park home, 36 x 20, 1990 Stately Albion, parking near home, own garden plot, semi retirement park, priced to sell, no chain

2+ bed park home, 41 x 20, 2021 Prestige Majestic, mains gas central heating, fitted kitchen, study, en-suite, own drive, semi retirement park, priced to sell

2 double bedrooms, ‘JDS Chalet’, 30 x 20, open plan, large walk in shower, French doors, onsite clubhouse & restaurant, semi retirement park

Attractive 2 bed park home, 38 x 14, Stately Albion, parking in gated car park, own garden plot, semi retirement park, attractive village location

Gladelands Park, Ferndown, Dorset

£150,000

2 bed park home, 36 x 20, Omar Southdown, mains gas central heating, semi retirement park, sought after Ringwood location, large garden plot

REF 7121

Orchards Park, Slough, Berkshire

£145,000 REF 7143

Large extended 2 bed park home, 48 x 13, 1978 Tingdene model, mains gas central heating, parking by home, semi retirement park, own garden plot, no chain

parking in car park, semi retirement park

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 2012 Prestige, fitted kitchen includes appliances, en-suite, own drive, own garden plot, semi retirement park, sought after countryside location

2 bed park home, 42 x 12, 2007, Stately Albion Tredegar, available part furnished if required, own driveway, semi retirement park, no chain, woodland outlook

2 bed park home, 40 x 20 Tingdene, mains gas central heating, 2 bathrooms; 1 en-suite, own drive, semi retirement park, no chain

Large 2 bed park home, 45 x 20, Stately Albion, mains gas central heating, fitted kitchen & utility, double glazed conservatory, semi retirement park, fantastic view of river severn

Tingdene Mackworth Lodge, mains gas central heating, modern fitted kitchen, semi retirement park, attractive village location

Penton Park, Chertsey, Surrey

Forest Edge Court, Thetford, Norfolk

Meadowlands Court, Bude, Cornwall

Severn Bridge Park, Chepstow, Mon.

2 bed park home, 32 x 20, Omar, new double glazing, new kitchen & bathroom, externally reclad & insulated, extensively modernised inside & out, family park, own drive

Luxury 2 bed park home, 42 x 20, 2019 Omar Regency, en-suite, available part furnished if required, own drive, semi retirement park, attractive coastal location

2 bed park home, 36 x 20, 2017 Tingdene Hayden Classic, fitted kitchen, separate dining area, own drive, semi retirement park, sought after location

Luxury 2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 2015 Yarrington, fitted kitchen includes integral appliances, 2 bathrooms; 1 en-suite, large drive, semi retirement park, gated entry

Large 2+ bed park home, 48 x 20, 2007 Tingdene, mains gas central heating, study, twin drive for ample parking, semi retirement park, no chain, sought after Taunton location

bed/study, parking in car park near home, semi retirement park, own garden

Fleur de Lys Park, Lymington, Hampshire

Flaunden Park, Hemel

Grange Farm

Shepperton,

The Elms, Loughton, Essex

Roof of the World, Tadworth, Surrey

Lakeview

Penton Park, Chertsey, Surrey

Beauford Park, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset

plot

Brand new 2 bed park home, 36 x 18, Omar Image, fitted kitchen inc integrated appliances, main bathroom & en-suite, coastal location, 5 min drive to beach

2 bed park home, 32 x 20, Omar Suburban, mains gas central heating, own drive, own garden plot, semi retirement park, no chain

Brand new 2 bed park home, 40 x 20, Pemberton Kingsdale, double glazing, large double bedrooms, walk through wardrobe, ensuite to master, modern design throughout

Attractive 2 bed park home, 38 x 18, 2005, Stately Albion Chatsworth model, semi retirement park, own garden plot, superb outlook over Bristol channel

2

Loddon Court Farm Park, Reading, Berkshire

Rainham Park, Herefordshire

Kingsdown Meadow Park, Sevenoaks, Kent Wyelands Park, Lydbrook,

Chartridge Park, Chesham, Buckinghamshire

Woolacombe Park, Devon

Penton Park, Chertsey, Surrey

Subrosa Park, Redhill, Surrey

Stately Albion, oil fired central heating, en-suite to both bedrooms, refurbished & extended, independent annexe, semi retirement park

2 bedroom park home, 30 x 19, Lissett, oil fired central heating, (new boiler 2022), own drive, family park, no chain, sought after Bracknell location

bed park home, 44 x 14, 2001 Tingdene Milton Cottage, modern kitchen & bathroom, externally reclad & insulated in 2022, garden area with view over countryside, family park

Brand new 2 bed park home, 40 x 20, Willerby Delamere, fully fitted kitchen inc integrated appliances, main bathroom & en-suite, walk in wardrobe, own drive

Large modern 2 bed park home, 44 x 22, 2005 Country Homes model, mains gas central heating, fitted kitchen, study, en-suite, own drive, semi retirement park, no chain

2 bed park home, 32 x 20, 2019, Homeseeker Buckland, own drive, own garden plot, semi retirement park, sought after Merstham village location

2

Layters Green Park, Chalfont St Peters, Bucks

Robinson Crusoe Park, Finchampstead, Berks

Rainham Park, Herefordshire

Meadow Close Park, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Dolbeare Court Park, Saltash, Cornwall

Bracknell,

Fangrove Park, Chertsey, Surrey

Heyford Leys Park, Bicester, Oxfordshire

Penton Park, Chertsey, Surrey

Hermitage, Bracknell, Berkshire

22, 2022, Omar Sandringham, fitted kitchen, study, en-suite, long drive for ample parking, semi retirement park, sought after coastal location

Luxury NEW 2 bed park home, 33 x 20, 2024, Tingdene Barnwell, fitted kitchen inc integrated appliances, main bathroom & en-suite, own drive

Large 2 bed park home, 42 x 20, 2007, Lissett Linden Cottage, externally reclad & insulated, 2 parking spaces, family park, no dogs (apart from assistance dog)

Luxury 2+ bed park home, 54 x 22, 2017, Stately Albion Woburn, fitted kitchen & utility, study, en-suite, own drive, semi retirement park, own garden plot

Brand new 2 bed, 44 x 18, Harbour, fitted kitchen inc integrated appliances, own drive, en-suite, available furnished, sought after Chertsey Marina location

Luxury 2 bed park home, 40 x 20, Omar Newmarket, fitted kitchen inc integrated appliances, main bathroom & en-suite, own drive, available furnished

Low Carrs Park, Durham, County Durham

£69,950

2 bed park home, 40 x 12, 1994 Omar, semi retirement park, own drive, own garden plot, no chain, pets welcome but no dogs

Large modern 2+ bed park home, 44 x 20, 2014 Homeseeker, modern fitted kitchen & utility, study own drive, semi retirement park, sought after location, no chain

2 bed park

Large 1 bed park home, 42 x 10 model, extensively modernised, modern fitted kitchen, mains gas central heating, own drive, family park, sought after location

Attractive 2+ bed park home, 36 x 20, 2003 Stately Albion, modern kitchen & bathroom, study, own drive for 2 cars, semi retirement park, attractive riverside location

2-3 bed lodge home, 45 x 22, 2010, Omar Bespoke, fitted kitchen, 12 month open leisure for over 45’s, long licence, available part furnished, large drive, no chain

village location, no chain

semi retirement park, LPG central heating, own garden plot, parking in car park, no chain

2 bed park home, 40 x 20, 2018, Wessex Dorset, mains gas central heating, en-suite, semi retirement park, gated entry, own drive, own garden plot

Fairfield Park, Mortimer, Berkshire

Cranbourne Hall, Windsor, Berkshire

Riverside Park, Maidstone, Kent

Seekers Google Reviews

Seekers have been extremely professional throughout the sale of my mobile home. I was the executor for the home. Seekers, especially Keith and Susan, guided me throughout the process and made the sale complete in a timely and extremely efficient manner. Thank you

Tarnya Harradin

So pleased with the service from Seekers. Easy to contact, appointment arranged at a convenient date and time, and lovely write up and photos of the property. Plenty of advice offered regarding pricing and state of the market. Potential buyers found and, although not a smooth solution, Seekers, especially Susan and Keith, went beyond their remit several times to get the deal past the post. I would heartily recommend and would certainly use again if required.

