Holiday Parks Management | July/August 2019

Holiday Parks & FARM ATTRACTIONS

Management FREERANGE incorporating

The CBD Food

DEBATE July/August 2019 • Issue 39

FOR RURAL RETAIL

IT’S A HEAT WAVE! INTERVIEW WITH NEW BH&HPA CHAIRMAN

Spas, Water Management and more

Andrew Baragwanath

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Holiday Parks

Management It’s a staycation summer - with temperatures rising as fast as the exchange rate. Tourism in the UK is more important than ever - particularly as we prepare to leave the EU - and last month Theresa May announced her new tourism sector deal. She vowed that more than 130,000 new hotel rooms are set to be built across the UK, with 75% being built outside of London. Accessibility and connectivity will be key to drive tourism forward. There will also be a pilot of up to five new Tourism Zones to drive visitor numbers across the country. Zones will receive Government support for growing their local visitor economy, through initiatives like targeted support for product and promotion development,

mentoring support to businesses and digital skills training.

Holiday parks and glamping sites have a major part to play in moving tourism forward in the UK and we are honoured to bring you an exclusive interview with Andrew Baragwanath - the new Chairman of the BH&HPA who is determined to see the industry move with the times.

Steph Editor

What’s in this issue?

05 park news 13 Tourism Sector Deal 14 Caravan statistics 17 Interview with Andrew Baragwanath 22 Skylight Cinema 24 Water Management 26 Club Wifi 28 Farm Shop News 30 CBD News 33 Happerly food provenance 34 Products Published by: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. t: 07887 928819. Registered Business: 47 Oliver Close, London, W4 3RL Other Publications: International Glamping Business - www.glampingbusiness.com Publisher: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: 07887 928819 e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Reporter: William Rusbridge Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: + 44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Design: Dean Coulter, Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk www.holididayparksmanagement.com Other Events: The Glamping Show - www.glampingshow.com © Upgrade Publishing 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

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parkNews How holidays are growing greener at Lake District park The family owners of a Lake District holiday park are helping visitors to enjoy even greener stays in Cumbria following a new series of environmental initiatives.

Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park on the shores of Ullswater near Penrith says its latest steps will help further ensure that guests can enjoy their holidays with a clear conscience.

Measures taken include the construction from local stone of a new amenity building for campers which is kept warm with underfloor heating from the park's biomass boiler.

Park Foot has also increased its reliance on green energy with new solar panels on its recycling centre which will feed excess electricity into the national grid.

A super-efficient new heating system has additionally been installed to minimise energy usage.

Park Foot, which employs around 80 locally-recruited staff in high season, has also decided from this year to ban singleuse plastics in its clubhouse.

The club's restaurant has been reequipped with energy-saving catering equipment, and will continue to feature Cumbria-sourced ingredients in its dishes to minimise food miles.

Park Foot has also expanded its trekking centre which allows guests to leave their cars parked-up and to explore the area on horseback.

More children's activities have also been

introduced, including a newly build adventure play area.

Founded over 60 years ago by the Allen family on their farm, Park Foot has around 140 caravan holiday homes spread throughout the 40-acre grounds, and 400 touring pitches.

The business is today run by Fiona Bell and Barbara Allen, the daughters of founder Jimmy Allen, along with Fiona’s husband Malcolm.

According to Fiona, advance bookings for this year are stronger than ever before:

There is more information about Park Foot on its website at www.parkfootullswater.co.uk

Defibrillator donated to Mid Wales holiday park in memory of Shropshire man A potentially life-saving defibrillator has been donated to a Mid Wales holiday park in tribute to a Shropshire man who loved spending time there.

Jo Sheridan offered to buy the defibrillator at the Gwynedd Holiday Park in Tywyn in memory of her partner Sir Bryan Baker, who passed away in November 2017.

Gwynedd and the neighbouring Glan-y-Don site are among the caravan parks owned by award-winning leisure company Salop Leisure raising money to buy defibrillators.

Jo, from Muxton, Telford, heard about the campaign and approached Jon and Michaela Freeman, the park managers, to tell them she would like to cover the cost as a tribute to Sir Bryan.

Jo said: “I saw an article in the local paper about how the holiday parks were holding fundraising events in order to purchase a defibrillator.

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“We shared so many happy times together at Gwynedd Holiday Park for more than 20 years and I thought it would be beneficial to all those who spend time at the park and in the surrounding area.”

Park manager Jon added: “We had been planning to raise money for a defibrillator throughout the year, but Jo approached us to say that she would like to donate the money.

“It’s a lovely gesture, incredibly generous, and we have unveiled a plaque next to where the defibrillator has been installed to tell people it has been donated in loving memory of Sir Bryan Baker.

“The defibrillator is at the park in conjunction with the Welsh Ambulance Service. It will be on the register they have for the area, so if one is needed nearby they can come and collect it.

“It's not just for the park as it’s also for the local community.

"Julie Starling of the Welsh Ambulance Trust has held training sessions to show people how to use the defibrillator."

Defibrillators have been installed at two more holiday parks owned by Salop Leisure, Morben Isaf Holiday Park, near Machynlleth, and Llandanwg Holiday Park, close to Harlech, following fundraising activities.

Tony Bywater, the chairman of Salop Leisure, said the health and wellbeing of customers whilst holidaying on the parks was paramount.

parkNews Dorset parks tempt staycation lovers with "to do" list A group of five family-run parks in Dorset is setting out to woo the growing number of people who are this year turning their backs on overseas holidays.

West Dorset Leisure Holidays says its newly redesigned website shows that the region has much more to offer youngsters and grown-ups than a sweltering foreign beach.

It has gathered together pictures and information on more than 120 attractions in easy reach of Highlands End Holiday Park in Bridport and its four sister-parks.

From Segway riding and a sculpture park to stand-up paddle boarding and a donkey sanctuary, the guide will allow guests to plan their visits down to the last detail.

Martin Cox, a member of the park-owning family which first started welcoming guests almost 50 years ago, hopes the website will be especially welcomed by "staycationers":

"In recent years we've seen more and more families taking their main holiday in Britain, and telling us how much more enjoyable it is than just sweating on the sand," he said.

"Not only is a UK holiday experience far less stressful, it also provides many more opportunities for exploring and trying your hand at new activities.

"Our reception staff are fantastically knowledgeable about the area, and often provide guests with tips about where to go and what to do when on holiday.

"Now, with their help, we've added this guidance to our website, and underlining that when it comes to creating happy memories, Dorset does it best!" added Martin.

The website describes and illustrates the various attractions on offer, plus eating-out venues, together with an interactive map where the various locations are pinpointed.

The group's new website and directory of attractions can be viewed at www.wdlh.co.uk

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Park guests in Lancashire glued to box as wildlife drama unfolds Guests were left agog this spring at Moss Wood holiday park near Lancaster where the undercover secrets of a tiny bird were screened live for all to see.

Star of the show was a great tit which had chosen one of the park's bird boxes to make its nest, little suspecting that it was going to be under constant CCTV surveillance.

For the box had been fitted with a miniature covert camera which wirelessly streamed a 24-hour video feed to a monitor screen in the park's reception building.

Guests were able to watch the great tit carefully build its nest, and then to lay four brownspeckled white eggs upon which it sat while its male partner brought regular deliveries of food.

