Holiday Parks Management | Sept/Oct 2019

Holiday Parks & FARM ATTRACTIONS Management FREERANGE

Love2Stay: SETTING NEW STANDARDS

september/October 2019 • Issue 40

incorporating

FOR RURAL RETAIL

WHAT A SHOW! The Glamping Show Spatex • Saltex Farm Business Innovations Holiday & Leisure Park Development Forum

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ISSUE 27 l JUNE 2017

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Holiday Parks

Management Welcome to our September/October combined issue which sets us up for this season’s many trade fairs and events. The Holiday Parks Management team will be out and about at The Glamping Show, The Holiday & Leisure Park Development Forum, The Holiday Parks Show, SALTEX and Spatex - as well as the Autumn Coin-op Show. I shall also be nipping over to Denver in order to speak at our Glamping Summit USA. As if that’s not enough, we are launching a new event of our own - Eco Resort Network. This will be 2 days of networking and curated conversations for those who put

What’s in this issue?

sustainability front and centre in their businesses, not just in terms of water and energy management but also in terms of empowering staff and making stronger connections with the community around them. Check out www.ecoresort.network for more details.

Steph Editor

Highlands End Holiday Park

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Park Improvements

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Love2Stay Interview

20 Free Range Retail News 25 Farm Business Innovation Preview 32 SALTEX Preview 38 Spatex Preview 39 Holiday Park Leisure Development Forum Preview 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 2019. 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 Fantasy nights on park where glamping gets down to earth Mole, Badger and Toad have leapt from the pages of a much-loved children’s book to provide the ultimate glamping experience on a top-rated Herefordshire holiday park.

Five-star Townsend Touring Park near Leominster is now providing fantasy breaks in three luxury lodge-style dwellings which have all literally gone to earth.

Each is concealed under a grass-covered hillock, and has been designed as a pampering paradise where guests can properly close the door on the outside world.

Named after three famous animal characters in The Wind in the Willows, the lodges make extensive use of locally harvested timber to create their uniquely cosy atmosphere.

But while the romantic ambience might belong in the past, the facilities are very much present-day. Sleeping between two and nine people, they provide fully-

equipped kitchens with up-to-the-minute appliances, shower rooms, heating, and beds all made-up on arrival.

featuring local produce including meat from the farm which has been run by Geoff’s family for around 80 years.

Set amid the tranquil rolling countryside of NW Herefordshire, Townsend Touring Park was opened by Geoff and Su Smith as a camping and touring park in 2002.

Townsend provides fully services pitches for touring guests and also timber-built luxury pods – but according to Geoff, many guests now return to stay in its subterranean lodges:

Its idyllic location and reputation for friendliness and hospitality soon won the park a loyal following, and have helped win the couple a raft of local and national awards.

They include top five-star accolades from Visit England and the AA, and a place in the Top 100 parks as voted for by readers of Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines.

At the heart of the 12-acre landscaped grounds is a peaceful fishing lake which helps draw a wide range of bird species and other wildlife to Townsend.

There is also a cycle trail laid out in the park’s woodland, plus a farm shop

“They certainly capture people’s imagination, and appeal especially to those who want to enjoy a total escape without sacrificing any creature comforts,” he said.

“We’ve had bookings both from couples looking for a truly memorable get-away, and families whose children see them as a totally unforgettable adventure living underground!

“Just as important to us is that they blend in perfectly to the landscape and are built from sustainable materials which add to their natural charm,” added Geoff.

Yorkshire Caravans makes new appointment

Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry, the oldest and largest independent retailer of caravans, awnings and outdoor leisure accessories in the UK, has promoted Cheryl Keel, 38, from Retford to the post of After Care Manager after four years with the company.

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“Cheryl has shown lots of ambition and demonstrated all the skills that we look for in our managers and she was the natural choice to be able take our level of after care service to the next level,” said Andrew Whittaker Managing Director Yorkshire Caravans. “She is a great organiser, has a great work ethic and I have no doubt that she will prosper in her new role.”

Cheryl originally joined Yorkshire Caravans as a cleaner and has since worked in various departments within the organisation including reception, internet

sales, Leisure Shop, Accounts and, most latterly, aftercare administration which she has done for the past year.

Her new role will see her having responsibility for all the service work, warranties and pre-delivery caravan inspections prior to handover supported by Tracy Brown who has moved over from the Leisure Shop to take on the position of After Care Administration.

“Yorkshire Caravans is a wonderful place to work and this is a fantastic opportunity which I’m really looking forward to,” said Cheryl. “Taking up the role in peak season has meant a busy first few weeks but, as things settle down, it will be great to take a look at procedures and make some positive changes that will benefit our customers. “

parkNews Families rally to help Devon park take out a ton of plastic The family owners of a Devon holiday park are involving guests in their bid to turn the tide on the scourge of plastic which is polluting West Country beaches.

Ladram Bay Holiday Park near Budleigh Salterton in East Devon is aiming to retrieve one tonne of waste washed up on its private beach over the coming months.

The growing total of discarded plastics gathered will be shown by a rising column of sand on a special display board near the beach path.

The park is asking guests to bolster the efforts of their own staff team of litter pickers by collecting any plastics they find, and depositing them in a bin alongside the board.

Zoe House, a director of Ladram Bay and a member of the park-owning family, says the scheme won’t just help to make the beach more welcoming for families: “Plastics can pose a very real threat to marine and land wildlife, as well as blemishing the beautiful natural environment of our coastlines,” she said.

“Guests here love to see the pods of dolphins which often swim in our bay, and they are a constant reminder of how

Family-run Lancashire holiday park company, Holgates, is celebrating a clean sweep of 5star AA assessments across all of its holiday parks in North Lancashire and Cumbria.

Flagship park, Holgates Silverdale was also awarded the 5-Pennant Platinum rating – the highest possible award for caravan and camping sites in the UK – and becomes the only holiday park in Lancashire to hold the sought-after accolade.

Less than 30 holiday parks across the country currently have 5-Pennant Platinum status and only three parks in the North of England. The new elite title is awarded to 5star parks with a quality score of 95% and above, therefore only those demonstrating exceptionally high standards.

important it is to protect our oceans.

“Throughout the year we have tens of thousands of people staying at Ladram Bay, so we have the opportunity to mobilise a whole army of beach cleaners.

“Our family has owned Ladram Bay for over 75 years, and we’ve witnessed the harm that plastics can cause, which is why we have decided to take action.

“Children especially are showing great enthusiasm to help us reach our one ton target, and that’s fantastic as their awareness is essential for the sake of future generations,” added Zoe. A raft of other green initiatives at the park have helped Ladram Bay to win a series of conservation and sustainability accolades over the years.

They include the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level, with a special distinction given for the park’s efforts to protect honey bees and create new wild flower habitats.

To help draw attention to its one ton waste challenge, the park features on its display board a distinctive blue lobster which recalls an eye-opening incident at the park a few years ago.