Bernie Marsh

We have just sold our park home with Seekers, and they have been a pleasure to deal with. Keith came out to see us very quickly after we made the initial enquiry about putting our home on the market, and we were very impressed with his knowledge of the park home market - not just at a national level, but also in our local area. Keith talked us through how the process would work and made everything very clear and easy to understand. Any queries we had were always answered fully and promptly, and his professional, warm and friendly staff in the office kept in touch with regular updates and feedback. The service we received from Seekers was excellent, and we would recommend them to anyone! This is the second time we have sold through Seekers (the previous time was 2016) and on both occasions, we have secured a sale very quickly (in just under four weeks) and the whole experience has been very positive indeed. Thank you Seekers!

Charlene Catchpole

Call to book an in depth, full survey of your home.

What we’ll do:-

Inspect , where accessible , underneath , the oversite , chassis, supports, pipework, utilities

Inspect , where accessible, the floors, walls, roofing structure , windows, insulation , external coverings / coatings.

Provide detailed photos of all areas , with infra-red pictures to display insulation levels, surface temperatures etc.

Provide a list of any defects noted, with a schedule of necessary repairs if necessary.

BEWARE!

REPAIR WITH CARE

When you need maintenance work carried out, knowing you have a reliable, experienced person like James Bowles is essential.

Fascia repairs not only look good but protect your home too

Some buildings can be ignored for decades or longer and still be restored, like stone cottages which could be hundreds of years old. However, the one type of building where maintenance is paramount is the park home.

When park homes leave the factory on transport to the site they are pulled into position, and with hairline cracks possibly appearing in the textured coating allowing weather to penetrate from day one, a few years on and panels or sections may need repairing and/or replacing.

Park homes also move and flex with hot summers and cold winters, which can open up cracks in textured coatings and break seals around windows and doors. All of this, over time, can cause unseen issues under the ply walls as well as more obvious issues externally.

Repairing external wall sections requires a great deal of care

Unlike a house wall with a cavity, the park home wall shares the same framework, externally and internally, with the external ply usually being fixed to the framework with staples. Great care must be taken when removing any external wall sections so that damage is not caused to the framework. Experience with this type of work is essential if a quality and reliable repair is to be achieved.

So if your home is in need of some TLC on its textured wall panels, drip rails, barge boards or even from the roof to the floor, you will need a reliable, experienced person like James Bowles, who has supplied these photos of his own work and is one of the most experienced people for this type of work.

If you think James can help, give him a call on 07948 463495 or 02392 831341 or email him at bowlesparkhomerepairs@gmail.com.

PARK HOME REPAIRS

• ENQUIRE NOW ABOUT OUR MOST POPULAR SERVICE FROM 2020!! ROOF REFRESH (see top left pic)

• Panel and floor repairs

• Roof repairs

• Re-painting (we only use Resitex paint)

• Window and door fitting and relocation

• UPVC fascia and guttering

• Insulated Cladding systems

• Porches and extensions

• No deposits, all works carried out personally

• All rubbish cleared from site

• Fully insured

• Nationwide service

bowlesparkhomerepairs@gmail.com 94 Railway View, Portsmouth, PO1 1LE (Park Home Repairs/Maintenance)

For a free quotation or advice please call or email on 07948463495 or 02392831341

 James Bowles can carry out repairs on your roof too

The INDEPENDENDENT PARK HOME ADVISORY SERVICE (2021) LTD.

We offer information about residents’ rights under the Mobile Home Legislation directly to park home residents who are members of IPHAS. We are able to offer this advice in respect of parks in England and Wales only.

The IPHAS team members are not lawyers but volunteers who have made a study of the relevant legislation. The advice is offered in good faith but IPHAS cannot be held responsible for the consequences of any action taken by a resident whether or not it was based on the information given.

IPHAS advisors can assist members who enquire about most aspects of park home living – legal, regulatory and lifestyle. In addition to its renowned advisory work IPHAS is also a member of a Parliamentary working party whose aim is to look after the welfare of park home residents.

MEMBERSHIP is directed to residential park homeowners on permanently protected parks. IPHAS exists to advise its members in respect of park home legislation and their written agreement with the park owner. The IPHAS advice line is open for this purpose and can be contacted by telephone or email. Residential park homes and holiday homes may be on the same park but with the different uses (e.g. seasonal use for holiday caravans) mean that they are subject to different legal considerations. Residential park homes are covered by The Mobile Homes Act 2013, which provides protection for park home residents, as well as a legal framework, including security of tenure. Holiday homes, however, are not protected by this legislation.

In order for IPHAS to continue its valuable work, volunteers are needed to join its team. Applicants need to have good email and telephone communication skills. Training would of course be provided to help in the acquisition of knowledge of park home legislation. Due to steadily increasing membership numbers, general administrative help is also needed. The roles are voluntary, but expenses are covered. If you are interested in either of the above roles, please contact IPHAS using the contact details below.

Membership fees cover everyone living in the park home. These fees can be reduced if there are more than five homes on a park in IPHAS membership with an appointed IPHAS representative liaising between them and the IPHAS head office.

Currently the annual membership fee is £6 per home – so JOIN NOW! Due to increased postage and other costs, that fee will rise to £8 per home with effect from June 2025. IPHAS, 19 College

LOOK NO FURTHER TO INSURE YOUR RESIDENTIAL PARK HOME & CONTENTS

A CHOICE OF POLICIES - SELECT and ECONOMY – IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM, THROUGH OUR FRIENDLY, EXPERIENCED, HELPFUL STAFF, TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET.

DISCOUNTED RATES APPLY TO MEMBERS OF RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS - LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY

‘SELECT’ POLICY FEATURES INCLUDE

NO STANDARD POLICY EXCESSES

£5,000,000 PUBLIC LIABILITY

PARK HOME LEGAL ADVICE AND EXPENSES

ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE AND VERMIN DAMAGE INCLUDED AS STANDARD 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - up to £1,000 per call out.

NEW FOR OLD COVER up to £600,000 on the home, up to £65,000 on the contents.

10 YEAR GUARANTEE

SNUGGERwall+ System

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An alternative to buying new

We find out more about the range of park home refurbishment services on offer with Crest Homes…

the Crest! With its branded vehicles and ‘can do’ approach, this is a company that’s here to help!

In today’s climate, residential home buyers can widen their search if they look at preowned homes as well as brand new properties, so it’s important to remember that the saving you might potentially make by doing that could cover refurbishment work to make a home feel like new.

TICKING ALL THE BOXES

When looking for a contractor to refurbish your park home, customer satisfaction, park home expertise and a good reputation should definitely be on your list of elements to look out for.

Crest Homes offers a comprehensive range of repairs, refurbishment and improvement services to park home owners, and customers are clearly impressed with their work and the professionalism of their workers.

As a member of Checkatrade. com and Approvedroofers.com, Crest is clearly no fly-by-night

and undeniably excels in terms of customer service.

Of course, that’s really important, especially with park homes, as you need a company with in-depth knowledge and understanding of their specific type of construction.

Crest’s services include park home skirting, installation of uPVC windows and doors, replacement soffit, fascias and guttering and roofing refurbishment, so whether it’s a small repair you need or a complete overhaul, they’ll be well placed to help.

GIVE CREST A CALL!

Whether you already own a park home you think is ready for a repair or more substantial facelift, or whether you’re thinking of buying one and just need a bit of advice about how much it might cost to make it look like new, why not give Crest a call?

The team will always be more than happy to help!

Simply

We offer a comprehensive range of repairs, refurbishment & improvements services for your house, bungalow or park home residence.

As part of your roofing refurbishment, we use high quality materials specially selected for Park Homes and the latest techniques to ensure your roof stays weather proof and maintenance free for many years.

uPVC fascias, soffits and downpipes can be installed where necessary to complete the project and ensure a complete maintenance free, weather proof roof.

Crest Homes use RESITEX roof coating as part of it’s roof refurbishment projects where replacing the roof tiles is not always necessary. Coming in a variety of colours, the roof refurbishment will look like new as well as remain maintenance free for more years to come. Resitex coatings is:

Tel: 03300 229 286

Email: info@crest-homes.co.uk

Web: crest-homes.co.uk

INSURANCE FOR O

Ian Hayter, of Paul Baker Insurance Services, explains why older homes can be more difficult to insure and what you can do to find the right insurance.