Fourteen days later, to everyone's delight, the pair were rewarded with four great tit chicks.

Henry Wild, whose family has owned Moss Wood for over 40 years, said the unfurling drama was thrilling to watch, and was enjoyed especially by younger holiday guests:

"We're very fortunate here to have a very wide range of resident and visiting birdlife, but great tits often nest in tree cavities, so can't normally be observed at close quarters," said Henry.

"They are very distinctive birds with their white cheeks and yellow underparts, and our camera gave a rare opportunity to study the bird close-up and to witness its amazing nestbuilding skills.

"Some of our holiday guests even made special return visits during the nesting period so that they could see the action, and we also sent email updates to customers who asked.

"Many of the children here were fascinated, and hopefully will be inspired to go on and make other wildlife discoveries in our grounds," he added.

Last year, Moss Wood was shortlisted in the Lancashire Tourism Awards in the "sustainable tourism" category. thanks to its exceptional efforts to protect the natural world.

The park, situated in the village of Cockerham, recently became home to more than 100,000 honey bees after it installed three traditional timber hives in its grounds.

Their thriving future is assured thanks to the large number of high nectar-bearing blooms at Moss Wood, including a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness.

There is more information about Moss Wood Caravan Park at www.mosswood.co.uk

Bunn Opens £18m Leisure Complex

parkNews

Bunn Leisure holiday park in Selsey has opened the doors on its new £18 million entertainment complex.

As part of its £23 million investment programme in the state-of-the-art White Horse complex, the new entertainment complex includes a brand-new entertainment venue seating area with seats for 1400 guests.

The 300-acre holiday park is situated on the Selsey Peninsula and includes a new Riviera-style swimming pool and changing village, multi-level soft play area, fully covered multi-sports zone, numerous restaurants and bars, an exclusive lounge and a 10pin bowling alley.

"Our new White Horse complex is unparalleled in our industry and are the culmination of plans I first set out 18 years ago. The money we have put into these latest improvements takes the total reinvestment in our parks to more than £45m since 2012. This significant investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to being one of the country’s leading family holiday providers,” says Managing Director John Bunn

Industry charity purchase first caravan in South Wales

The Family Holiday Association have expanded their offering of breaks by buying a caravan at Parkdean’s Trecco Bay Holiday Park, located just outside Porthcawl; their first van located in South Wales. The caravan was purchased as the result of a donation made by a generous benefactor.

The location was chosen to make it easier for the charity to help struggling families from South Wales. Travel is often a barrier to people taking a break, and reducing the distance will open up opportunities for more

families from the area to benefit.

The Trecco Bay site offers a range of facilities including an indoor swimming pool, and a wet outdoor play area with fountains and water guns. There’s also dodgems, an adventure playground with zip wire, adventure golf and arcade, as well as showtime entertainment and a choice of restaurants on site. And of course a fantastic Blue Flag beach!

Martin Realey, CEO of the Family Holiday Association, said “I recently visited the Trecco Bay Holiday Park with my own family. We had

an absolutely wonderful time. The children loved hunting for treasures and rock climbing on the beach and the evening entertainment was first class! We’ll definitely be going back in the future.”

The families that the charity helps are struggling with problems such as severe and long-term illness, bereavement, mental health issues, disability and domestic violence. All the families we support are referred to us by someone already working with them in a supporting role, such as teachers, health visitors, social workers and other charities such as Barnardo’s and Shelter. By working with referrers, we can be sure that the funds we raise help the families who will benefit most.

Last year the charity launched its ‘Adopt a Caravan’ initiative, inviting companies to pledge to cover the annual £10,000 running costs of one of its fleet of fourteen vans. The figure covers everything from ground rent, fuel bills, cleaning, furnishing and essential repairs, keeping each van in tip-top condition for all their guests. Each caravan will host between 30 and 45 families a year on 3-4 or 7 night breaks, providing vital respite from daily struggles.

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Holiday park's beach heroes praised by clean Dorset group Anti-litter warriors at a Dorset holiday park have been honoured with an award for helping to make the area's beaches and sea even more welcoming to visitors.

"Minimising waste is an important part of our sustainability polices, and it's not just about reducing the environmental footprint of our business, important though that is.

The staff team at Highlands End Holiday Park in Bridport received the accolade from the Litter Free Coast and Sea Dorset campaign in recognition of their many antiwaste initiatives.

"It's also about ensuring that our holiday guests can enjoy clean beaches on which to have fun and relax, and safe seas in which to swim or take part in watersports.

It was presented after the park was audited by the organisation and received a thumbs-up for its success in minimising wastage, reducing litter, and stamping down on single-use plastics.

Congratulating the team this summer during a special visit was Caroline Richards, project support officer for the Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign.

Martin Cox, a member of the family which has owned Highlands End for almost 50 years, said that everyone was immensely proud to have received the honour:

"Our family and the vast majority of our staff were born and brought up in this area, so we naturally feel very strongly about safeguarding its fragile beauty and protecting the natural world.

"The Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign does a fantastic job of involving local people and businesses in its work, and we're very proud to be giving them our full support," said Martin.

He said that Highlands End and its four neighbouring sister parks were now close to achieving their target of recycling 50 percent of all waste materials produced.

parkNews

Martin's parks group – West Dorset Leisure Holidays - raises substantial sums each year for the trust though a small optional levy on each booking, gladly accepted by most visitors.

This June, it handed over a record sum of almost £8,200 collected over the previous 12 months – a whopping 20 percent of the total generated by the trust's 60-plus business partners.

Sam Rose, the trust's then chief executive designate, said the parks provided an amazing example to all local enterprises about helping to give back to "our very special environment".

Family's Loch Lomond park crowned Scotland's best Lomond Woods Holiday Park has been named at this month's Scottish Hospitality Awards as Scotland's finest park, beating hundreds of other businesses to the title.

Stepping up to receive the accolade in front of VIP guests from Scotland’s tourism industry at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow were members of the park-owning Wood family.

Lomond Woods is one of six parks owned by Wood Leisure, and this year's glittering awards ceremony also saw two of its other parks nominated for the Best Park in Scotland award.

They were Campsie Glen Holiday Park near Stirling, and Blairgowrie Holiday Park near Perth which gained a "highly commended" status in the category.

The Scottish Hospitality Awards highlight tourism enterprises which offer exceptional standards of facilities and services, and take into account the feedback given by customers.

Wood Leisure has been welcoming guests

since 1981, this year sees the 25th anniversary of Lomond Woods under the family's ownership.

Since acquiring the park, the group has invested heavily in new facilities, accommodation and landscaping to create a first-class destination for holiday guests.

Boasting a top five-star rating from Visit Scotland among its many awards, the Lomond Woods provides luxury holiday homes to buy and to rent, glamping accommodation and touring pitches.

Manager at Lomond Woods Tricia Farragher said that everyone at the park was thrilled to have taken the ultimate accolade of the Best Holiday Park in Scotland at the awards:

"We owe a big debt of thanks to all of our many loyal customers whose votes helped to take us to the number one position," she said.

"A big factor in this competition is the

hospitality which is provided to holiday guests, as well as the friendly atmosphere and warmth of welcome which customers receive.

"Delivering this is entirely in the hands of our staff team, so they deserve a big share of the credit for this wonderful achievement," added Tricia.