Holgates Bay View Holiday Park in Bolton le Sands on the Lancashire coast received 5-stars for the first time ensuring all parks are at the top of their game for quality. Bay View has undergone recent investment with a new development of holiday homes overlooking Morecambe Bay, and has opened a new dog-friendly bar to cater for the growing number of owners and

It occurred when another of the park’s directors landed an actual blue lobster from one of the pots he was tending in the bay, sparking national media attention and a BBC TV report.

Lobster Blue is also now the name of Ladram Bay’s own-brand collection of summer clothing.

The five-star park provides a wealth of attractions including a swimming pool with splash zone, an indoor climbing wall and professional entertainment.

Five star success for Lancashire holiday park group holidaymakers taking their faithful friends away with them. In his report on Bay View, the AA inspector said: “It is always a joy to visit this constantly improving holiday destination.”

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parkNews Come and see PAW Patrol hero at Sand le Mere Toddler Break!

Sand le Mere holiday park on the East Yorkshire coast, has teamed up with Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol produced by Spin Master Entertainment, to offer a fun activity packed toddler break in September, when the big kids have gone back to school.

The themed break which runs from the 16th to the 20th September, will include a special guest appearance from PAW Patrol hero Chase, as seen on Nick Jr. On Thursday 19th September, ‘Chase will be on the case’ making personal appearances at intervals throughout the day.

If that’s not enough there will also be a cute and cuddly ‘Animal Interactive Show’ on Wednesday 18th September where tots can meet a range of wildlife including parrots, foxes, meerkats and many more.

The park will be running tot’s activity sessions four times a day with a host of different activities to choose from, including Mini splashers in the fantastic indoor pool complex, Mini nature for the young intrepid explorers and Mini musicians for all the budding popstars out there.

Rebecca Grant, General Manager of Sand le Mere said: “With all of the older kids being back at school, this gives parents with younger children a chance to get away outside of the peak season for a great value break. The whole week will be designed to entertain toddlers and their parents in a fun and safe environment.

“We are really excited to welcome our star guest Chase, who we know he has a very busy job teaching people about safety, so we are very honoured that he is coming to

visit our park to say hello to some of his fans. I will be at the front of the queue for a Chase selfie!”

Package prices for a 4-night stay, arriving on 16th September start at £139, staying in a two-bedroom Comfort caravan (sleeps 6).

You’ll also be able to enjoy the park facilities including the indoor leisure complex, with swimming pool, sauna and steam room, as well as fishing lakes, a crazy golf course and kids’ adventure playground.

Wales holiday park makes cup finals in cafe awards!

Staff and the family owners of a Clwyd holiday park, Ty Gwyn, are celebrating after being named as one of the top spots in Wales for a perfect cuppa.

The restaurant at the park in Abergele, near Colwyn Bay, was among the finalists in the Welsh Cafe Awards 2019, thanks to the volume of votes received from members of the public.

Judges paid tribute the park-owning Owen family at the competition’s glittering awards ceremony held this summer in Cardiff.

Taking her share of credit for the achievement was Sarah Clarke-Shaw who is the chef-manager of the park’s restaurant which is called Swn Y Mor, or “the sound of the sea”.

Sarah has worked at the restaurant for almost two years, and has won a large and loyal following of customers, comprising both holiday guests and people living locally.

Her speciality is freshly prepared meals, many of which feature locally-sourced

foods, plus homemade cakes, teas, coffees and stronger drinks including authentic Welsh gin!

The 15-acre park, just a short walk from the beach and adjoining the Wales Coastal Path, is home to around 200 holiday caravans which are largely privately owned.

Under the same family’s ownership for more than a century, Ty Gwyn began life as a farm – and in the mid 1960s started to welcome holiday guests for the first time.

“From the many comments we receive, both verbally and online, it’s clear that people enjoy not just the quality of our food and drink, but also the restaurant’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

“Credit for this must go to our manager Sarah and her team who work incredibly hard to maintain the highest standards and ensure that everyone receives a warm welcome,” added Angharad.

Word about its idyllic setting began to spread, and the family invested much time and energy into creating first-class facilities and surroundings for people to own a holiday home.

Angharad Owen, a member of the parkowning family, said everyone was thrilled that the restaurant had won Wales-wide acclaim: “We’re naturally very proud to have received such a fantastic vote of confidence from our customers, including those from both sides of the Welsh border,” she said.

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park Improvements Track Extension System is a Game Changer

Another First For The Spa Leisure Industry Park Leisure Solutions Ltd has launched a new, all-in-one Spa Water Auto-fill, Quality Monitoring and In Line Treatment System. The new Auto-fill and chemical dosing system, coupled with their award-winning Climacube system offers park operators the complete solution for their spa operation and maintenance, ensuring the most cost-effective way to fill, heat, dose and drain the spas.

HSE Guidelines for Holiday Park Hot Tubs and Spas recommend twice daily monitoring of the chemical and pH balance of your Hot Tub(s) to determine free chlorine levels, fixed chlorine levels, pH and alkalinity. Ensuring safe use for customers and where necessary treating water and dosing the Hot Tub according to the measurement results.

GreenMech’s new pivoting track extension system has proven itself to be a real game changer for Scotland’s South West Arb. With an increasing number of rail-side de-veg projects demanding work on steep embankments, the SURE-Trak’s ability to perform in even the most challenging of environments saw owner Stewart Ball taking delivery of the first SURE-Trak 19-28 woodchipper in the UK earlier this year.

“When I established South West Arb five years ago, the first thing I purchased was a GreenMech SAFE-Trak chipper” explains Stewart, who now heads-up a team of 15. “My previous employer had been a longstanding user of the SAFETrak units and, having looked at other machines, when it came to working on embankments or challenging terrain, no other chippers came close.” After quickly adding a second SAFE-Trak to his fleet, Stewart then heard about the launch of GreenMech’s next generation track system, SURE-Trak.

Allowing safe traversing of slopes in excess of 35 degrees, the pivoting SURE-Trak assemblies allow each track to maintain contact with the ground independently, while following differing contours, to provide a surer footprint and improved stability. “When I saw what the 19-28 fitted with SURE-Trak system could do, it was a complete game changer. It can get absolutely anywhere and the ability to tilt the body means it’s now even easier and safer for the operator to feed in material, no matter the embankment angle.”

In addition, to make the most effective use of your chemical dosing, which will save money, help the environment, and provide customers with a more enjoyable hot tub experience, tracking the Hot Tub’s temperature and UV exposure can be extremely beneficial. However, within a park environment, can also be very time-consuming and costly.

That’s why Park Leisure Solutions Limited has developed, and now offer the new monitoring and delivery system. The new System will, in real time, monitor everything for you automatically, sending updates about the Hot Tub’s chemical dosing needs over your WiFi network or Smartphone, from anywhere in the world. The new system will auto adjust the dosing levels in line to create the correct water balance for the Hot Tub or you can adjust remotely if required.