When you are looking to insure your soon-to-bepurchased park home, or shopping around when your existing insurance is due for renewal, you quickly realise that the number of Insurers who will offer a quote is limited. In reality, there is probably less than a dozen insurance providers who specialise in the insurance of park homes and, unfortunately, this choice becomes even more limited for “older” park homes. Ian Hayter of specialist provider Paul Baker Insurance Services explains why, and what you can do to ensure that you can still obtai n the insurance cover you want.

WHEN IS MY PARK HOME CONSIDERED “OLDER”?

The term “older” is a subjective one in any context so it probably won’t be a surprise that when, and if, an insurance provider considers a park home to be older will vary from provider to provider. What is certain, however, is that pretty much every specialist

provider will consider the age of the park home when determining whether they will offer cover, what terms

should apply and how much the insurance will cost you.

For Paul Baker Insurance Services, any park home manufactured prior to 1995 is deemed to be an older property. This is because it was around this time that construction methods within the industry changed –lightweight tile-effect roofing had become the norm, thereby removing

insurance

Paul Baker Insurance Services (PBIS) will be happy to tell you if they can cover your “older” home

PBIS will do their best to accommodate park home owners undertaking work at their home

LDER PARK HOMES

some of the issues that naturally arise with flat roofs and felt covering with age, the materials being commonly used in construction were of a higher standard, and the plumbing systems had routinely become more akin to those within brick properties and less like those within holiday caravans.

WHY IS THE AGE OF THE PARK HOME A FACTOR FOR INSURANCE?

As explained above, some of the construction methods and materials used in older park homes may not have been as good as in newer ones. This is only to be expected – as a general rule, over a period of time, improvements are made in materials and manufacturing from experience and lessons learned.

There is also the consideration that, with age, things will naturally deteriorate through usage and general wear and tear. While insurance will not pay for something that has simply reached the end of its serviceable life, there may be consequences arising from It

is a good idea to have

Not all insurers offer cover for “older” park homes

the failure which the insurance will cover.

One example might be where a pipe joint in the plumbing system has weakened over time and eventually fails – while the insurance is unlikely to cover the replacement of the pipe joint, it may well pay for the subsequent damage to floorboards, floor coverings and fitted units caused by the escape of water. As losses arising from an escape of water are some of the most frequent, and expensive, claims that Insurers deal with, this example alone goes some way to explaining why the age of the park home may become a consideration.

IF MY PARK HOME IS DEEMED “OLDER”, HOW MIGHT THIS IMPACT ME FOR INSURANCE?

This will vary depending on the insurance provider, and could change from time to time as they review their approach or if they change the Insurer who underwrites their policy, but it is known that some of the specialist companies will not offer any cover at all!

Others choose to offer less cover than would be the case for newer park homes, potentially no longer giving cover on a “New for Old” basis, applying higher Excesses in the event of a claim, simply charge you more for the insurance, or a combination of all of these!

At Paul Baker Insurance Services we believe that, while the analysis of claims frequency and cost does indicate older park homes are a higher risk, and therefore the cost of insuring them should be a little greater (c.10-15%), there is no reason for the cover to be any different to that for a newer home, provided it can be seen that the home continues to be well-maintained. We therefore ask a few additional questions and commonly request some photographs of the exterior and interior of the park home.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO MAXIMISE THE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING INSURANCE ON AN OLDER PARK HOME?

If you are considering buying any second-hand park home, it is always sensible to have it surveyed first. ►

second-hand

homes surveyed before buying

This will not only make you aware of any urgent issues that you may want to consider before proceeding with the purchase, but also gives you an idea of what maintenance works are likely to be needed in the coming years so you can budget for these and prioritise them as appropriate. Within the pages of this magazine you will fi nd details of specialist surveyors who fully understand park homes, and who will provide you with a professional and detailed report.

If you already own an older park home, be ready to share information about any work you have had done over the years. Have the electrics been checked, the windows replaced or external cladding added? If your park home is one with an essentially flat roof, when was this last re-covered and seals checked? Has the boiler ever been replaced and is it subject to an annual service contract?

WHAT IF I AM CONSIDERING REFURBISHING AN OLDER PARK HOME?

It is easy to understand why many people are considering purchasing an older park home, perhaps one looking a little tired, and refurbishing it throughout. The ability to put one’s own stamp on the park home, potentially install a new kitchen or re-configure the layout to suit your own needs, can have massive appeal, especially one situated on a wellestablished and mature park.

For an Insurer, there will be less enthusiasm. There may be an increased likelihood of damage being caused to the park home while work is being carried out on it and, for more major refurbishments, the park home may be left unoccupied for a significant length of time. Unoccupied properties can be more susceptible to vandalism or theft (although thankfully such incidents are a rarity at park home sites), and to burst pipes in the winter months. When you factor in the potential liability risk of injury to visitors if the area around the park home is not kept tidy and safe, it is easy to see why Insurers may elect not to provide cover in these circumstances.

For park homes, any difficulty in obtaining cover poses an additional headache – site regulations will almost certainly include a requirement for the park home to be insured. Any breach of the site rules can put you in confl ict with the park owner and at the mercy of the terms of your site agreement.

As specialist providers, Paul Baker Insurance Services recognises such challenges and its experienced team will always try to accommodate park home owners who are undertaking work at their property. Each circumstance will be considered on its own merit and, where cover can be agreed, you should expect restrictions in the cover for the duration of the refurbishment. The level of cover possible will be dependent on the extent of the works to be carried out, who is undertaking these, how long they are scheduled to take and whether the park home will be occupied during this time.

What is considered an “older” park home will vary from provider to provider ▼

Of course, there is no guarantee that cover will be agreed but we shall be more than happy to take the time to listen to your plans and let you know what cover we may be able to offer.

If you own an older home or are considering buying one, call us FREE on 0800 0385 093. We shall do our very best to help.

BOWLES PARK HOME SERVICES

Treat your park home to this insulated cladding system which has been designed specifically for timber-framed buildings.

The insulated cladding system Bowles Park Home Services has been using for over 20 years is manufactured in Canada by Royal Building Products, who have been around for more than 60 years.

This type of cladding, or siding as it is known as, is not made of PVC but vinyl, giving it an extremely long lifespan. It is specifically designed for use on timber-framed buildings, like American houses and park homes, as these types of building need to be able to move with temperature fluctuations and, being timber-framed, must be able to breathe to combat moisture build-up in colder weather.

When applied to the existing walls of a park home, Bowles Park Home Services first over frame the walls in 25 x 50mm treated batten, fixed with galvanised fixings. Insulation is applied, using a double foil backed insulation board, which will reflect heat back into your walls internally, keeping your home much warmer in the cold weather. However, it will also reflect summer heat externally

and help to keep your home cooler in summer, along with reduced heating costs and no more painting every two years!

DESIGNED FOR HOMES LIKE YOURS

This type of system has been designed for the type of building a park home is, as opposed to other types of insulation systems that are designed for bricks and mortar and adapted for park homes.

Royal, which carries a Grade A Fire Certificate and exceeds all European standards, comes in a wide range of colours and, apart from cleaning, will never need painting and won’t fade with UV light. It’s the most popular type of cladding in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Being that popular for over 60 years, they must be doing something right.

If you think that your home could do with a new look, give Bowles Park Home Services a call on 07948 463495 or 02392 831341, or you can send an email to: bowlesparkhomerepairs@ gmail.com

SUPREMACY PARK HOME RENOVATIONS

From minor repairs to complete refurbishments, Supremacy Park Home Renovations have worked on hundreds of park homes throughout the UK.

The Supremacy team are highly skilled in all manner of park home repairs and maintenance

“We’re over the moon with what’s been done”

With over 20 years’ experience Supremacy Park Home Renovations Ltd are a trusted name specialising in park home repairs and maintenance. Whether carrying out a minor repair or a complete refurbishment, Supremacy have the experience and skills to carry out the work to their customers’ expectations. Not only is the work carried out to the highest standards but it’s fully guaranteed too.