The other three parks in the group are Corriefodly Holiday Park and Callander Woods Holiday Park, both in Perthshire, and Deeside Holiday Park near Aberdeen.

There is more information about the Wood family’s parks at www.woodleisure.co.uk

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parkNews

Rebrand for Tingdene Homes in Golden Jubilee Year Tingdene Homes has unveiled a rebrand as it celebrates 50 years in business.

The brand makeover for Tingdene, which designs and manufactures park homes and holiday lodges, has been developed by creative agency Fluid Ideas.

It includes a refreshed logo and a new brand identity centred around four key values – quality, passion, heritage and innovation – with the tagline Discover the Difference.

The project also encompasses a new look for Tingdene’s advertising and marketing materials, showroom signage, uniforms and vehicle livery, while a new website will go live this summer with a host of improvements to make it more customer-focused.

Until now, Tingdene’s website has served mainly as a reference point for people wishing to contact the company.

Fluid Ideas says the new site will be disruptive for the industry, with more functionality, content and advice aimed at revolutionising the customer journey.

It will include photo-realistic CGI images and fly-through animations of Tingdene’s holiday lodges and homes, providing a ground-breaking virtual reality experience.

These features will also be used in advertising and promotional campaigns.

Fluid Ideas has also designed new concepts to transform the Tingdene customer experience at exhibitions.

These received their first airing at The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, where the company will unveil a new luxury holiday lodge in celebration of its golden jubilee.

Tingdene, which is based in Wellingborough, Northants, was founded in 1969 by Jim Gibbard and Peter York and has over 220 staff.

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The industry secret that could help thousands in need

For over 40 years the NCC Benevolent Fund (the Fund) has been offering support to people in the caravan and park industry, when they are facing financial hardship. The Fund’s grants can offer employees past and present, the timely financial support they need, to help rebuild their lives after a change in circumstances.

However, few in the industry are aware of the Fund and what it can do to help – something the Fund wants to change. A vital step to achieve this is to build partnerships with park owners, managers and operators, to share information with staff about the Fund and the support it can offer.

The one-off grants can support people through difficult times, such as illness or as a result of unexpected caring responsibilities. They are a financial donation that does not need to be repaid, giving people the peace of mind that the Fund can support them without adding to their financial worries.

The grants can help in a number of ways, from replacing essential white goods such as washing machines when a family cannot afford to replace a broken item, providing school uniforms or helping to provide items related to medical conditions. In the past, The Fund has helped people like Craig* who was behind with his bills after reducing his work hours to care for his family when wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness, or Peter* who needed a mobility scooter to help with a disability.

The challenge of promotion and awareness remains a difficult one.

However, it is one that Benevolent Fund Manager, Melanie Day, is determined to tackle head on as she evolves the Fund in the future: “With a workforce of over 170,000 people in the holiday park industry, we know we could be helping many more people who are facing some of life’s toughest challenges. To do this, we need to raise awareness of the Fund, and we are calling on the help of those that work in the industry to spread the word.

“We need as many people as possible to let their employees and colleagues know who we are, how we can help, and how to access our free and confidential services.

“The NCC Benevolent Fund is the only charitable organisation that directly supports those from within the industry. It’s unique and we’re hoping that more companies will step forward to help us raise awareness of the fund and the support we can offer to employees and their families, past and present.”

For more information, find out how you can get involved or to request materials such as posters for your workplace, email info@nccbf.org.uk or visit www.nccbenevolentfund.org.uk *Names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals

PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES

NEW TOURISM SECTOR DEAL The Former Prime Minister Theresa May announced the UK’s first ever tourism sector deal on June 28, reaffirming the UK’s global role as a key player in the industry.

The new deal will revolutionise the way data is used by the sector, through the creation of new Tourism Data Hub. The hub will collate regularly updated data showing the latest trends and spends, allowing businesses to better target overseas visitors.

The deal will also support the creation of an additional 10,000 apprenticeships for people building their careers in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Last year around 38 million people visited the UK, contributing £23 billion to the local economy. By 2025 experts predict that there will be an additional 9 million visitors to the UK. The new deal commits to building an additional 130,000 hotel rooms to respond to the increased demand for infrastructure.

The deal also outlines the government’s ambitions for the UK to become the most accessible destination for disabled visitors, through improvement of disabled facilities and access to destinations across the country.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May said:

visitors in the UK last year.”

“As part of today’s ground-breaking Deal, new Tourism Zones will deliver a direct boost to holiday destinations across the country, helping create new jobs as well as supporting improvements in transport connections.

“This is one of the many ways in which the Deal will be key in building a world-class experience economy, helping us deliver on the ambition we set out in our modern Industrial Strategy; Government and industry working hand-in-hand to build on our exceptional strengths in this sector, boosting productivity and further increasing the UK’s attractiveness as a holiday destination.”

Other commitments in the Tourism Sector Deal include: More than 130,000 new hotel rooms are set to be built across the UK, with 75% being built outside of London.

■ £250,000 to improve broadband connectivity in conferences centres across the UK for business visitors.

“As one of the most visited countries in the world, the UK is a world leader in international tourism and it is crucial that we remain globally competitive to meet growing demands.

■ Pilot of up to five new Tourism Zones to drive visitor numbers across the country. Zones will receive Government support for growing their local visitor economy, through initiatives like targeted support for product and promotion development, mentoring support to businesses and digital skills training.

“That’s why today I am pleased to announce the UK’s first ever tourism sector deal, ensuring that we continue to innovate, boost connectivity and economic productivity, expand career pathways and breakdown barriers for visitors with disabilities.

■ 10,000 employees in the sector to benefit from new mentorship schemes.

“This deal recognises the important role tourism plays, and will continue to play, in showcasing what our great country has to offer.”

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Tourism is one of our most valuable industries and it plays a vital role in our economy, with nearly two million people employed in the communities across the country and £23 billion pounds spent by

■ A new government strategy to grow the number of Business Events and Conferences, helping to drive off-season visitors.

Developed in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and Industry, the sector deal forms part of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy supporting the continued growth of the tourism sector, ensuring the UK remains globally competitive as a top tourist destination.

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Caravan Industry Thriving AS THE UK RANKS FIRST IN EUROPE FOR CARAVAN ENTHUSIASTS

39% of UK adults have taken a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years.

The sector is thriving – camping grounds and holiday parks turned over almost £4 million in 2017. In the wake of Brexit and fears about going abroad, Brits are opting for a traditional caravan break. With seaside towns and countryside landscapes to explore, it’s unsurprising that the domestic holiday park staycation is becoming more popular. A brand-new study has investigated all the destinations in Europe to rank the UK as first in Europe for caravan enthusiasts.

What makes holiday parks popular?

One of the reasons that holiday parks are so popular in England is their affordability.

Families can afford to go away for a few days, and it doesn’t matter about the weather as there’s always something to do – come rain or shine. UK sites can cater to everyone – from tiny babies to the elderly.

No matter where you are in the UK, there’ll always be a holiday park within a few hours drive, making them a lifeline for those who cannot afford to go abroad.

For managers of holiday parks, making sure that your site caters to everyone is crucial.

A 2014 report by HomeAway found that the number of multigenerational groups holidaying together has risen since 2008, with groups preferring to stay in a rental rather than serviced accommodation like a hotel. It’s great to have fancy facilities, but if they don’t appeal to both grandad and granddaughter, or mum and son.