Once installed, the System is quick and easy to use. They suggest on changeover days adding a Chlorogene tablet ten minutes before emptying the water, which ensures the spas are 100% sanitized and kills biocides and legionella that could potentially be left in the pipe work on drain down which could carry in to the new water being filled. Then simply switch the System on and leave the Spa to auto fill and dose ready for use. Either manual or smart monitoring is available depending the installation requirements.

Fitted to 1, 5, 10, 50 or even 100 + Hot Tubs or Spas the System can remotely monitor, track, record and inline dose each individual Hot Tub in real time and produce the necessary performance data for both maintenance and health and safety departments when required. Saving man hours on change over days and monitoring, taking the guesswork out of your Hot Tub or Spa maintenance, leading to more efficient and effective dosing for your Hot Tubs, saving time and money and providing a safer environment for customers. parkeieisuresolutions.co.uk

To help in the delivery of power line and railway contracts, Stewart was delighted to take delivery of his SURE-Trak 19-28 from local dealer Lloyd Ltd, in January 2019. “Not only can they reach any given location, but the actual chipping performance is second to none. The powerful rollers will pull in even the most awkward forked material for the disc blades to process.

Keep these sharp and they won’t skip a beat.” Stewart concludes, “Since we’ve had the SURE-Trak, it’s been working on embankments that other chippers could only dream of getting to!”

Greenmech.co.uk

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CPES: Home of the Camperclean Toilet Cassette System unit throughout Europe to installing computerised Automatic Meter Reading systems allowing you the freedom to monitor and control the consumption of electricity and other utilities at each pitch.

Caravan Park Electrical Services Limited are market leaders in the design, manufacture and installation of electrical distribution systems on holiday, park home and touring parks throughout the United Kingdom.

The company was formed in 1982 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, to provide a range of electrical connection units for park operators developing their pitches to accommodate the increasing demand for electricity.

Over the years, the product range has expanded enormously and CPES Ltd have been at the forefront of innovations within the industry. From designing, developing and marketing the humble camping control

One of the latest innovations is Camperclean, the only fully automated solution for emptying and cleaning toilet cassettes. Emptying the cassette on a touring caravan, most people agree, is their least favourite job of the whole ‘caravanning experience’...

Once a customer has used the Camperclean cleaning station, they will not want to go back to emptying their cassette at a standard waste point.

If you are interested in this or any of the products and services, the CPES team of highly experienced and dedicated staff are available to handle your enquiry, design, quotation, production and, if required, installation of the most up to date electrical distribution systems for your park. sales@cpes.co.uk

CampManager launches software update at Holiday Park Show CampManager, the UK’s leading booking and park management system is set to launch their latest software updates at this year’s Holiday Park & Resort innovation show.

Established over a period of 14 years, and trusted by over 450 clients, CampManager has revolutionised the operation of campsites and holiday parks worldwide.

This has cemented their position as the UK’s leading booking and park management system.

This year has been a particularly busy one for CampManager as they are set to launch an updated version of their widely used software and exceed the current industry expectations.

The latest updates, which will be demonstrated at the Holiday Park & Resort innovation show in November have been developed with client usability at the forefront in a bid to deliver a seamless product experience.

Powerful reporting and improved functionality mean that although the day to day running of your site can prove stressful, your

booking and management system should be anything but.

CampManager prides itself on a culture of innovation. Their vast knowledge and understanding of the industry allow them to continuously spot trends and adapt to changes within the market. This maintains their position as the leading system provider.

While constantly seeking new opportunity, CampManager truly understands the importance of client retention and loyalty. Clients want a brand that listens to their concerns, understands them, and ultimately acts upon them in order to improve the service that they pay for.

For those of you not attending the show this year you can visit www.campmanager.com for all the latest information regarding the upcoming launch. hello@campmanager.com

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Holiday Parks l mping G INTERNATIONAL

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Management G WIFI

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Love2Stay

the first of its kind

Holiday Parks Management catches up with Ed Glover, Marketing Manager of Salop Leisure and Love2Stay to see how the site has developed since its opening and what the future plans are.

You opened in 2017 - what was the background to Love2Stay and how long did the plan and build take to complete?

Love2Stay was the brainchild of Salop Leisure MD Mark Bebb who had the vision to build a totally unique touring and glamping wellness resort the first of its kind in the UK. Built at the back of Caravan dealership “Salop Leisure” on open elevated farm land with stunning 360 degree views of the Welsh mountains, South Shropshire Hills and the Wrekin. The planning process and build happened very quickly with the planning and build taking just under two years in total.

What was the vision for Love2Stay would you call it an Eco Resort?

The vision for Love2Stay was to create a touring and glamping resort as a first of its kind in the UK. Centred on customers who are looking for a sense of escapism and creating wellness activities and experiences for the whole family.

We believe that children spend too much time on their phones and video games and we wanted to offer them a fun outdoor alternative where they can submerse themselves with nature and undergo a ‘digital detox’.

Researching across the world, we found inspiration from “Charming Slovenia” in Slovenia; a truly magical glamping resort.

There are 122 pitches and 11 glamping lodges - how do the two types of accommodation blend together - do you have a different type of guest demographic?

Our accommodation blends really well, our ambition was to encourage people to try fresh outdoor pursuits. Our belief was that the grandparents would come along and stay in their caravan or motorhome, and their children would stay in a glamping lodge with the grandchildren. We have had several examples of this and have even had customers purchase caravans and motorhomes after staying in one of our

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glamping lodges. Our demographics are very similar throughout, with the touring pitch fees being at the higher end of the spectrum we attract a very similar demographic to our customers who choose to hire a glamping lodge.

Would you ever consider adding more different types of glamping to the site?

Yes certainly, we have planning permission for a further 11 glamping units. Business is growing with the increase in rental accommodation and the demand for a staycation holiday and we have to put ourselves in the position to cater for the demand. We see a gap in the market for attracting mid-week breaks for people looking to escape the busier

weekends. Where we can offer tailored activities such as Yoga/Pilates for example.

You have Europe’s largest commercial Bio top pool - what was the process for building this and how is it maintained?

We wanted to be different and the pool was to be the centrepiece of the resort with that WOW factor. After researching bathing within a chemical-free environment, we understood the wellness benefits of cold water bathing. We gathered a development team and visited the Kings Cross Biotop pool, built by Austrian-based company Biotop and a decision was made that this was the route we wanted to go down.

After some further research we partnered with a Biotop’s Partner in UK – Poolscape and had direct involvement from Peter Petrich the founder of Biotop; who were the project managers and developers of the pool. Maintenance is very simple, without going into too much detail. The pool is 100% natural and has no artificial cleaners only a robot which cleans the bottom of the swimming area on a daily basis. It is tested daily to meet regulations and ensure the safety and welfare of our guests.

How did you manage to bring a beach to Shropshire with the Hot Springs attraction?

We highlighted that the Biotop pool wasn’t suitable for small children and we didn’t want our younger guests to miss out on water-based activities so we

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Eco Resort Network is the world’s first dedicated networking conference and convening event for professionals working in the Eco Resort sector. It will take place in Bled, Slovenia in June 2020, with the backing of the Slovenian Tourist Board.