The Supremacy team is clearly getting it right, with many happy customers, such as Rodney Kinrodi who said of the work carried out at his home: “Excellent workmanship. Very tidy and polite. First class work carried out.”

SKILLED CRAFTSMEN

This company doesn’t use sub-contractors, preferring their own team of skilled craftsmen. In fact, Supremacy Park Home Renovations’ Director, Richard Barney, and his team are highly skilled in all manner of park home repairs and maintenance. Another happy customer, Susan Thompson, applauded Richard and his team: “Richard has done a great job along with his fantastic workforce. We’re over the moon with what’s been done.”

To ensure their customers are fully involved and understand both the work required and the options available, Supremacy take the time to ascertain the needs of each client and offer a full range of park home refurbishment services including:

● DURASID (MAINTENANCE FREE) EXTERNAL WALL CLADDING

● EXTERIOR WALL REPAIRS

● MASONRY PAINTING AND STIPPLE COATINGS (RESITEX AND BRITMET)

● UPVC ODDLEG WINDOWS AND DOORS

● UPVC INSTALLATIONS - FASCIAS, GUTTERING, DOWNPIPES AND EAVE PROTECTION TRAYS

● BATHROOMS / KITCHENS

● FLOOR REPAIRS

● (METROTILE) ROOFING SYSTEMS

● (RESITEX) ROOF COATINGS

As well as maintenance care packages giving you peace of mind for the future, they also carry out other internal and external renovations; if you would like to find out more about the work Supremacy do and view some of their previous projects visit their website.

The south’s leading park home refurbishment company, they are based in Winchester and Bournemouth, although they also offer a number of services to park home owners wishing to repair or modernise their home within a 100 mile radius of each of those locations. For a free, no-obligation quotation or an informal consultation please get in touch using the contact details below.

For added reassurance, Supremacy Park Home Renovations is a TrustATrader member, with a 4.99 five star rating, so do not forget to mention TrustATrader when getting in touch.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Supremacy Park Home Renovations Ltd Unit 140, 16 City Business Centre, Hyde Street, Winchester SO23 7TA Winchester branch: 01962 809249

Bournemouth branch: 01202 064515

E: info@supremacyparkhomerenovation.co.uk

W: www.supremacyparkhomerenovation.co.uk

Exploring English Winemaking

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when only a plonker would dare to drink a bottle of English plonk. Not anymore, as Richard Webber discovers while exploring a trio of vineyards on our doorsteps…

We have the Romans to thank for introducing us to many things, including central heating, baths, coins and 10,000 miles of roads. But that’s not all. After marching onto our shores in AD43, it wasn’t long before they set about planting the first vineyards, too. Their vines grew as far north as Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire and by the time the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror, over 40 vineyards were recorded in England alone.

LONG HISTORY

So, the winemaking industry has been with us for thousands of years despite enduring many ups and downs, such as during the First World War when the production of vino came to a halt. Understandably, growing crops and producing food became the priority during those dark days.

While consuming wine rather than producing it has remained the primary focus in the UK, a growing number of vineyards – particularly in England – have popped up in recent times and become commercially successful with their output winning plaudits and, in some cases, prestigious awards.

Helped by temperature rises across England, many regions – particularly in the south of the country – are now warm enough to grow high quality grapes. Remarkably, in 2004, experts judging European sparkling wines awarded the lion’s share of top prizes to English wines with the remaining positions allocated to French Champagnes.

But it’s not just homegrown sparkling wine which is receiving all the praise. Now, still red and white wines are collecting top prizes and are increasingly favoured by wine drinkers. In fact, the wine industry has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors when it comes to agriculture. Nearly 800 vineyards exist and around 98 per cent are located in England.

Wine tasting and picnics at Chet Valley

 Oatley Vineyard in Somerset

FANCY TRYING SOME ENGLISH WHITE WINE?

Coleridge Hill 2023

Three Choirs Vineyards

Exploring the vines at Gloucestershire’s Three Choirs

Madeleine Angevine and Phoenix grapes have been used to produce this delicious dry white wine. With its fresh fruit aromas, especially apple, it is zesty on the palate thanks to the ripe fruit flavours and offers a long, crisp finish. It certainly does not disappoint.

certainly does not disappoint.

Jane’s 2023

Oatley Vineyard

This bright, light dry white wine made from Madeleine Angevine grapes is just divine. Its hedgerow notes with a hint of pear, melon plus lively lemon acidity make it a real winner and a fi ne advert for homegrown wine.

Siskin 2022

Chet Valley Vineyard

This creamy dry white wine is bursting with apple, pear, lemon and melon flavours. A sustainably-made artisan wine, it’s made from a blend of the Solaris grape. Top marks for taste.

unmatchable views over the vineyards. But for anyone wanting real privacy, the oak and cedar lodges nestled among the vines are just the ticket. Here, you can enjoy a glass or two while watching the wildlife, including fi nches and buzzards.

The vineyard, under the guidance of winemaker Martin Fowke, produces around 250,000 bottles a year. Thomas Shaw, managing director, says: “Three Choirs Vineyards’ focus is the quality of the wines and the visitor experience.”

A brasserie offering tapas inspired food washed down with wine plus a shop all add to that all-important visitor experience.

MORE THAN JUST CIDER…

Head south to Somerset and you’ll fi nd Oatley Vineyard. Located in Cannington, just outside Bridgwater, this family-run vineyard has been producing fi ne wines since 1989 and is celebrating 30 years of international awards.

EXPANDED OFFERING

But while vineyards’ primary objective is, of course, to grow grapes and produce wine, most have expanded and offer much, much more. Now, people are encouraged to visit vineyards to enjoy wine-tasting, picnics, family celebrations and even stay; oh, and while you’re there, why not head out for a walk in the luscious countryside?

THREE OF THE BEST

Let me whet your appetite with three top drawer English vineyards worth visiting. Deep in the Gloucestershire countryside you’ll fi nd Three Choirs Vineyards, one of England’s oldest. The fi rst vines were planted on the south-facing slopes in 1973 and now the site boasts 75 acres of vines from which, among others, Pinot Noir, Phoenix and Bacchus grapes are grown.

A state-of-the-art winery and visitor attraction opened in 1990 followed, 10 years later, by hotel rooms affording guests

After dropping out of corporate life in London. Iain and Jane Awty launched the vineyard and won an international award in 1990 with their very fi rst wine. Three decades later their son, Ned, and his wife, Paula, have also swapped successful careers to take over the running of Oatley, where the wines were planted by hand on a gentle south-east facing slope between the Quantock Hills and Bristol Channel.

Now, the established vines are tended by hand with no herbicides or artificial fertilisers used and the wines produced are independently quality assured and vegan-friendly.

While there is no holiday accommodation at Oatley, visitors are invited to enjoy wine-tasting between May and October. So, why not take the opportunity to enjoy a picnic among the vines at this secluded, tranquil spot?

RANGE OF GRAPES

Over in the east of England, John Hemmant at Chet Valley Vineyard grows the broadest range of grapes in the region from which he produces an exciting range

of sparking and still wines. The grapes are grown on the family-owned boutique vineyard in south Norfolk and is well worth a visit. As John, the owner, says: “There is nothing like sitting on the balcony viewing the beauty of the countryside sipping a glass of Skylark sparkling wine with cheese and cold meats.”

Chet Valley specialises in sparkling wine using the traditional method of secondary fermentation in the bottle, as used in the Champagne region. But, of course, they produce and sell plenty of still wines, too.

Wine-tasting, tours, picnics and family celebrations are all catered for at Chet Valley Vineyard, and if you want to really immerse yourself in this idyllic setting, why not book a stay at The Vine House?

This three-bedroom holiday cottage situated on the site, eight miles south of Norwich, sleeps up to six and is surrounded by plenty of picturesque countryside to explore.

So, if you enjoy wine, open countryside and peaceful settings, nothing beats either visiting or planning a short break at one of England’s growing number of vineyards.