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The most popular type of holiday park are ones with static pitches – with Sanderson Weatherall stating that static holiday parks, particularly larger ones with over 100 pitches, has seen a strong level of demand throughout 2017.

How long do Brits spend in caravans?

With the popularity of the staycation rising, how many nights do Brits spend in caravans? Whilst demand for static caravans is high, touring caravans were more popular in 2017, with Brits spending 19.2 million nights in a motorhome, towed caravan or campervan. Static caravans were just behind with 18 million nights and a tent was the third most popular choice of accommodation with 14.7 million nights.

People who owned static caravans spent just over 10 million nights in their abodes and 1.3 million nights were spent glamping in alternative accommodation. The range of accommodation chosen by Brits indicates that holiday parks should offer a range of options to cater to all tastes – from tipis to luxury static caravans.

Where else in Europe is popular with caravan enthusiasts?

In the study, the UK topped an analysis of the best destinations for caravan fans, but Sweden and France followed. This was because Brits had the deepest pockets – spending over £4million on renting caravan sites in 2017. The UK also had the highest number of domestic trips – showing that we are a nation of staycation fans.

France is popular for caravan fans due to the sheer number of camping and caravanning sites in the country. There are 8,853 sites in the country, compared to just 1,489 in the UK. French people also spent just over 2 million on renting spots for a holiday in their mobile home.

Sweden was more of a dark horse in the study, ranking second on the index score despite only having 550 camping and caravanning sites.

However, Swedish people enjoy exploring their own land, taking over 1.6 million domestic trips in 2017. The study also discovered that Sweden had the highest number of new motor caravan registrations, showing that the country is investing in ownership of a caravan – meaning there is opportunity for holiday park owners to begin marketing to Sweden, and other countries outside of the UK. With the caravan industry in the UK doing better than other countries in Europe, it’s time to begin marketing that to the rest of the world. Our variety of parks and facilities is unrivalled by many countries, and the only thing we’re losing out on is the weather – so make sure there’s plenty of rainy-day activities in your park. A range of accommodation options will also make a park more appealing.

Even Alton Towers recently tapped into the glamping craze with their new star-gazing pods!

Written by Leila Jones, a content executive at Wavemaker. The study referenced was conducted by Safeguard Insurance, analysing five different caravan data sets to create a hotspot index.

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A Natural Progression:

Interview with Andrew Baragwanath - Chairman of the BH&HPA Andrew Baragwanath, owner of Ayr Holiday Park near St Ives in Cornwall, has become the new national chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA). Holiday Parks Management finds out a little more about his background in the industry and what his hopes are for the association.

“My first priority as BHHPA Chairman is to do no harm,” he says. “I do not think it is helpful for a new chairman to try and impose a vanity scheme, which central office may not have the resources to deliver. Having said that, I believe the biggest threat to our industry, whether holiday or residential, is a loss of consumer confidence in our product.

“We all will have seen news articles and TV programmes citing dubious practices like mis-selling or harassment of residents. All industries have members whose business practices could be improved but I believe there is potential for great reputational damage when consumers are making large purchases without legal advice and feeling 'ripped off' when things do not turn out as they hoped. The more this happens, the greater number of people will be put off purchasing a caravan and I believe we should all seek to ensure 'fairness' in dealing with our customers.”

It is fair to say that Andrew has grown up in the holiday park business. Ayr Holiday Park has been owned by the same family for successive generations with each helping to drive the business forward. Opened by his grandparents as a field for campers on their land in the early 1950s, he took over the reins of the park from his parents, Duncan and Betty, 35 years ago.

“I have actually been working in the industry for about 40 years but can recall working on the family's park in school holidays prior to that,” says Andrew. “The holiday caravans were not plumbed in, so people would collect water from standpipes and hopefully, empty the waste bucket regularly and before departure. Sadly, this was not always the case and it often fell to me to get rid of the greasy waste water. This was before the days of Child-Line! I also remember the gentle hiss of gas lighting and the introduction of televisions into the caravans....at an extra fee

of course. As caravan design improved, I recall the discussions as to whether it was a good idea to put a shower in a caravan (in fairness sometimes it wasn't).”

“Certainly caravans, and parks, have developed as society has got wealthier and demands higher standards. Today's customer, happy to stay in or buy a modern caravan or lodge, would not countenance staying in a 1960s eight-foot wide unit with no sanitation, central heating or WiFi. The industry has had to become more professional and accept training to cope with regulation, higher standards of customer care and consumer protection.

“Overseas holidays were in their infancy but holiday entitlement was much less than today. People enquired by letter or phone for a brochure and posted a booking form to book their holiday. No email, internet, fax or card payments!”

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The holiday park industry continues to progress and Andrew believes that this is an exciting time for park owners and their guests. “It’s fascinating to witness how parks of all sizes are today looking to invest in their product with a view to making guest experiences even more memorable,” he says.

“Part of the spur for this has been the staycation trend of recent years which has seen many more families opting for a holiday in Britain rather than going abroad. I think this is inspiring many parks to up their game even higher in terms of quality and the range of attractions on offer, so ensuring that the trend continues.”

Certainly, under Andrew’s stewardship, Ayr Holiday Park has grown to become one of Cornwall’s top coastal park destinations with 80 touring pitches and 50 holiday caravans and apartments to let. In addition, the park five years ago acquired the adjoining Garrack Hotel, fully refurbishing its rooms, swimming pool and now highly acclaimed beachside bar and restaurant, which hosts a raft of events from live concerts to weddings. He also helped redevelop the popular attraction Lusty

Glaze Beach near Newquay. Recent years have seen the business winning a host of national and regional awards both for the quality of the park’s facilities, and its care for the natural environment, something he wishes to encourage other parks to consider.

members. “To start with, the Government could help the industry thrive by appointing a tourism minister who sticks with the job for long enough to make a difference,” he says.

“The simplest way to define our green credentials is through the Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme,” he says.

However, beyond that, parks with suitable land could look at generating their own electricity through solar or wind and try and achieve carbon neutral status. We will need to make provision for charging electric vehicles but also could reduce our use of plastics and focus on habitats for wildlife,” he says.

“Through BH&HPA, we can all come together to share our knowledge and experiences, and to help ensure that our businesses continue evolving for everyone’s benefit,” he adds.

“We are a service industry and need people to look after our guests. Putting up barriers to people who wish to come and work here makes little sense when we have record levels of employment and unfilled vacancies.

I believe a £30k floor on earnings for migrant workers will mean that industry will be able to attract high earners from abroad leaving the lower skilled jobs for the local population. To use a sporting analogy, if a top football club needs a player, they often recruit from overseas as a quick fix rather than developing their own academy players. If the political rhetoric is to be believed, I do not know where the kitchen and restaurant staff will come from, or the housekeepers.”

As an industry which, according to a recent economic survey, generates £9.3bn of visitor spending each year, and supports more than 170,000 full-time jobs, Andrew will be looking for some government support for BH&HPA

Being situated in one of the most popular coastal areas in the country, Andrew is well aware of the pressures facing local people who can be priced out of their own towns and villages.

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“The issue of second homes is controversial and good holiday parks can ease the situation by encouraging people to buy a lodge rather than part of the housing stock,” he says. “Of course, many people have bought their cottage by the sea as an investment, confident that property prices will always go up and the same cannot necessarily be said for a caravan or lodge.