Eco Resort Network is brought to you

by International Glamping Business Magazine and World of Glamping with the support of leading eco resort operators Regenerative Resorts.

The event is limited to just 70 individuals working in Eco Resort operation, finance and investors in green projects, tour operators and DMOs, government representatives, journalists and consultants.

Two days of curated conversations, where delegates will be expected to contribute their own opinions and experiences, will create lasting and valuable relationships, as well as establishing a clear vision of where the industry is headed, what best practice looks like and what the guests of today and tomorrow will expect.

Contact steph@ecoresort.network for more details Visit ecoresort.network for more information

decided to develop and build the hot springs pool.

We know just how much of an attraction a beach is to our holiday guests who normally have to venture into Wales or the south coast to find the nearest beach, so we thought why not build one! Our heated hot springs pool is purpose built, heated to 26 degrees with a depth of 0.8m - perfect for letting the little ones splash around enjoying the hot jets of water. Our beach is built up of over 1000 tonnes of fine play sand and we even set fossils into the sand

where the children can dig to discover them. Finished off with a sun terrace, it is the perfect location on a sunny day!

You have introduced day passes for those not staying on site – how do you ensure that this doesn’t affect guests’ access to the facilities?

All external day pass tickets and activity numbers are limited depending on how many guests we have on park staying with us, we definitely do not want to disrupt our guests who have been to stay with us and they are guaranteed access throughout their stay. To make sure that guests are monitored we ask all those are using the pool facilities to wear a wrist band.

What percentage of bookings do you generate directly and what percentage from third party booking sites?

We get 70% of bookings directly through our very own bespoke booking system and 30% third party bookings through Booking.com, Pitch Up, Expedia to name a few.

What is the length of your season?

Our season at Love2Stay is 12 months; we are even open over the Christmas period with festive activities such as ice skating, Santa’s Grotto and so much more, finished off with a very special New Year’s Eve party.

What future plans are there for Love2Stay - would there be the possibility of a second site?

Lots of plans for Love2Stay – Watch this space……….

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FREE RANGE News ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY DELIVERS SPEECH ON FARMERS, BREXIT AND SUSTAINABILITY The Environment Secretary, The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, delivered a speech that meandered from praising the British countryside (rightly so) to the success of the UKs food and drinks sector to the strict implementation and impact of Brexit. Below is an abridged version of the speech, highlighting the most important aspects for farm shop owners and artisanal producers. It was originally delivered on Thursday 1 August 2019 for Countryfile Live which took place at Blenheim Palace.

Praise for Farmers, Producers and the Food and Drink Industry “Food and drink is our biggest manufacturing industry and it has been a tremendous success story in recent years.

This is a testament to the enterprise, innovation and hard work of so many of you and others here at Countryfile Live today. We should take huge pride in the achievements of our farmers in producing the highest quality food to some of the toughest safety and animal welfare standards anywhere in the world.

“We must always acknowledge that our farmers are such a vitally important part of the

stewardship of our natural environment. And during this time of great change for our country, there is much to do to ensure that we help the rural economy thrive in the future.

And that brings me to Brexit, inevitably.”

Brexit “We’re giving the very closest attention to the interests of food and farming businesses as we work towards exit day.

“Undoubtedly there are some risks ahead but I want to highlight that these sectors, along with our fishing communities, will also have many opportunities open up to them as we regain the freedom to make our own laws as we push forward with an independent trade policy and as we create new world-leading systems to replace the CAP and CFP. “I want to see our farmers released from the appalling complexity, rigidity and bureaucracy of the Common Agricultural Policy.

“So, we will press ahead with a new system of support which rewards farmers for environmental stewardship and improving the health and welfare of animals and which helps them become more productive, more competitive and more successful.

“That new approach based on the principle of public money for public goods will be designed for our domestic needs and

underpinned by a reformed and proportionate approach to regulation and enforcement.

“As well as securing vital goals in terms of our environment and animal welfare a core aim is to provide a stable platform for our producers to thrive and to seize the opportunities provided by Brexit to sell our fantastic food into new markets all around the world.”

Environment and Sustainability “We were one of the first countries in the world to make a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. And a strong focus on sustainability, on biodiversity and the natural environment is a theme running through both our Agriculture Bill and our forthcoming Environment Bill.

“We want the fields around this place and the 85% of England that is classified as rural land to be rich in wildflowers, insects and birds.

“And in our efforts to maintain the land, and the soil, in such a way that there is less pollution, greater fertility, more abundant biodiversity our aim is to create the conditions for economic growth which is both more sustainable and resilient.”

“Our Environment Bill will be ground-breaking and the new watch-dog it will create will have the powers and independence it needs to hold this and future Governments to account so that standards are upheld, laws are respected and commitments are met.”

British Firewood at its Best Whilst many prefer to buy locally – you may be surprised to learn the origin of the local firewood sourced, could be imported from abroad. Certainly Wood is proud to supply 100% British firewood and kindling sourced within 100 mile radius of their farm in Herefordshire, as part of the thinning process, allowing the woodlands they work with to continue to flourish.

Certainly Wood supplies a number of farm shops across the country with hardwood logs and kindling, below 20% moisture content. All of their logs carry the Woodsure ‘Ready to burn’ logo and guarantees a clean burn with maximum heat output and minimal emissions – a key part of the government’s new Clean Air Strategy.

One of the most popular products sold to farm shops is the Flamers natural firelighters which come in a range of pack sizes. These are made from wood wool and dipped in wax, are odourless, so do not have the strong paraffin smell and you only need one per fire.

But don’t just take our word for it. “We have been selling the Certainly Wood logs for a while now. They are really good, a consistent dry quality that draws people in from all over and keeps them coming back for more, which means we not only sell more logs but also more of our farm shop products. We have just started selling Flamers and Kindling and they flying out the door!” says Park Farm shop.

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FREE RANGE News Farm Shop Announced as Fine Farm Produce Winner 2019 As the results came in for the Fine Farm Produce Awards 2019, Home Farm Beningbrough was announced as the overall food winner for their Aberdeen Angus beef, sold through their local farm shop.

The awards were announced as part of Countryfile Live and gave credit to farmers around the country for going above and beyond in the agricultural sector. The overall food winner, Beningbrough Farm, is based near York and have been recognised for their Aberdeen Angus beef, which is generally regarded as one of the best in the world.

According to the judges, the beef “has a sweet aroma and rich creamy flavour” which led to its winning score.

The beef is sold through local markets and their farm shop, which has an attached café.

The business is run by the Jackson Family, who have been tenant farmers at Beningbrough for 50 years and farming cattle for many generations.

Speaking about his win to the National Trust, Alistair Jackson put the quality down to the fact that “Much of our land is alongside the River Ouse flood plain where silt deposits

create a very mineral-rich soil, which is excellent for grazing.