INFO POINT

Three Choirs Vineyards

Baldwins Farm, Newent

Gloucestershire GL18 1LS

T: 01531 890223

www.three-choirs-vineyard.co.uk

Oatley Vineyard

Cannington, Bridgwater Somerset TA5 2NL T: 01278 671340

www.oatleyvineyard.co.uk

Chet Valley Vineyard

Loddon Road, Bergh Apton

Norfolk NR15 1BT

T: 01508 333002

www.chetvineyard.co.uk

PARK HOMES

From our base in Birmingham, we are set to provide services throughout the West Midlands and through the whole of the UK. The senior team have over 15 years experience in property maintenance, leading a multi-skilled technicians to provide a quick, e cient & professional service.

Planned or preventative, we are dedicated to assist you.

All of our sta are fully trained to provide you with the best inspection tour of the work and , upon request, using our live link video we can show you the repairs in the hardest to show areas . Including roo ng and insulation installation. This means you can see all the work in the safety and comfort of your home without having to climb ladders etc, and you can rest assured that the quality of service and materials used are as high as your own standards.

PVC DRIP RAIL

COOKERY CORNER

3EASY-TO-PREPARE COURSES!

Alex Melvin shows you how to cook three delicious courses to impress your park home friends and neighbours.

STARTER

Roasted Tomato Soup

Preheat oven to 190˚C/375˚F. Halve 500g vine tomatoes and place cut side down in a baking tray. Throw in a small, diced red onion, three peeled garlic cloves and 1tsp dried oregano. Drizzle liberally with olive oil and good quality balsamic vinegar (the thick stuff!) and season well. Bake for between 30 and 45 minutes (depending on your oven). Blitz the veg in a food processor or with a hand blender until pureed. Slowly add 500ml pre-boiled vegetable or chicken stock. Garnish with some parmesan shavings and a few basil sprigs and serve with crusty bread

DESSERT

Apple Crumble

An oldie, but goodie! Place the 150g plain flour, a pinch of salt and 100g brown sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of 100g butter at a time, rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Place 225g apples - peeled, cored and cut into 1cm pieces - into a large bowl and sprinkle over the 25g brown sugar, 1tsp plain flour and a pinch of ground cinnamon. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit.

Butter an appropriately sized ovenproof dish, or two ramekins. Spoon the fruit mixture into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top. Bake in a preheated 180˚C oven for 40 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling. Serve with ice cream.

MAIN COURSE

Mustard Pork Chops

Cut the fat off 2 pork chops (225g each). Bash them with a rolling pin between two pieces of clingfilm to make them thinner. Heat 2tsp garlic flavoured olive oil in a heavy-based pan and cook the chops over a medium-high heat for about five minutes a side. Remove them to a warmed plate.

Pour 125ml cider into the pan, still over the heat, to de-glaze the pan. Let it bubble away for a minute or so, then add 1tbsp whole grain mustard and stir in 75ml double cream. Let the sauce continue cooking for a few minutes before pouring over each plated pork chop. Serve with creamy mash (I like a garlicky mash!).

More From Less!

You don’t need much space to grow your own fruit and vegetables. Even better, says Benedict Vanheems, is that a garden crammed with edibles can look every bit as stunning as one exclusively filled with ornamentals.

There is something about a welltended garden that’s incredibly reassuring. It doesn’t matter how big it is – a space where you can grow your own plants, whether to admire or eat, is an earthly paradise.

Many plants can be both admired and eaten, and when space is at a premium these hard-working plants make for a thoroughly wise choice. You’ll need to use them creatively, but get it right and the results will be both stunning and productive.

MIX THINGS UP

Traditional gardeners dedicate a specific area to edible gardening. But if you haven’t got the luxury of space there’s every reason to grow ornamentals and edibles side by side. As well as looking fantastic, this carries a few practical benefits. Pests find it harder to locate the plants they are after, while flowering ornamentals attract the bugs we’re after, including bees to pollinate crops like beans, courgettes and strawberries.

Many vegetables, herbs and fruits are show-offs in their own right. Think thrusting clouds of curly kale, contrasting lettuces in red and green, or obelisks of climbing beans strewn with pretty flowers. Florence fennel, lipstick-stemmed chard, the architectural thrust of a globe artichoke… there’s lots to play with here.

Don’t forget, many flowers are good for eating too. Seeds from a single packet of nasturtiums can be dotted here and there to create a riot of colourful blooms that also happen to add a peppery punch to salads. Other edible blooms include calendula, violets, bergamot (great in teas) and chives.

SKY’S NO LIMIT

Even in the smallest park home garden there’s no limit to one way you can grow: up! Turn walls and fences to your advantage by growing climbing crops against them. Kiwifruits, climbing varieties of pea, rambling squashes, vining tomatoes and cucumbers and even grapevines may all be encouraged skywards with the right supports. Trellis is invaluable for this purpose, or set up bamboo cane wigwams, obelisks or archways to create focal points within the garden.

Tree fruits grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks can be trained into wall-hugging shapes such as fans, espaliers or simply single-stemmed cordons. Pick shade-

PROLIFIC VEGGIES FOR COMPACT GARDENS

Tomato: The nation’s home-growing favourite. For reliable results, pick a variety suited to outdoor growing. Hanging baskets laden with cherry tomatoes are a must too!

Climbing beans: A bamboo cane wigwam of climbing French or runner beans makes an attractive yet space-savvy feature. Keep up with picking to encourage yet more pods.

Courgette: Rambunctious maybe, but one plant produces a steady flow of courgettes. Eat them at their prime. Cut them no longer than 10cm (4in) to appreciate their subtle, nutty flavour.

Salad leaves: Pots of cut-and-come-again salads provide repeat harvests of fresh, tasty leaves. Look out for salad mixes giving a range of leaves from one sowing.

chard: Chard is similar to spinach but even easier to grow and it crops for longer. Sow

chard for the added benefit of stems in a variety of vibrant colours.

Swiss

‘Rainbow’

This compact garden uses mainly edibles to stunning e ect

tolerant fruits such as sour cherries or redcurrants if direct sunlight is limited. Plant the base of fruit trees and bushes with a carpet of herbs and flowers, but be on hand to top up soil moisture on hot, dry summers.

CASH CROPS

Another option is to prioritise what you grow, concentrating on edibles that offer the highest value harvest. Runner beans, for example, give a steady supply of pods throughout summer from even the tightest spots. Other vegetables and salads, including lettuce, radish and spring onion, are so quick growing that you can sow, tend and pick from the same piece of ground

multiple times in one season. Don’t forget containers too. Wall-mounted, stacked or stepped, you can grow just about anything in a pot! Go for compact varieties suited to growing this way; many seed companies include a selection of vegetables specifically for patio growing.

Think about the pot itself. Planting into unusual or colourful containers adds further interest, while hanging baskets of herbs, cut-and-come-again salads or strawberries contributes a welcome splash at eye level.

Productive gardens can be beautiful gardens too. So if you think you don’t have the space to grow your own, now’s the time to think again!

MAKE YOUR OWN POTS

Make your own newspaper pots and save a few bob. They’re ideal for raising seedlings and because they rot down they can be planted whole, saving time too!

1 You will need newspaper, scissors and a glass jar. The size of jar will match the final width of your pots.

3 Holding the newspaper tight around the jar, turn it upside-down then firmly fold in and crease the paper onto the bottom of the jar to form the base of the pot.

4 Push the bottom of the jar down onto the pot bottom then carefully slide it out. Firm up the rim by folding in the top centimetre of paper to double its thickness.

LIVEN UP WALLS AND FENCES

or pears

Apples

can be trained as wallhugging espaliers

Here a Kiwifruit vine has been encouraged to scramble upwards

You have a great choice of climbing crops such as squashes, peas or beans

Wall-mounted planters look great brimming with herbs or strawberries

Living walls of luscious leafy vegetables and salads are ideal when space is short

2 Cut the newspaper into strips then place the jar at one end so its mouth is sticking out from the newspaper. Tightly roll the newspaper around the jar.

With teams that offer the highest possible service, Harrington Park Home Refurbishments will leave you with the top quality finish and experience that you require.

Based in Birmingham & York with a complete UK coverage our philosophy and ethos is, and has always been the same; to provide the very latest products to the highest possible specifications at competitive prices, and to back this up with the industry’s finest installation teams, and first class customer service and aftercare.

PCBImprovements

PCB Improvements is a small park home refurbishment business that provides big results.