“Where I am in St Ives, any new-build housing must be as a primary residence only. It remains to be seen how this will work long-term but a property built just before the legislation took effect will be worth more than a similar one built just after, which may deter some housebuilders. It may also put more pressure on the traditional harbourside cottage. One factor that I have not heard discussed is how many people would want to live full time nowadays in a cottage with no parking space or garden and with very small rooms compared with modern standards. Another irony is that the availability of affordable housing has an impact on the ability of seasonal workers to live and provide the services required by our visitors.”

Andrew is very much in favour of people being properly paid for the work they do. “The Living Wage has a role to play in that and my staff are all paid above it,” he says. “I am cynical though of politicians bidding up the living wage in competition with their opponents in an attempt to buy votes. Someone working a 40-hour week on the living wage is still losing a substantial amount to tax and national insurance and that is something successive Chancellors have not addressed, in my opinion.

“I have also seen businesses being 'named and shamed' for technical breaches of the legislation, for instance where an employee is paid the same all year round but if their summer hours are looked at alone, they are being paid too little during the peak season. Increases in the Living Wage do not take account of the business' ability to pay and it also has an upward pressure on other staff wages in order to maintain pay differentials. Increases in pension contributions also reduce employees' take-home pay and increase the employer's costs,” he adds.

Looking to the future of his own business, Andrew speaks for many of the membership of the BH&HPA when it comes to the challenges he faces. “We do not have the opportunity to expand physically so I would look to continuing our evolutionary approach to adapting to a changing world. Some challenges will be presented by the changeover to electric cars, the growth in motor caravanning rather than touring caravans, the availability of staff in a service industry where personal contact is important. We are becoming used to self-service check in and out in budget hotels, airports and shops but I believe there is value in human contact and I have not yet seen a robot that can service a caravan.”

Quality of service remains the priority for Andrew and despite the changes in technology, it seems that his guests are still looking for largely the same things.

“I am proud of the high level of return customers we have at Ayr Holiday Park. I also am pleased that we have many long serving staff of over ten years who are great ambassadors for the business and provide great customer service. Since we first opened in 1950, we now have some fourth-generation families coming to stay and it is great to see that each generation fundamentally enjoys doing the same things as previous generations; time on the beach, in the countryside and eating fresh local food, coupled with plenty of screen time nowadays of course!” www.ayrholidaypark.co.uk

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The UK's Leading Outdoor Cinema and ‘Drive In’ Company

Skylight Cinema specialises in the hire of Mobile Outdoor Cinema equipment

MID–WEEK OFFER £995

Fully inclusive package

Large Screen suitable for up to 750 people, starting from £1,250 + VAT Small Screen suitable for up to 250 people, starting from £650 + VAT Any location possible • No obligation quote

Call us Today! 07739710272 | info@skylightcinema.co.uk

www.skylightcinema.co.uk

With over five years’ experience, Skylight Cinema, who hire out the equipment you need to put on outdoor cinema screenings, have built up a reputation for value, reliability and helpfulness.

Big Screen: Big draw

with Skylight Cinema

Open air and pop-up cinema has seen a massive growth in recent years and as demand and awareness amongst the public has grown, so has the number of screenings being put on across the UK. Skylight Cinema have a wide range of clients that hire their equipment and services. These range from festivals, event organisers and businesses to charities, community groups and schools.

Skylight Cinema provide a turnkey solution for anyone that wants to put on an outdoor screening.

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■ This includes our massive inflatable 10m x 5m screen which is suitable for an audience of up to 1500.

■ Plus a 6 kilowatt PA system, powerful 6,000 lumens projection and back up projector.

■ Event support equipment including flood lights, usher torches, jackets and radios and spare chairs.

Skylight Cinema have full public liability insurance and have a 100% safety record that they have built up over the last 5 years. They also have a glowing list of testimonials and an impressive client list that you can see on their website.

There has never been a better time to organise an outdoor cinema screening in your area. With increasing awareness and demand on the up, events can be very profitable, whether it is a commercial event or raising money for charity, a community group or school PTA. The best events match the film to the venue to make it a unique cinematic experience.

Examples in recent years include: ■ Jaws ■ Titanic ■ The Poseidon Adventure screened on a ferry ■ Blair Witch screened in the woods ■ Monty Python shown at a castle ■ Big Wednesday shown on a cliff top ■ Top Gun in a hanger

Alpha RFID Prepayment Metering

by CPES CPES introduce the Alpha RFID metering system to their already vast product portfolio. A din rail mounted 4 module RFID card meter, a world first in MID Approved pre-payment card meters.

With Alpha RFID, an authorised card is simply held over the reader embedded into the meter housing to activate. The meter can be easily retro-fitted into any existing Service Bollard or Connection Unit regardless of the manufacturer.

Used in conjunction with our Alpha software, this makes a simple yet versatile way of taking payment for electricity prior to consumption. The meter offers a host of other features including multiple tariff options, low credit alarm and an emergency credit facility. The RFID meter is fitted behind either a fixed viewing window or customer reset flap if the emergency credit facility is required.

Software: Alpha software to build your database and record customer account

information and payments / credits.

RFID Reader & Cards: The reader connects to your computer terminal and credit can be loaded onto a reusable card. The card can be read at any time to view an outstanding balance or to ‘top-up’ with further credit.

RFID Meters: Credit is transferred to the meter from the card and any remaining balance can be transferred back to the same card.

This metering has already proved to be extremely popular within the UK leisure industry, assisting with the pre-payment of electricity since its launch earlier this year.

We predict that our Alpha RFID is going to be the stand out product for the future of prepayment metering.

Please contact CPES for further details on Alpha RFID metering or any of their other products on +44 (0) 1790 753153 or email sales@cpes.co.uk and one of our CPES team will be happy to help. Also visit the CPES website at www.cpes.co.uk

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a d v e r t o r i a l

Save water,

SAVE MONEY

For many holiday parks, water is crucial to providing guests with a comfortable, enjoyable stay. From filling the pool to keeping guests clean, a significant amount of water is used across a park every single day.

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that these resorts typically face high utilities bills. In fact, if you have an indoor swimming pool on site, the energy required for heating and ventilation can account for up to 65% of your total energy usage.

unit cost errors.

You might also consider carrying out a historical recovery audit, to help you to unearth billing errors that may have occurred in the last five to six years depending on your location.

With water being used for so many different purposes around your site, it can be difficult to see where water may be being wasted and where efficiencies could be made. But with utilities bills accounting for as much as 30% of holiday parks’ total running costs, finding ways to bring your water costs down can make a real difference to your bottom line.

Here are two simple steps you can take to reduce your water bills:

Keep an eye on your consumption

Check your charges When searching for savings, your bills might not be the first place you consider – but there could be hidden savings within your water bills.

That’s because water suppliers can make mistakes when it comes to the varying elements that make up your water bill. Water bills vary depending on whether you are metered or un-metered, with businesses paying a standing charge plus either a volumetric rate or a charge related to the rateable value of your property. You’re also likely to be billed for sewerage services, and water companies have different approaches to charging for surface water drainage and highway drainage. It is therefore unsurprising that with the complexities of your water bills, you could be making overpayments due to

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Getting to grips with your water consumption is crucial when you’re looking to reduce your water bills. You need to understand what is typical for your site and for different areas and processes so that you can identify key areas for improvement and measure any efficiency actions you implement.