“We also butcher our beef locally and then hang it for 21 days to enhance the flavour, before it goes on sale in our shop. We now have a herd of 300 cattle on 340 acres, all farmed to RSPCA assured welfare standards – something we are very proud of and often interests our customers.”

Additionally, Beningbrough Farm cattle are fed “on a natural grass based and GM free diet and raised to the highest welfare standards,” which is what put their beef ahead of the rest.

Other Notable Winners The Overall Drinks Award went to Barrington Court, which is based on a Tudor estate with orchards that date back to the 18th century.

They took the prize for their traditional craft cider, which is “Made using a 200-year old cider press,… amber coloured and slightly cloudy in appearance, with fine bubbles.”

One of the most sought-after awards this year was the Overall Farming with Nature

award, which went to Neil Heseltine, a farmer at Hilltop Farm in the Yorkshire Dales.

They have introduced Belted Galloway cattle to encourage native plant growth as well as restoring a traditional hay meadow, which has led to greater biodiversity.

Speaking to the National Trust, Heseltine said “Looking after the environment is central to what we do at Hilltop. Several years ago we reduced the number of sheep on the farm and introduced conservation grazing cattle to increase biodiversity - with really positive results. New species of plant have emerged in the fields and our hay meadows are full of invertebrates, butterflies, bees, and even a family of barn owls.

“It’s an honour to be recognised in the Fine Farm Produce Awards. It’s so important that we celebrate healthy, sustainable, nutritious produce and champion farming practices that work hand in hand with nature.”

GROWING ORGANICS MARKET AND FUNDING COULD MAKE THIS THE TIME TO CONVERT. As the UK’s organics market sees its eighth consecutive year of growth, Northern Irish farmers and land owners are being offered financial support if they are converting to organic.

The scheme, run by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), is accepting applications between Monday 19 August and Friday 20 September 2019 and is open to farmers and landowners with a DAERA category one or two Business ID and at least three hectares of land that are eligible for Basic Payment.

This scheme could help more farmers in Northern Ireland switch to organic models, which has significant environmental benefits, but more than ever, is a particularly lucrative area to enter. The Soil Association Certification’s Organic Market Report 2019 found that the organics market is now worth £2.33 billion — a 5.3% increase in 2018 alone.

And it is set to continue with data indicating additional growth throughout 2019 so far.

“Organic farmers in Northern Ireland are leading the way in innovation and we’re really encouraged to see young farmers emerging to try new things that benefit both their business and the environment,” Martin Sawyer, Soil Association Certification CEO said.

“We expect post-Brexit policy to drive some major long-term changes with sustainability and diversification going to become much more important, so this is a really important moment in time to convert to organic,” according to Sawyer.

is produced,” Sawyer said, and with funding available, some farmers and land owners could use this time of growth to make the change to organic.

“We are now in our eighth consecutive year of market growth for organic in the UK, so there are good emerging long term opportunities for farmers who want to meet that rising demand,” according to Sawyer.

The funding available is currently set at £149 per ha for organic arable conversion up to 60 ha and £45 per ha over 60 ha. Additionally, there is £144 per ha available for organic grassland conversion up to 60 ha and £45 per ha over 60 ha.

However, it is also driven as part of a more general movement by consumers towards food transparency, sustainability and more natural options. “Public demand for organic is rising across the UK and Eire with people becoming ever more aware of how their food

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FREE RANGE News RURAL CRIME IS A GROWING THREAT

Artisan producers, farm shops and the farmers who supply them are often the backbone of rural economies, and the agricultural sector in general plays a huge role in the UK economy. However, the cost of rural crime has grown in recent years, threatening farmers and their businesses.

The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2019 reveals that the cost of rural crime last year was £49.9 million, which is an increase of more than 12% over the previous year. Worse still, that makes it the second year in a row that the cost of rural crime has increased — meaning an increased cost of £10 million in just two years.

Where is Rural Crime a Problem?

Rural crime is an issue wherever there are rural businesses, and at the end of the day it has ripple on effects that impact the entire country. However, the direct cost of crime is far higher in some areas of the UK than others.

Scotland saw the most dramatic increase in the cost of crime, jumping from £1m in 2017 to £1.6m in 2018 — an increase of 62.6%. Despite the dramatic increase, Scotland maintains the lowest overall cost, however, with other districts such as the Midlands seeing a slower increase (10.3%) but a far higher overall cost of £9.8m.

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Only two districts saw a reduction in the cost of rural crime, the South West and Wales, dropping 1.1% and 7.1% respectively. They still have a high cost, however, at £2.4m for Wales and £5.8m in the South West.

The Types of Rural Crime You Could See Vehicle Theft Theft of vehicles is one of the biggest problems, with thieves targeting not only large agricultural vehicles such as tractors, but also smaller machines like quads or navigation systems. These smaller items are able to be sold all over the world and can make for easy targets (especially if keys are left in or on bikes and ATVs).

Livestock Theft Raids carried out by organised gangs can result in the loss of dozens or even hundreds of sheep, which has a serious impact on small farms. Livestock theft cost the UK £2.5m in 2018, an increase since the previous year.

Livestock Death While not necessarily a targeted crime, the death of livestock at the hands of dogs can devastate small farms. It doesn’t even necessarily mean a mauling, since

sheep worrying can also lead to distress and the subsequent death of sheep or their lambs.

Cybercrime While not specific to rural areas, cybercrime is becoming increasingly common, and as small business owners, farmers, artisan producers and shop keepers become increasingly reliant on technology, they are also more likely to become targets. These crimes range from phishing emails to ransomware or malicious software.

Fly-Tipping Organised groups are now operating bogus waste-disposal companies, according to the NFU Mutual report, resulting in truck loads of rubbish being dumped in rural areas.

This has a serious impact on livestock, the environment and to the farmers who are left to deal with the waste in a responsible and legal way.

The police and individuals are fighting back against the rising threat of rural crime, and by staying vigilant farm shop owners and artisan producers can help battle back against some of these threats. Even seemingly small infractions, such as loose dogs, can have huge, rippling impacts on individuals and communities, so it is important to stay up to date with issues in your area and respect rural-relevant laws.

FREE RANGE News NFU CALLS FOR MORE ROBUST COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY The NFU is calling on the government to make stronger commitments to boosting British farming to improve the supply of home-grown food. New figures have put the country’s self-sufficiency at just 61%, considerably lower than in decades past.

The call comes on August 11th, which is the day that Britain would have run out of food if the country had only eaten British since the start of the year.

natural resources and iconic landscapes.

They are buying into world-leading standards of animal welfare, and they are buying into the role farmers are playing in combatting the climate change challenge that is facing us all” NFU President Minette Batters said.

The farmers union want the government to try to boost the self-sufficiency of the country while simultaneously committing to a plan to have net zero agricultural emissions by 2040.

“British farming has a great story to tell.

From West Country Red Tractor assured beef to Welsh lamb, Cumbrian sausages to Kent strawberries, and Herefordshire apples to Wensleydale cheese – our farmers and growers are delivering some of the highest quality food in the world.