With many years’ experience in the park home industry PCB Improvements understands the needs of owners. Whether it is a small change or major home refurbishment, no job is too big or too small for this family run business.

While some people are worried they cannot afford to create their dream home, PCB will give a free quote to owners, which will detail the works to be carried out and the price to be paid. Keeping things clear and simple is the path to a happy client.

The business prides itself on the quality of the work it carries out and as Peter Bale, owner of PCB Improvements, explains: “PCB can do anything to your park home from major external refurbishment to internal refurbishment, from fitting

bathrooms and kitchens to all major alterations, and all for a reasonable price. I have worked in the mobile home industry for over 20 years and for most of the leading mobile home manufacturers.”

It isn’t all about the inside of your home as they can undertake a large number of exterior projects from re-roofi ng and replacement windows and doors to decking and porches.

So, whether designing and installing a new kitchen or bathroom or completely re-designing the interior layout of your home, and not forgetting the exterior too, now could be the time to make a change.

To fi nd out more and arrange a quote give PCB Improvements a call on 01536 710259.

“The business prides itself on the quality of the work it carries out.”

▲ This could be the year you get your dream kitchen. Get in touch with PCB Improvements for a free quote

▲ You can completely transform the look of your park home with an external refurbishment

HOLIDAY LIVING

Holiday Living is Britain’s best magazine for holiday inspiration, dedicated to helping create the most memorable holiday experiences possible. With regular features on leisure homes, lodges and holiday homes, camping and glamping, motorhomes and tourers, there’s something for everyone within, whatever your budget!

Published every three months, Holiday Living is a hugely successful quarterly title. It is the sister magazine to Park Home & Holiday Living, which has been established consistently in the sector for over 65 years.

Each issue of Holiday Living shows the latest holiday home models available for ownership or hire and covers some of the best park locations in the UK. There is also a wealth of advice about the buying process to help you navigate the process safely.

PUZZLE CORNER

Put your knowledge to the test with these puzzles.

CRISS CROSS

Fill in the blanks with the words provided.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Can you find 7 differences?

5 LETTER WORDS AGAMA

GLOVE

6 LETTER WORDS BANANA

BUMPER BUREAU DOTTED HARARE

LUPINE OBJECT RADIUS ROTUND STUDIO

UNEVEN WIDGET

8 LETTER WORDS ALFRESCO DOORJAMB

9 LETTER WORDS AUDIOBOOK

BAROGRAPH BEGINNING CASUARINA GRATITUDE PSEUDONYM RELUCTANT RIVERSIDE SKIJORING STUDY HALL

SUBSCRIBE SPAGHETTI

15 LETTER WORD THANKSGIVING DAY

The clues are all there, but can you complete the puzzle?

Place a number (from 1 to 9 inclusive) into each

Across

1 M anufactured (8)

7 Sloping kind of typeface (6)

8 Popular flavour of soup (6)

9 Tie in a race (4,4)

Down

1 S hores up (5)

2 Stool to rest the feet of a seated person (7)

Place a number (from 1 to 9 inclusive) into each square in such a way that every digit appears once in each horizontal row, each vertical column and each box of nine squares.

10 A few (4)

11 Administrative unit of government (6)

13 B owl for baptismal water (4)

16 S oft creamy French cheese (4)

1 8 L aunch an attack on (6)

19 E ager (4)

21 In an angry or resentful way (8)

23 N eglect (6)

24 H igh-kicking dance of French origin (6)

25 Living thing (8)

3 Sliced assorted chilled meats (4,4) 4 Prima donna (4)

Receptacle used for cleaning clothes or linens (7)

Antonio ___, Italian composer and violinist (1678–1741) (7) 1 2 Enlightening (8)

Relating to sight (7) 15 Plans for attaining a particular goal (7)

BRAINTEASERS

1. Five people were eating bananas, A finished before B, but behind C. D finished before E, but behind B. What was the finishing order?

2. Frank is looking at Mary. Mary is looking at Robert. Frank is married, Robert is not, and we don’t know if Mary is married. Is a married person looking at an unmarried person?

3. Tim’s mother had 4 children in all. The first one was named May. The second and third were called June and July respectively. What was the fourth child’s name?

Turn to page 96 for the puzzle answers

BIRDS TO SPOT IN 2025

Love watching and listening to the birds in your garden? Well, which of them are the most common? The RSPB’s Jenny Shelton explains more…

Understanding which birds are seen more frequently than others - and why - allows experts to look into the causes and, hopefully, focus conservation efforts on helping those species which need it most.

COMMON RESIDENT

For the past 20 years, the house sparrow has been the most common resident in UK gardens. These familiar faces have made their homes alongside us for as long as any of us can remember, colonising town and country alike. You’ll be familiar with their cheerful chirps as they hop around within a hedge or pick up a treat from your bird table. They live in small groups, and aren’t shy of partner swapping!

Females are a subtle range of light brown shades in order to blend in while on the nest. The plumage of the males is a mix of brown topped with a slate grey cap. (In contrast the less common tree sparrow has a brown cap and a distinctive black cheek spot). All this being said, house sparrows are far less common than they used to be, with over 10 million pairs having disappeared since the late 1960s.

When considering our common residents, today’s answer will be different to what it was 30 years ago, and different again 30 years from now. Some of what used to be our most common garden birds have declined in numbers.

The song thrush, for example, was once a regular and widespread garden visitor

and fell comfortably within the top 10 when the Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979. In recent years it’s barely made the top 20.

Once numerous chaffinches and greenfinches have also declined. This is largely a result of Trichomonosis, a disease that can be spread through contaminated food and drinking water. In the past 10 years the UK chaffinch population has declined by 34 per cent, while greenfinches have sadly declined by 65 per cent.

On a more positive note, the fortunes of other birds have risen. Long tailed tits, for example, are being seen more and more in our gardens; small but easily identifiable by their striped, round bodies, long tails and high pitched calls.

SHOCKING LOSS

Shockingly, though, we’ve lost 38 million birds from the UK’s skies in the last 50 years, so it’s crucial we all do our bit to look after our bird life. By taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch you’re helping to monitor how garden birds are faring.

That data, coming in each year from hundreds of thousands of people like you, is invaluable. All that aside, it’s a great excuse to sit and look out of the window for an hour, guilt free! When do we give ourselves time to do that, without feeling like we should be doing something else?

It’s also a great way to spark an interest in nature in youngsters. Take a look at the RSPB website for fun ways to get the grandkids involved. They’ll no doubt look back with happy memories at their time spent birdwatching with you, and you’ll be doing your bit to ensure their future gardens are filled with the joy, life, song and colour that only birds can bring.

Blue tits like nest boxes, so why not add one to your garden?

House sparrows are the number one bird spotted in UK gardens

Sterling Park Homes

Sterling Park Homes offers a range of refurbishment, repair and improvements services for park homes, leisure lodges and holiday chalets.

The experienced team at Sterling Park Homes work around the country delivering an extensive range of services carried out to the highest standards by their craftsmen. So confi dent are they that you will be happy with their work that they will only take payment once you are satisfi ed with the work.

So, let’s take a look at some of the services they offer, starting at the top of your home. Roofi ng services offered by Sterling include slating, tiling, fl at roofi ng, inspections, repair and maintenance. A roof refurbishment is faster and cheaper than a new roof, and the team at Sterling can help you make the right choice and then get the job done to a high standard.

Staying outside, they are also expert installers of uPVC soffi ts and fascias, guttering, drainpipes, bargeboards and cladding. Unlike traditional wooden fascias and soffi ts, uPVC will not rot or crack making them easier to maintain. Home owners can choose from a range of solutions on offer from Sterling.

COMPLETE THE LOOK

Complete the exterior refurbishment of your home with a new, modern look

“Get in touch with Sterling Park Homes for a free, no obligation quote today!”

using uPVC cladding, PVC stone and wall effects or exterior coatings. Select from a variety of colours and fi nishes to get the look just right and ensure your home is weather-proofed for many years to come.

HAPPY TO HELP

So whether your home is in need of repair or you are considering some home improvements this year, Sterling will be happy to advise and help you fi nd the right solution for your home.