The right software can help you to gain a clear picture of how much water you’re using, and flag any unusual patterns of consumption. This can be particularly useful when it comes to detecting any leaks that may occur, which can be costly unless they are found and fixed quickly.

Expert support When you’re concentrating on running your holiday park, it can be difficult to find the time to dedicate to validating your bills and improving your water efficiency.

That’s where having the support of Inspired Energy’s team of optimisation experts can make a real difference. Whether you need help with bill validation, revenue recovery audits or finding ways to save water, they’re on hand to help – give them a call today on 01772 675 294 or email optimisationhub@inspiredenergy.co.uk.

a d v e r t o r i a l

FREE RANGE News

BREXIT HAS IMPACT ON BUYING BRITISH, STUDY FINDS About half of the respondents who reported buying more British goods said it was a conscious decision to support British businesses, whereas only 14% said it was because of higher import taxes, according to the Simon-Kucher research, the publication writes.

Pricing specialists Simon-Kucher have been studying the impact of Brexit on consumer preferences, and there has been a marked impact on shoppers likelihood of buying british, according to Farminguk.

The research found that nearly a third — 30% — of consumers surveyed reported buying more British-branded good, which is up from 24% in April of 2018, the publication writes.

The study looked at how the way people voted in the Brexit referendum affects their buying choices and found that more Leave voters report buying more British-labled goods (36%) but the number of Remain voters that buy British has also increased (22%), according to Farminguk.

When it came to price, 39% of respondents preferred British brands when they were comparable in price to international competitors whereas 33% expressed a willingness to pay more for British products, Farminguk writes.

However, this means that overall, 67% of those who took the survey were not willing to pay more just because a product was British, according to the publication.

One area that may not come as a surprise to farm shops is that British consumers reported an increase in buying local produce (63%) including fruit, vegetables and cheeses, Farminguk writes. This is something that British agriculture can capitalise on, but there will always be imports of seasonal or exotic goods,

according to the publication, and it is not yet known what impact Brexit will have on these.

“Many people confuse UK and foreign brands, and this points to an opportunity for British businesses to up their branding and marketing game to capture more of the ‘buy British’ market. Simply slapping a Union Jack on your packaging won’t be enough. Price (61%), quality (55%), and convenience (55%) are still the three top drivers for purchasing decisions,“ Rosalind Hunter, a Senior Director at Simon-Kucher, said, according to Farminguk. “Indeed, with the continuing economic uncertainty, price is likely to stay as the number one concern for shoppers for the foreseeable future,“ he added, the publication writes.

Simon-Kucher have been monitoring the population’s opinions on Brexit and the impact it has had since the referendum, according to Farminguk, and this research was carried out in November 2016, April 2017, October 2017, April 2018, October 2018 and April 2019.

Wales Set to Support Sustainable Farming The Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs announced that Wales is moving away from Basic Payments in order to support farmers through a more sustainable scheme post-Brexit.

The minister, Lesley Griffiths, outlined a number of changes with sustainable land management at the heart of Welsh farming once the UK leaves the Europian Union. Plans also included combining the proposed economic resilience and public goods schemes in ‘Brexit and our Land’ into a new single sustainable farming scheme.

These proposed changes are set to be expanded upon before the Royal Welsh Show (July 22 to 25). “Last year, we carried out one of our largest agriculture consultations on how we support Welsh farmers and land post-Brexit. We had strong and wide ranging responses and I am extremely grateful to everyone who engaged in the discussion,” Griffiths said.

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“The case for reform remains and a new approach is needed,” Griffiths continued. “This government has therefore decided Basic Payments Scheme will come to an end in Wales. Instead, we want to put sustainability at the heart of our future support, balancing the needs of [the] current generation with our obligations to the next.”

She proposed a new single sustainable farming scheme, which should allow the government to explore economic, environmental and social opportunities at the same time. “ We will propose an annual payment to farmers in return for the environmental outcomes delivered on their farm — targeted at reversing biodiversity decline, meeting our carbon budgets and hitting our clean air targets,” Griffiths said.

The idea behind the singular system is based around the fact that a previous consultation found “the production of food and the production of public goods can go hand in

hand. In many cases, the same action, done in the right way, can contribute to both outcomes.” And Griffiths says that they “want to pay for these environmental outcomes” in order to support sustainable food production.

“By promoting sustainable land management, we can work together to create a system which helps farmers thrive, harness the value of Welsh land and secure a prosperous, resilient agricultural sector in Wales,” Griffiths said.

FREE RANGE News BULK FOOD DISPENSERS: WHAT’S THE FUSS?

We here a lot of talk about “zero waste” and “circular economy” these days, and one aspect of it has been the attempt to reduce packaging. This will hopefully help combat climate change through a reduction in production and transport and, more importantly, reduce the amount of plastic waste in the oceans.

Shops, manufacturers, and businesses of all sorts have been trying out different methods, and one that has proved popular is installing bulk food dispensers.

What are bulk food dispensers

Why are they becoming more popular?

An increase in consumer awareness of the environmental impact of their shopping habits has been the driving force behind the change. Having bulk dispensers means that products don’t need their own, individual plastic packaging, which reduced emissions through manufacturing and transport as well as reducing the amount of plastic that makes its way into the oceans, which has proved one of the most pressing issues in the public conscious.

Bulk food dispensers are essentially the modern-day equivalent of a bag of grain and handheld scoop we all associate oldtimey grocery stores with. They are large, generally plastic, gravity-fed containers with levers that allow consumers to dispense a range of (generally dried) goods into containers they can then take with them.

Furthermore, bulk dispensers allow shoppers to only purchase the amount they need, which will reduce the amount of food thrown away. This is especially important as the issue of food waste has become more prominent in recent years.

Unfortunately, some large supermarkets use disposable plastic as the receptacle, but smaller-scale stores often have a bring-your-own policy or provide reusable tubs.

Now, you may be thinking that large dispensaries like this are only at place in large stores, but farm shops have found success with them as they try to reduce their impact.

Are they appropriate for a farm shop?

One such example is Lathcoats Farm in Chelmsford, Essex, which, according to Essex Live, has 32 of the bulk dispensers. Shoppers are able to bring their own containers or bags to the shop, where they can choose from a range of “pastas, couscous, rice and lentils as well as cereals, mueslis, chili crackers, Paradise mix and Bombay Mix,” and more the publication writes.

What’s more, if shoppers decide to use this more sustainable option, they are eligible for a 25% discount compared to the pre-packaged options. One of the shop’s owners, Philip Taylor, told Essex Live that they had started the initiative as an attempt to reduce their single-use plastics, and so far the “response has been phenomenal.”

So, could bulk containers be right for your farm shop? Or maybe you can think of other ways to reduce single-use packaging. Regardless of your approach, there is no doubt a way to reduce your impact and make your customers feel better about their choice to shop with you.

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FREE RANGE News

SHOULD YOU STOCK CBD-INFUSED PRODUCTS IN YOUR FARM SHOP? Cannabis has no doubt seen a boom in popularity in recent years, with many countries and states legalizing it in all its forms. One extract that is seeing increased growth in the UK is CBD, which can now be found in everything from tinctures to smoothies to high-end hand creams. But what is it, why is it so popular, and should you stock CBD products in your farm shop?