A little over 30 years ago, Britain’s food self-suffeciency stood at almost 80%, now it is considerably lower, and according to Batters, “We need a clear pledge from government that it will not let our current self-sufficiency levels fall below today’s 61%... our political leaders need to take this seriously. While we will never be completely self-sufficient as a country it is vital that Britain takes its role as a food producer for its growing population seriously and does not rely on the rest of the world – with wildly varying standards of production – to feed our population which is likely to grow to 73 million people in 20 years’ time.”

“But we also deliver so much more. When people buy British food they are buying into standards that protect and enhance our

However, that is just half the call, as the NFU also wants to achieve net zero agricultural emissions by 2040.

Minette Batters “We are ready and able to drive productivity while using less inputs and in smarter ways, we are ready and able to plant bigger hedgerows, more woodland, and secure more carbon rich soils, and we are ready and able to contribute more to renewable energy combined with carbon capture and storage in our grasslands used for grazing," according to Batters.

Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight Returns for Tenth Anniversary The Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight has returned once more to celebrate the best of Scotland’s produce — from beef to bread — as well as its own 10th anniversary. Running from August 31st to September 15th, 2019 marks a decade since the celebration’s inception.

Scottish produce is considered some of the best in the world, and for two weeks at the start of September will be celebrated in all its glory. The sector is growing and, according to the organisers website, is well on its way to hitting the “target of being home to a sector worth £30bn.”

The festival celebrates and showcases the companies, brands and people that are involved in Scottish produce as well as using the fortnight as a platform to discuss (and plan for) the future.

Over the two weeks, they will be highlighting some of the latest innovations in the produce sector as well as shining a light on all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

Not only is Scottish produce a huge sector in its own right, it is also responsible for an increase in

tourism (specifically food tourism) as travellers from around the world make their way to try fresh food and drink at its source.

During the two-week celebration, there will be numerous events throughout Scotland, some to look out for include: dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com

Dundee Flower & Food Festival Running from the 6th to the 8th, this festival is held in Camperdown Country Park, where you can find live entertainment, horticulture and of course, food and drink. Additionally, there will be a craft fair, demonstrations by celebrity chefs and the Scotch Broth Championships!

Exclusively Highlands Autumn Food & Craft Festival fooddrinkfort.scot Hosted in Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire, from the 14th to the 15th of September, this celebration offers up exactly what the name suggests — food, drink and delightful crafts. Additionally, the spectacular setting means you can wander the

castle and its grounds while munching on whatever tasty treat you’ve picked up.

Huntly Hairst Food & Farming Festival Held on the 7th of September, this harvest festival will showcase the bountiful produce of Aberdeenshire and further afield. There will be a farmers’ market with more than 50 stalls as well as the Stovies World Championship, which is open to all and runs from 10.30am in Stewarts Hall. dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com

Jocktoberfest So what if its September? This beer festival at Black Isle Brewery doesn’t care, why should you?

Running from the 6th to the 7th, the festival will be home to live music, food and, of course, beer.

There is also weekend camping available to turn this into a mini festival. This year’s theme is “Beers & Bands, Below the Sea!, with £1.50 of each adult ticket going to Whale and Dolphin Conservation. www.blackislebrewery.com/jocktoberfest

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Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show Preview 2019 The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show is one of Europe’s leading events within the leisure and hospitality industry. The event is dedicated to providing the country’s most ambitious holiday park and resort owners and managers with advice, services, and products to make their holiday business stand out from the rest.

With 400 exhibitors and 170 seminars dedicated to the industry, it’s the perfect opportunity to create the idyllic getaway for your customers. Learn the latest industry knowledge and gain insight into the newest innovations and technology currently available.

In joining the event, you could rub shoulders with many of the previous exhibitors, who will be taking up a stand again this year. For example, meet with the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, who are the only organisation established exclusively to serve and represent the interests of the parks industry in the UK. That’s not all though, as the show has increased the number of stands this year, welcoming amazing new exhibitors. This includes All Urban Ltd, who design luxury street furniture, lighting, and technology for a range of industries, like the holiday park industry. Arleigh International Ltd, a caravan parts wholesaler for holiday parks, and one of the market leading UK aftermarket distributors, will also be there.

Over the 2 days, there will also be some fantastic and insightful keynote speakers.

Namely, Vicky Parr, from Visit England, will be discussing ways of boosting your business for holiday makers in the UK. What’s more, Joss Croft from UKinbound will be enlightening you with the most innovative ways to access the holiday park market.

Holiday Park Innovation aims to attract over 10,000 key decision makers in the industry. With the help of our established partners, such as the Family Holiday Association and World of Park & Leisure Homes, they have been able to make this exhibition one of the leading holiday park shows in Europe.

The exhibition also runs alongside other rural shows, including the Farm Business Innovation Show, Family Attraction Expo, and our launch show, the Leisure Food and Beverage Expo.

Register for your free tickets via the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show website with your chance to see the show first hand.

SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITING ENQUIRIES Oliver Hayes - Event Director oliver.hayes@prysmgroup.co.uk +44 (0)117 929 6087

MARKETING & PRESS ENQUIRIES Boxie McGee - Marketing Director boxie.mcgee@prysmgroup.co.uk +44 (0)117 929 6088

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THE FUTURE OF BUYING LOOSE SWEETS HAS ARRIVED

Blue Monkey Vending have created The WORLDS FIRST “Loose sweet Digital Vending Kiosk�

We have done this abiding by these Key Principles: 1) HYGIENE 2) FOOD SECURITY 3) SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 4) FUN Our Machines provide a Unique experience for customers. With coin, note and card payment facilities available, the customer is able to make their selection from the interactive touch screen pad.

The traditional way of buying loose sweets has hygiene and theft issues, but with our machine no human hands can touch the sweets, or indeed come into contact with the sweets, achieving the highest rating possible from the Food Standards Agency.

At Blue Monkey Vending we are extremely proud to offer our customers the very latest in digital technology, along with interactive facilities and creative distribution. This enables us to transform the old method of candy dispensing by offering a more modern alternative.

We have very high brand values of hygiene and social responsibility towards our customers.

We operate worldwide with an expert team providing 24/7 support. Our products are all designed in-house enabling us to offer a bespoke service for this unique vending machine.

Add a WOW factor, embrace the future of Pic N Mix sweet vending and its venue enhancement qualities, and please contact us for more information.

What we offer is a unique interactive experience... n Vending machine displays 10 selections of bulk candy. n Dimensions: 2.2m x 1.6m x 0.7m. n 10 hoppers holding 3kg of candy each. n Touchscreen panel interface. n Delivery of approx. 200g per cup. n Software control via code initiation post 500 vends. n Sweets supplied by Blue Monkey Vending delivered to operator with new code. n Food registered, CE marked and country

specific compliant. n Crazy Candy Factory machine also available with a Vegetarian range of sweets.