Get in touch with Sterling Park Homes about your park home refurbishment and repair requirements for a free, no obligation quote. Note, all of their products come with a 10 year warranty.  Sterling Park Homes o ers a comprehensive range of roofing systems

Why not give your home a new look this year? You will have many colours and styles to choose from

ATTRACTING NATURE, AMID NATURE!

We get some expert advice on how to attract more wildlife to your park home garden.

Admittedly, the majority of garden plots linked to residential park homes aren’t huge. After all, for many people, one of the reasons for swapping bricks and mortar for the tranquillity of a park home is to avoid time-consuming maintenance of an expansive garden.

However, just because you’ve downsized doesn’t mean you can no longer attract wildlife to your smaller garden. Autumn Barlow, project lead for Coronation Gardens at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “Whether you’ve got a large plot or just a few square metres of spare outdoor space, your garden can be a haven for local wildlife.”

SIMPLE ACTIONS

Autumn continues: “Simple actions, such as putting up a bird box, growing climbers up a wall or cutting a small hole at the bottom of fences for hedgehogs, can be the helping hand nature needs. Even a patio can attract butterflies and bees. Enhance your outdoor area with containers of nectar-rich plants and watch the pollinators fly in!”

Of course, every residential park has its rules and regulations so consider these carefully before making any alterations to your garden. But there are many simple tricks of the trade one can employ to attract wildlife.

PONDERING A POND?

If your park agreement allows – and you have space – consider digging a pond.

“Even a small sink or tub pond, with a few aquatic plants, can make a great wildlife habitat. Ponds of all shapes and sizes benefit different communities of wildlife –water-loving insects dive beneath the surface, birds prey on amphibians and small mammals come to drink,” according to T he Wildlife Trusts.

If your pond is aimed at attracting wildlife, you’re advised not to introduce fish because they’ll “eat anything which moves,” say experts at the Royal Horticultural Society.

I f you haven’t space for a full-blown pond, even an inverted dustbin lid or large pot in

a secluded corner of your garden will suffice. But spare a thought for our prickly friends, though. While hedgehogs are adept swimmers, they will drown if unable to climb out of steep-sided ponds or pools, warns the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

“Use a pile of stones, a piece of wood or some chicken wire to create a simple ramp.”

HEDGE YOUR BETS!

I f you’re keen to encourage hedgehogs into your patch, staff at the Preservation Society have many tips on their website, including letting plants “go mad in a corner of your garden”. Plus, by not cutting them back in winter hedgehogs – who hibernate during this season – might make a nest at that location.

“They’ll also benefit from the abundant insects when not hibernating.”

Thinking of supplying them with a little extra food? Well, the Society says this

acts as a supplement to their natural diet. “Meaty cat or dog food and hedgehog food are suitable.” But when it comes to a drink, it should only be water.

PROVIDING FOOD

Plants play a crucial role in attracting wildlife. Developing a small wildflower meadow or dedicating a chunk of your garden to wild flowers is likely to entice a myriad of butterflies, bees and other insects.

Provide food for caterpillars and choose nectar-rich plants for butterflies and you’ll have a colourful, fluttering display in your garden for many months, advise T he Wildlife Trusts.

“While just about any flower with nectar can be a treat for butterflies, it’s a slightly different story for caterpillar food or ‘host’ plants. In fact, most butterfly

species have just a short list of host plants. Often, this is because caterpillars need particular chemicals from the plant to bring out their warning colouration as butterflies.” Check out some of the ‘host’ plants on the Trusts’ website.

But while growing host plants for caterpillars in the garden isn’t necessarily guaranteed to attract the relevant butterflies, they do breed in gardens. “It’s worth experimenting with different host plants to see which species might find your garden suitable.”

Again, if you’re short of space, don’t despair. “Use wires or trellises to provide a framework for climbing plants like clematis, honeysuckle, rose and jasmine,” explains Somerset Wildlife Trust. Not only will such plants produce an enticing scent but are adored by everything from butterflies to bees.

Bumblebees play a crucial role in pollinating countless plants. According to the Somerset Wildlife Trust, bees search for specific types of flowers.

“Those with shorter tongues need short, open flowers with nectar within easy reach. Bumblebees with long tongues can enjoy deeper flowers like honeysuckle. Having some early and some late flowers in your planting mix prolongs the nectar season for bees.”

CHOOSE CAREFULLY

We all like flowers but choosing the right ones will pay dividends. Avoid too many highly-bred cultivars with big and blowsy or double flowers because most contain little or no pollen or nectar.

But it’s not just flowers which are important. Again, it depends how much space you have available, but growing a mix of trees, shrubs or even a mixed hedge will provide food, shelter and even nesting sites for everything from insects to birds.

One final tip from the Royal Horticultural Society is to leave a pile of dead wood in a shady spot. “Decaying wood provides an ever-rarer habitat to a range of specialist wildlife becoming increasingly uncommon in the countryside, such as stag and bark beetles, their grubs and many species of fungi. It also provides cover and hibernation sites.

“Any unstained or unpainted wood is suitable, although big, natural logs are best, ideally partly buried. Log piles can look quite architectural and rustic, though many people prefer to tuck them out of sight.”

For more information and advice: www.wildlifetrusts.org www.somersetwildlife.org www.rhs.org.uk

www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk

HOME SOLD!

Dear Seekers

Just a line to say thank you very much for all of your help in selling our park home. The couple are very pleased with it and I would recommend Seekers to anybody. Thank you again.

Roger and Christine Price Pool View, Shropshire

TOP RATING

Dear PHCS

Thank you all - from the survey down to refit of supports. It’s a 5-star rating.

REFUND SORTED

Dear PBIS

Jenny, thank you for sorting out the refund. I would just like to say if there were more companies like Paul Baker Insurance Services and more Jennys then this world would be a better place. Once again, thank you.

Steve B

Willow Brook, Deeside

RECOMMENDATION

Dear PHCS

She was made up with your work and said if you ever need her to advertise your services she will.

J. Thomas St. Brides, Wentlooge

YOUR

Another

selection of happy park home owners share their

5 STAR SERVICE

Dear PBIS

In response to your claims survey, I would like to say that on all questions I would score you 5 stars as the service received from contacting Paul Baker Insurance Services through to completion and settlement of my claim was absolutely outstanding

and I am extremely happy that I chose Paul Baker and AXA as the companies regarding my property. I will obviously in future continue to use your services as all concerned were magnificent.

Mark B

Lazy Otter Meadows, Ely

SOLD IN ONE!

Dear Seekers

A big thank you to Keith, Zoe, Gina and Susan at Seekers for your help and support in selling my late father’s park home on Heyford Leys Park, Oxfordshire. I got a buyer on the first viewing! Having Keith to go through the paperwork with me was a great bonus. I would happily recommend Seekers to anyone looking to sell their park home.

Kevin Proctor Heyford Leys, Oxfordshire

BRILLIANT SERVICE

Dear PHCS

Diane called to say thank you to Tom Pollard for yesterday. She says the service was brilliant and he was very polite.

D. Evans-Monger

Cambrian Residential Park, Cardiff

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Dear PBIS

Could you please pass on our thanks to Jacquie for her help and kindness in dealing with a possible claim. She made a special effort to make repeated calls in trying to contact me to resolve the issue, for which I think amounts to exceptional service and care.

Tony Underhill Park,

SUCCESSFUL SALE

Dear Seekers

I would like to say a very big thank you to Gina, Susan, Zoe and Keith at Seekers for their help in selling my park home at Four Winds Park. It was a tricky process because of some problems at the park, but Seekers persevered. If anyone reading this is looking to sell their park home, I would recommend Seekers.

Jean Smith Four Winds Park, Shropshire

SPREADING THE WORD

Dear PHCS

The guy who came to do the survey was absolutely brilliant. I’ve spoken to all the neighbours and cannot recommend enough - first class glowing references.

Mrs Sampson Odessa Park, Gloucestershire

HERE TO HELP

Dear Seekers

Finally all done! I just wanted to say thank you for all your prompt help and Susan and, of course, Keith too. Thank you.

Clare Hatch Park, Hampshire

THANKS JACQUIE!

Dear PBIS

Jacquie, can I just thank you personally for the charming and professional manner you had while assisting me. It made the whole process so much easier.