What is CBD? Let’s make it very clear that cannabis (aka, weed, pot, marujana, etc) is illegal in the UK. It is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 due to the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that the plant contains.

However, cannabidiol (CBD) is another of the 113 cannabinoids that the plant contains, and has none of the psychoactive effects that the plant as a whole (or THC extract) does. This means that it does not induce mood swings or, essentially, make users “high” and is therefore perfectly legal in the UK, so long as it contains only very low trace amounts of THC. It is this extract, and not actual cannabis, that you will find in shops and cafes in the UK.

How and Why is it being infused in food and drink?

The biggest reason for the increase in CBDinfused products is the purported health benefits. People claim that they feel less anxious, sleep better or suffer less joint pain when taking it. There has been some pretty strong scientific evidence for the benefits of CBD, but when it comes to infusions it is not yet conclusive, which is why there is still restrictions on the claims that CBD-infused products can make.

However, the anecdotal evidence is enough for many people, and this is driving the boom.

One of the reasons for the rise in infused food and drink, rather than oils and tinctures which have been available for many years, is that they offer an easier opening to casual consumers. Those without a previous knowledge of CBD are far more likely to eat a cookie than start

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dosing with oil — at the end of the day, a CBD Cappuccino is friendlier than some cannabis pills. But, while food-infusions may be an easier “in”, they are far less likely to give the reported health benefits of CBD since the actual quantity of the extract that the products contain is completely unknown.

Furthermore, the CBD market as a whole has increased, with the number of CBD users doubling from 2017 to 2018 (125,000 to 250,000), according to the Cannabis Trades Association UK. This means that there is more money in the market, and thus, food and drink producers will look to capitalise on this trend while they can.

Regulations, Regulations, Regulations As this is a new area for the UK, much of the regulation that surrounds it is also new, or, as is often the case with new products, still up in the air. This includes what can and can’t be sold as well as how it is classified and regulated.

What is a Novel Food?

According to the UK Food Standards Agency, a Novel Food is anything that has “not been widely consumed by people in the EU before May 1997.” A pretty broad definition which includes anything without a solid history of consumption. This includes new foods, such as “phytosterols and phytostanols used in cholesterol reducing spreads” as well as foods that have a history of being consumed elsewhere in the world, but not in the EU, including things such as chia seeds and baobab. Finally, it includes foods created through a new process, such as “bread treated with ultraviolet light to increase the level of vitamin D,” also known as a “functional foods.”

How Does this Affect CBD Food and Drinks?

The Food Standards Agency has to carry out a pre-market safety assessment and authorise any novel food. And, according to the Food Standards Agency, they accept “the clarification from the EU that CBD

extracts are considered novel foods” and are “committed to finding a proportionate way forward by working with local authorities, businesses and consumers to clarify how to achieve compliance in the marketplace in a proportionate manner.”

This is an issue that has been hotly contested by the Cannabis Trades Association who claim that “products that are enriched with isolated CBD” should fall under the category of Novel Foods, as opposed to all CBD products that could now be open to enforcement.

A Legal Mess Sometimes, the regulations are still so blurry that there can be strange legal clashes, as shown by the opening and subsequent closing of a CBD restaurant in Brighton. The Canna Kitchen opened at the end of 2018 to much fanfare and quickly became a booming success. However, in May of this year, the restaurant was raided, with police seizing a “substantial amount of herbal cannabis” but making no arrests.

According to the owners, they were completely in line with UK law, but have remained closed following legal advice.

This is just one example of the still-blurry legal area in which CBD products operate.

Furthermore, some places, such as New York City, have now implemented outright bans on CBD infused foods, which could spell the beginning of the end for this new trend.

So what does this mean for your farm shop?

For the most part, it means the opportunity to stock new ranges of popular foods and drinks, infused with CBD. There is very little chance that you will face any legal trouble, despite what happened to the Canna Kitchen, since external products will have already been given the green light. Of course, if you plan on going it alone DIY style, you need to do your research! Even if you just stock products, it is worth taking some time to research since there is still legal guidelines for how you can market the products, specifically when it comes to health claims. Overall, this is certainly a trend worth paying attention to.

FREE RANGE News

Mission to turn UK food and drink industry transparent launches WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COUNTRY’S FIRST NATIONAL PROVENANCE CENTRE

Food provenance pioneer, Happerley, revealed its plans to create a groundbreaking independent food and leisure destination as an epicentre of food transparency in England.

Situated at Lock29, in Banbury’s Castle Quay, Oxfordshire, Happerley England will give farmers, suppliers and producers a platform to champion their ‘Gold Standard’ produce, a marque accorded only to food and drink producers able to name the exact sources of their core ingredients back to the primary producers.

Developed in the context of the growing phenomenon of interest in food and drink and demand for transparency that is sweeping the UK, Happerley England will offer an experiential and inspiring insight into the very best English food and drink production and producers.

Whether it’s beef, cheese, coffee or bread, every core ingredient in Happerley England products will be instantly traceable back to the farms (or fishing boats) of its origin; combating the alarming £12billion (real figure estimated to be as much as £60billion) food fraud costs the UK annually.

The plans were announced during a special launch event at the farm where it all began for Happerley’s founder and CEO, Matthew Rymer, on Friday, 12th July.

He said: “Happerley England is a focus, a celebration and a centre for the very finest food and drinks that have complete provenance. In too many cases the consumer is being misled and to my mind, it should be a basic right and expectation for the consumer to know where the food and drink they’ve purchased has come from.

“The reality of food production is being smoke screened, you’d be surprised how many brands do not want to identify their supply chain. Happerley England stands for delivering honesty and communicating that on behalf of everyone; it’s a beacon of transparency.”

The event was hosted by TV presenter and farmer Adam Henson, who unveiled the plans alongside a panel of stakeholders and representatives.

He said: “This was a grassroots idea from a farmer who's got incredible vision and the momentum has gained a very fast pace to get to where it is today at this magnificent launch. This is a legacy for Happerley - even if a business can’t turn Happerley Transparent straight away, it stimulates conversation and that is so important. This will pull the whole of society together.”

Cllr Tony Ilott, Lead Member for Financial Management & Governance at Cherwell District Council, said: “It’s great to have Banbury as the epicentre of this food revolution. Happerley England will be the star attraction of Banbury and it will do exceptionally well. This is Happerley’s launchpad and we’re going to do all we can to support them. If all food and drink were

The foundations have been laid to stamp out food fraud and give power back to the consumer with the unveiling of plans to build the country’s first national centre dedicated to food and drink transparency. transparent it would be great.”

Qing Lin, CEO of Join In China, a Chinese food and drink agency, was on the discussion panel and explained how Happerley England will become a procurement requirement for food and drink exports to the Chinese market, securing British advantage in this fast growing market post-Brexit.

She said: “The Chinese love anything that is made in the UK so this is a fantastic opportunity for small producers to sell their products to the Asian market, as being able to prove the traceability and provenance of their products will give them an extra unique selling point when tapping into the Chinese market. Happerley England is a great initiative and as a consumer myself, I feel blessed to be empowered to make an informed choice, so I’d encourage producers to grab this opportunity by both hands and grow.”