This is not your average traditional vending machine where you push your coins in the slot and punch in two digits to have a chocolate bar, packet of crisps or a can of drink dropped into a collection tray.

Our Pic n Mix machine provides a new concept: n Fun n Mixes the sweets into the cup for the customer n Hygienically dispensed n Limits wastage and theft - stock loss n Easy maintenance - reduced time spent controlling these concerns n Interactive n The machine occupies less space than regular pic n mix units and offers a higher turnover per sq. foot with an exceptional return on investment (subject to footfall) Blue Monkey Vending will be at the Holiday Parks Show on Stand H1406

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indoor Play

How the Jigsaw touchscreen tablet is turning the entertainment experience

UP TO ELEVEN! Connected Entertainment, whose Jigsaw brand has become the touchscreen entertainment system of choice with major holiday park groups and independents alike, has underlined its commitment to park owners with the provision of free of charge team training on the Jigsaw V3 which was launched in April 2019. The onsite training ensures that ents teams are fully up to speed with the latest capabilities of the PC-based platform that delivers best in class entertainment including music, karaoke, videos, bingo, quizzes and stage games as well as delivering in-venue advertising.

Andrew Ludlow, managing director of Connected believes the delivery of great entertainment is a must, due to its impact on return visits. He said: “The quality of the entertainment experience is one of the most quoted reasons on Trip Advisor for a guest wanting to return and we are committed to helping our customers in any way that we can. I believe that we are the only company in the sector to provide such a service which helps to maximise ROI from

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what is a key contributor to a holiday parks entertainment proposition.”

Expanding on exactly what the Jigsaw can provide, he confirmed: “When holiday parks invest in the Jigsaw system they gain access to a massive music library with remote content updates, karaoke, interactive games, cash, prize and linked bingo all with post game reporting and financial auditing to provide the allimportant gambling compliancy. There’s also digital signage advertising and multiroom audio zoning giving the entertainment team the flexibility to deliver different music to different areas.

"Walkabout software enables staff to operate Jigsaw wirelessly within the venue, bringing customer facing staff and the audience closer together. The Jigsaw interactive app, will soon enable customers to send pictures and messages to advertising screens, take a look at the music playlist, and request a track or a karaoke song direct from their phone. It can also be used in conjunction with the Jigsaw

Interactive Quiz which features multiple choice questions which have to be answered on a fastest finger first format.

Our Interactive platform also offers multivenue linked quizzes which provide enhanced player engagement as well as increased prize liquidity. It’s a hugely powerful platform that's transforming the way entertainment is delivered which explains why Jigsaw is installed in holiday parks stretching from Inverness to Dover and the Lizard Peninsula to Prestatyn."

Connected Entertainment provides an enhanced comprehensive national technical support function with a dedicated team on hand seven days a week, 364 days a year.

Jigsaw technical assistance is supported via remote PC access, a dedicated customer service phone number, as well as via Jigsaw WhatsApp User Groups that provide instant messaging and support to customers wishing to use this functionality.

The new Jigsaw website can be found at: www.connectedentertainment.co.uk.

Sound Leisure’s Tony Silkstone is appointed Technical Sales Manager overseeing all aspects of technical support as well as the company’s expanding DigiTech division.

The promotion is part of the company’s investment in customer support which also sees the appointment of Dave Routh and Alexander Black as Digital support engineers in the Digitech division. The new appointments have immediate effect.

Sound Leisure, the highly respected family-owned jukebox manufacturer and distributor for TouchTunes in the UK, has confirmed that industry veteran Tony Silkstone has been appointed to the newly created post of Technical Sales manager with responsibility for

Silkstone, who recently celebrated his 30-year anniversary with the Yorkshire-based company, will expand his remit to cover the technical side of the traditional jukes, as well as providing technical insight and support for the TouchTunes’ stable of ground breaking equipment and

customers using the Sound Leisure internet connected jukeboxes.

Commenting on the promotion, he stated: "Having been with the company since the late 80s working across various departments, I know the sector and our customers extremely well and I look forward to helping deliver the great customer experience that Sound Leisure is renowned for."

Sound Leisure Managing Director, Chris Black, believes Tony’s promotion and the bolstering of the support team demonstrate the company’s commitment to the market. He explained: “We are delighted to announce Tony's promotion who has spent three decades with Sound Leisure. Across the country, Tony is well known and well liked. His understanding of what drives the sector is rivalled only by his knowledge of our customer’s requirements.”

World of Rides Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2019 anywhere in both their UK and Continental markets, and many leading holiday park operators still keep reminding them that rides they bought over ten years ago, still remain their top earning children’s rides on their sites for their three to twelveyear-old visitors!

World of Rides, the longest established UK family-owned manufacturer and distributor of Children’s Rides is celebrating its 50th Anniversary during 2019, and in addition to their world-beating range of 12v and 24v battery rides, they are also the official UK distributors for a number of ranges of awardwinning 240v static children’s rides.

Their hand-picked and site-proven range of over 70 12v & 24v battery-powered rides and 50 static 240v mains-powered children’s rides remain amongst most popular, reliable and profitable models currently available

Two of the most requested static children’s rides so far this year have been the epic Three Horse Gallopers Carousel and the awesome twin-seat Lifting Rocket, and the most requested battery rides have been their Superheroes Cars & Trikes, Bumper Cars, Driving School Cars and Future Bikes.

All their battery rides can be operated unstaffed by either coins or tokens, or alternatively by staffed remote STOP/START control units, and their high-powered batteries last a full eight-hour day. They can also be all operated on free-play for use during birthday parties or one-price-entry parks.

However, even more exciting new models are already planned to be released later this year, as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations!

All their models are brimming with CE, TUV, and BACTA-ADIPS safety features as well as the latest digital sound effects, LED lighting and bodywork attract features and they constantly remain high on the wish-lists of some of the leisure industries leading buyers and operators. ‘‘One of the downsides of all our rides being so reliable is that operators hang on to them forever and as a result they very rarely become available on the second-hand market,” said Sales Manager Andrew Robinson, ‘‘which is a shame, as we are always being asked for them!’’

You can view a sample range of their rides either in their showroom or on their website, which is also currently being updated to mark their celebrations: www.worldofrides.com

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SALTEX 2019 Powered by Innovation

During the two-day event, more than 500 brands will be on show to over 9,000 visitors that are increasingly demanding new grounds management solutions. SALTEX 2019 is the ideal place to see products and services which could improve the daily operations of holiday parks. The exhibition will see a plethora of exhibitors representing the likes of play equipment and services, turf maintenance equipment, fencing and landscaping, sports surface design, research and consultancy, seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments, and facilities services management.

SALTEX 2019 is the industry’s national hub for innovation. Take the all new show feature – the Eco Village, as a prime example. The trend towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices in groundscare is gathering pace as a growing number of landscapers and contractors are looking for products that can deliver quality results but also reduce carbon footprints to the environment.

SALTEX 2019, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 30 and 31, continues to be the go-to destination for highlights of innovation in the groundscare environment, bringing together grounds personnel from across a wide variety of sectors and disciplines to unite, collaborate and celebrate the latest technologies.