Ian N Ryde, Isle of Wight

TOP QUALITY

Dear PHCS

The photographs are brilliant, and work carried out is of top quality. Please pass my thanks on to your engineering team.

K/P Murphy Newhaven Heights, East Sussex

HELP APPRECIATED

Dear Seekers

Thank you for your high commitment, expertise, excellence and support in every step of our journey. Special thanks to Keith and Susan for their patience and help.

Simona Mitko Brownfield Gardens, Berkshire

Tiverton

REFURBISHMENTS

Park Home Shield is a specialist company with a long and proven track record in refurbishing Park homes Nationwide. Give us a call and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to assist you whatever your requirements.

EXTERNAL REFURB

When having your external walls replaced it’s vital that preparation is done correctly. This will ensure that you get the highest standard finish and that it will last a lifetime. That’s why Park Home Shield we don’t just give you a guarantee, we guarantee your home.

We also offer a range of finishes and variety of colours, whether it be Cladding or texture. Whatever your vision, Park Home Shiled can create it.

Carl Bowles is the UKs longest running and most experienced installer of insulated Canadian Siding (Royal Crest), which has a Grade A Fire Certificate. It comes in 16 colours and being vinyl with a life expectancy of 50 years, you can see by the photos of this total exterior refurbishment, including Roof Coat, Double Glazing and Canadian Siding, the transformation is impressive and the workmanship exceptional. You can contact Carl on 07785 272933 or go to his main advertisement on page 59.

GET IN TOUCH

Look no further than PAUL BAKER INSURANCE SERVICES – CALL FREE ON 0800 0385 093, email enquiries@pbinsurance.co.uk and for lots of useful advice visit www.pbinsurance.co.uk

•A choice of policies underwritten by AXA Insurance

• K nowledgeable, experienced and friendly staff

•No call centres or answer machines

Call PBIS FREE on 0800 0385 094 for park home and leisure home insurance advice, guidance, a tailored quotation and, if you need it - immediate cover

•Cover options include: vermin damage, no policy excesses, 24 hour home emergency assistance, park home legal advice and expenses, new for old, accidental damage

Green Homes Grant

Chassis Maintenance Re-supporting Refurbishment Home Insulation Floor, Loft and Walls. Save Fuel Costs, Eco Friendly

PHCS are proud to announce that we are a part of the governments new energy saving scheme accredited by Trust Mark for Park Homes. The government are providing a voucher worth up to £5,000 (if you receive certain benefits such as low income support you may be eligible for up to £10,000) for energy effi cient works carried out on park homes.

To start applying for your grant call us on 0333 456 3056 and speak to one of the PHCS team or check us out online at www.parkhomechassis.co.uk.

For more information please call us on 0333 456 3056 and speak to one of the PHCS team or check us out online at www.parkhomechassis.co.uk.

Seekers have more than 40 years’ experience in selling park homes, lodge homes and holiday caravans. The owner, Keith Morgan, explains: “I personally go out to see all our customers at their homes. This sometimes surprises people that, as the owner of Seekers, I am the one they see, but there is nothing better than experience in guiding the customer.”

Seekers deal with residential park homes in England and Wales, and over the years have developed an expertise in dealing with lodge homes and holiday homes. With business still growing Seekers benefits from national coverage. It is also good to know that if you need advice on surveys, conveyancing, finance and solicitors Seekers can help.

PARK HOME & HOLIDAY LIVING MAGAZINE

Established in 1960, Park Home and Holiday Living (PH&HL) is the UK’s biggest and best-selling monthly magazine for existing and prospective mobile home owners. Published 13 times a year, PH&HL provides information and advice on everything you’ll ever need to know about owning or purchasing a park or holiday home. Inside, you’ll discover park profiles on the nation’s best sites, new model home reviews, details of specialist refurbishment, insurance and legal companies, real residents’ stories and much more! For more information, including subscription enquiries, please visit the PH&HL website at: www.parkhomemagazine.co.uk

Paul Baker Insurance Services is a trading name of Insync Insurance Solutions Ltd, 7th Floor, Corn Exchange, 55 Mark Lane, London, EC3R 7NE. Insync Insurance

regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA

Paul Baker smile Full.indd 1

Whether you are buying, selling or staying put, we conduct a thorough and truthful inspection of the underside of your home with a detailed written survey report. Enjoy warmer, draught free floors with PHCS underfloor insulation system, SnuggerFLOOR+.

Whether you are buying, selling or staying put, we conduct a thorough and truthful inspection of the underside of your home with a detailed written survey report. Enjoy warmer, draught free floors with PHCS underfloor insulation system, SnuggerFLOOR+.

PHCS Services UK

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CRISSCROSS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

ACROSS: 1. Subscribe 9. Radius

10. Reluctant 11. Bureau 12. Beginning

14. Alfresco 19 Thanksgiving Day 20. Doorjamb 25. Audiobook 26. Harare 27. Spaghetti 28. Lupine 29. Gratitude

DOWN: 2. Uneven 3. Studio 4. Rotund

5. Banana 6. Casuarina 7. Riverside

8. Pseudonym 13. Glove 15. Study Hall 16. Barograph 17. Skijoring 18. Agama

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES

21. Bumper 22. Widget 23. Object 24. Dotted

BRAINTEASERS

1: CABDE. Putting the first three in order, A finished in front of B but behind C, so CAB. Then, we know D finished before B, so CABD. We know E finished after D, so CABDE.

2: Yes. If Mary is married, then she is married and looking at Robert, who is unmarried. If Mary is unmarried, then Frank, who is married, is looking at her. Either way, the statement is correct.

3: Tim

SUDOKU

Crossword Wordwheel:

HIDDEN INSECTS

CROSSWORD

OnlineResources

Here is a selection of useful park home resources available to you online.

 Government Advice and Fact Sheets on Park Homes: www.gov.uk/government/collections/park-homes

 LEASE - Leasehold Advisory Service (an independent body providing free advice on fully residential park homes and leasehold law): parkhomes.lease-advice.org

 Park Homes Law (legal advice provided by a barrister for the park home and holiday sector in England and Wales): www.parkhomeslaw.com

 Citizens Advice - Reporting to Trading Standards: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/ report-to-trading-standards

 Citizens Advice - Consumer Helpline: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-morehelp-about-a-consumer-issue

 consumeradvice.scot (consumer advice to Scottish citizens in partnership with the Scottish Government and Trading Standards): consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre

 Action Fraud (reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland): www.actionfraud.police.uk

 Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman - Making a Complaint: www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaint

 WriteToThem (write to your local and national politicians for free): www.writetothem.com

 Find Your MP - MPs and Lords: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

 Your Member of Parliament (information and contact details for your MP): www.theyworkforyou.com

 All-Party Parliamentary Group on Park Homes (brings together parliamentarians, park home owners and industry representatives to discuss issues of common interest): www.parkhome.org.uk/appg

 IPHAS (2021) Ltd - Independent Park Home Advisory Service (voluntary organisation offering advice and information): advice@iphas.co.uk / membership@iphas.co.uk / www.iphas.live

 NAPHR - National Association of Park Home Residents (voluntary organisation giving advice to park home owners): naphr.co.uk

 SCOPHRA - Scottish Confederation of Park Homes Residents Associations: www.scophra.scot

 Scottish Government (residential mobile homes): www.gov.scot/policies/homeowners/mobile-homes

 Warm Home Discount Scheme: www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

 Which? Trusted Traders (find traders near you): trustedtraders.which.co.uk

 Which? (expert testing, reviews and advice): www.which.co.uk

DOES YOUR PARK HOME FEEL COLD? DO YOU HAVE ROT, DAMP? OR MAYBE YOU’RE JUST TIRED OF THE OLD STYLE AND FEEL IF SO, A FULL REFURBISHMENT IS THE WAY TO GO

At PARK HOME SHIELD we will carry out a thorough survey on the home to ensure your refurbishment goes as smooth as possible

To start, the exterior boards of the home are removed. The stud work is then checked for any damp or rot. In some cases the timbers may not be the right strength, in which case they will be removed and replaced, this is then followed by the boarding process. Once this is complete, everything is then sealed, joined and primed. All of this is vital to ensure that your home has the best finish once complete. Your park home will then have a stipple texture applied to the whole exterior with a colour of your choosing.