The event also saw NFU Mutual commit to a high profile long-term partnership with Happerley, while former England rugby captain and Non-executive Director of Creed Foodservice, Phil Vickery MBE DL, announced it will champion transparency in the ‘Foodservice Wholesale’ sector. This means it will endeavour to deliver Happerley Transparency across its supply chain wherever possible.

In addition, the Guild of Fine Foods and Great Taste Awards announced their involvement in the Happerley England Tour, which kicked off at the end of the event with the Happerley taxi being waved off by a crowd of over 100 farmers, suppliers, producers and passionate foodies, as it embarks on visiting every English county to celebrate and savour each region’s finest produce to showcase at Happerley England.

For more information on Happerley, visit https://happerley.co.uk/.

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park Improvements

Can’t find the matting you’re looking for?

The NBB Group was established in 1994 by owner Martyn Bright. Starting as a business specialising in cigarette litter disposal products, the company, with its innovative products and unique lifetime guarantee offering, saw record growth with the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007.

This enabled Martyn to expand the organisation to offer a larger range of products and services. The NBB Group now has several websites, one of which is NBB Floor Matting, an online provider of interior and exterior matting suitable for a wide range of applications. The organisation is committed to ensuring the NBB product portfolio is continuously growing to meet the needs of its customers and welcomes ideas from its employees, that also feedback customer requests.

An example of this is the latest addition to the NBB Matting portfolio—Ringmat

Honeycomb Mats. This introduction followed a request from a local nature reserve looking to install a safe and slip free surface to its outdoor play area.

Honeycomb matting is widely used for play areas due to its durability, anti-slip surface and long lifespan. It allows for grass to grow through the matting which keeps the naturistic look and feel, whilst offering the additional safety that is expected in areas that encourage children to play.

Acting immediately, NBB’s team of experienced buyers contacted their existing supplier network to source high-quality honeycomb matting products. After the company’s own quality assessment and research to ensure longevity and conformance to slip resistance standards.

The Ringmat Honeycomb Mat was chosen and was live to purchase on the NBB Floor Matting website within just a few weeks.

This matting has already shown popularity with outdoor venues and businesses who are installing the matting in play areas and outside building entrances.

Martyn Bright, owner of NBB, tells us: “Our business remains successful as we constantly evolve to meet demands of our customers. I have an excellent team of employees who have a clear passion and pride in the business. All customer suggestions are fed back to me directly for further investigation. Our customers know that if they can’t find what they are looking for, to tell us, as we can often find them a product that meet their requirements and suits their budget.” www.nbbmatting.co.uk

LEISUREBENCH ANNOUNCE MID SEASON CLEARANCE SALE LeisureBench Limited is one of the country’s leading suppliers of premium quality commercial furniture. Established 15 years ago, rapid expansion has seen the Company grow into a major UK supplier.

Every so often, they have a clearance sale.

Many of the products on offer are end of line items and represent excellent value for money. There are bargains to be had across their full stock range of premium quality commercial furniture and as an added bonus, you can save up to a further 15% with Trade only volume discounts.

Whatever you are looking for, whether it be Rattan, picnic tables, benches, chairs, tables, dining sets etc. there is sure to be something to suit your needs.

For example, if you are looking for picnic tables there are several on offer in A-frame and round styles, plus easy access walk in designs in various sizes, from an amazing £79 plus VAT. The Darwin 150 cm bench is available in pine and dark grey at £127.66 plus VAT.

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Stylish cast aluminium Tudor benches are also on offer at £142.78 plus VAT. There are also dining sets to match.

There are an abundance of chairs on special offer including polypropylene designs right through to Retro collections manufactured in steel for commercial strength.

To see the full range of products on offer, go directly to the commercial special offers page by logging into www.leisurebench.co.uk/special_offers/b usiness_pages or telephone 01949 862920.

Email: sales@leisurebench.co.uk.

Innovative Leisure opens high ropes course and climbing tower at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure

park Improvements A WORLD FIRST FOR A SPA LOCATION

UK adventure attractions specialist Innovative Leisure has announced the opening of a new Sky Trail high ropes course and climbing tower at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone, England.

The new installation provides the chance for visitors to explore two levels of high ropes adventure above a dinosaur themed mini golf course and test their limits on the 10m tall climbing tower.

The Outdoor Adventure facility is part of a wider regeneration project by Maidstone Borough Council to boost visitor numbers to the park which already sees over one million visitors a year, the project also includes a new playground which opened earlier this year, with a visitor centre and café due to open later in 2020.

Mote Park already has a lot to offer with 460 acres of park to explore, a large lake with a watersports centre and a leisure centre. With the addition of new attractions like the high ropes course and climbing tower, the council is looking to make Mote Park a destination where people can spend the day and discover new activities each time.

The Sky Trail course has a capacity of 47 people at a time and has a high throughput thanks to an overhead continuous belay system which allows participants to overtake on platforms and choose their own path around the course. The freedom to explore at their own pace means the course is suitable for those new to challenging themselves at height and the adventurous alike, with opportunities for repeat play as customers return to take on the more difficult elements they may have avoided on their previous visit.

The climbing tower allows four climbers at a time to push themselves to reach the top, 10m from the ground supported by hydraulic auto belays.

Fran Wallis, Local Economy Project Officer for Maidstone Borough Council, said: “The Sky Trail high ropes experience is exactly what we wanted in this area to bring it to life. It complements the other play offers and appeals to a wide range of age groups. We recently took part in a corporate session and it proved popular amongst my colleagues. The council has been very happy with the support and advice received from Innovative Leisure over the years they have been involved in designing, planning and installing the equipment. They have also assisted Serco, our operating partner, with specialist staff training.” www.innovativeleisure.co.uk

Earlier this year Park Leisure Solutions were approached by leading UK Leisure Lodge and Park Home manufacturer Tingdene Homes to collaborate with the design and build of their ground breaking Quantum Lodge. The brand new Quantum Leisure Lodge will form the centre piece for many ‘50 Year’ celebrations for the company and will be seen at exhibitions up and down the country, starting with the launch at The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

The 52’ x 22’ Quantum Leisure Lodge is unrivalled in the industry, boasting spacious living areas with luxury fittings and furnishing throughout. The huge 1,114 sq/ft footprint of the Quantum has been fully optimised both inside and out with the design of a fantastic edge to edge, fully decked roof terrace, with seating and entertainment areas as well as an amazing Spa adding that final touch of luxury living. Installed on the roof terrace the unique design will allow guests using the Spa to enjoy 360-degree views from the comfort of the Spa, in the privacy of the roof terrace.

Park Leisure Solutions, Managing Director Stuart Mulchay said, “We were delighted to be involved with such a prestigious and challenging project. The new Quantum Lodge breaks new boundaries in leisure lodge development and the Spa located on the spacious roof terrace, required the skills of both Park Leisure Solutions and the Tingdene development team to produce a truly outstanding result and a fitting tribute to the company’s 50th year celebrations. From initial ideas, to plans and build specification, to final production and installation both teams used their skills and knowledge to deliver what will be a very unique customer experience when relaxing in the Spa”.

The new Quantum Leisure Lodge will move to Tingdene’s Visitor Centre in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire for the summer before appearing at various exhibitions throughout the UK later in the year. www.parkleisuresolutions.co.uk

ISSUE 39 l JULY/AUGUST 2019

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