The Eco Village feature offers a programme of daily demonstrations in cutting-edge sustainable technology – allowing visitors an opportunity of seeing a number of products in action. Furthermore, industry experts, within this village, will offer advice on green technology and how it could benefit current working practices.

Groundscare advice will be available across the show floor, within four seminar theatres.

Learning LIVE, SALTEX’s free, all-encompassing education programme will feature over 50 CPD accredited seminars and more than 100 expert speakers. The programme has been developed and curated alongside leading industry partners and influencers to provide support, insight and real solutions to the biggest issues that the audience care about most.

Networking is just one of many reasons why thousands of visitors made the journey to SALTEX 2018 and a visit to the Lawn Care Legends free networking event should be on everybody’s show itinerary. Lawn Care Legends, a Facebook group which was created in July 2016, is a thriving online community with over 4,000 worldwide active members. It is primarily a group for all landscapers and gardeners to showcase their work and knowledge and ultimately support one another.

This networking opportunity is taking place on the first day of SALTEX at 2:00pm in concourse suites 22 and 23 by the SALTEX entrance and all are welcome.

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Attendees should also keep an eye out for other show features such as Pathology and Soil Science LIVE – a look in detail at the symptoms of turfgrass fungal disease problems; Outdoor Demonstrations – the latest products in action in an area directly outside halls 6,7 and 8 and the Job Clinic – free one-to-one sessions covering job hunting and CV writing to interview techniques.

BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) has supported SALTEX for many years, and for SALTEX 2019 the organisation will have a dedicated zone featuring specially selected companies that can offer products, services and support to landscape professionals.

The NEC has well connected transport links to the rest of the country – with more than 75 per cent of the UK’s population situated within just three hours from the venue. Plus visitors who decide to travel by Virgin Rail can receive 25 per cent discount on their ticket fare.

SALTEX 2019 is free to attend. To register your attendance and beat the queues visit www.iogsaltex.com Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

HUCK MAKE PLAY AN ADVENTURE FOR ALL

Huck Nets are a premier playground equipment supplier in the UK supplying and installing equipment at many playgrounds across the country. Their world-renowned rope and netting is integrated into much of their outdoor play equipment. One of the best examples of where this is used is in their rope adventure courses. Hammocks, rope ladders and wobble swings all make use of their strong and durable rope too. They also have a great selection of rope net pyramids, scramble nets and climbing ropes, as well as a selection of Bird Nest Trees. At the core of the Birds Nest Tree series is the original HUCK Bird’s Nest® - a round close-meshed basket with a base shaped to form a nest and

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a steel ring wound round with rope. It is the perfect edition to any outdoor playground and provides a climbing element to complement ground-based play like trampolines and swings.

and indoor play areas. Their team will carry out simple repairs to netting, replace wornout netting and/or equipment, or can work with you to completely refurbish the play area.

The Huck outdoor range includes a fantastic selection of inclusive play equipment; on offers are a colourful range of obstacle-free play equipment such as swings with safety seats, hammocks and trampolines. The swing has large flat and upright seats to invite people to get moving. The climbing equipment is low enough for children to enjoy climbing regardless of their mobility level. Huck’s “Rolli” trampoline has been designed for wheelchair users. It has sloping edge panels to enable the surface level trampoline to be accessed safely and easily. An accompanying person can also stand in direct contact with the wheelchair user if required.

For information on Huck ’s range of play equipment and their supporting design and installation services call 01308 425100 or email sarah.reynolds@hucknetting.co.uk.

Alongside, Huck offer a full installation and maintenance service for new and existing outdoor

Huck Nets will on stand H711 at Holiday Park & Resort Innovation 2019 at the NEC on 6th & 7th November.

Adrian Pidcock the Maintenance Manager for the idyllic park explained; “I started working at the park 14 years ago, there has been a lot of hard graft and development in recent years but the site is now a 5 star holiday destination with over 100 luxury holiday homes, a pool, spa, gym, clubhouse with bar and entertainment plus various outdoor play areas.”

Having previously owned an ISEKI TM3265 the holiday park decided, at the end of their five-year lease, to upgrade their tractor to a TLE3400 to continue improvements to the park. Commenting on the TLE3400 Adrian said; “following the reliability and quality of the previous ISEKI tractor I didn’t feel it necessary to look at any other manufacturer when the lease came up for renewal. I spoke with our longstanding local dealer Nigel Rafferty Groundcare, he

came to us with some suggestions of suitable machines for our budget and requirements.

“With all these improvements comes the increase in maintenance demands so we needed a higher horsepower tractor plus the ability to run extra implements. The 38hp engine of the TLE3400 and the lift capacity of up to 1000kg enables us to carry out further jobs in house instead of paying higher fees for contract workers. Equipped with a front loader and backhoe the TLE3400 has the horsepower and lift capacity we need at an affordable price.

The spacious platform and clearly laid out controls allow all of our staff to utilise the machine safely and productively ensuring all attachments can be operated easily and precisely.”

The team of eight at Praa Sands not only have the park to keep pristine but in 2009 the Haulfryn Group purchased the golf course adjacent to the holiday site.

Adrian explained further; “used for numerous jobs from spraying, topdressing and mowing, to towing a trailer to assist in cleaning the site each day the TLE3400 is used vigorously all week in order to help with the upkeep of this exceptional holiday park and we will shortly be looking for a flail arm hedge cutter attachment to add to our fleet of machinery.

“With many demands put on the tractor the build quality of the machine needs to be at the very highest, ISEKI’s products have gone way beyond any expectations. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.”

Praa Sands Chooses ISEKI ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers alongside their local dealer Nigel Rafferty Groundcare based in Redruth, Cornwall recently sold an ISEKI TLE3400 to Haulfryn Group to help improve maintenance standards on the 5 Star Praa Sands Holiday Park based in West Cornwall.

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a d v e r t o r i a l

Countryside Family Attraction Set For Major Investment Stanwick Lakes is a countryside attraction and nature reserve set in 750 acres, in the heart of the Northamptonshire Nene Valley and attracts over 300,000 visitors each year.

Timotay Playscapes, a Northamptonshire based outdoor play space provider has worked in partnership with Stanwick lakes for a number of projects, to refurbish and further develop exciting and engaging imaginative play zones within the site.

This includes: n Tree house – The tree house beings a new zone to the area. n Climbing frame. The play equipment is enjoyed by families, teenagers and even fitness fanatics! The innovative play frame also incorporates a series of rope challenges, monkey bars and tunnels. n Swamp bridge – the bridge replaced an existing structure and allows children (and their adults!) to adventure across the water via the rope bridge and onto their next part of their journey around Stanwick Lakes! n Refurbishment of existing waterplay area, Timotay updated and refurbished the fantastic well-used and loved waterplay area.

“We are absolutely delighted and proud to be working in partnership with Stanwick Lakes for this next phase. Stanwick Lakes provides a truly unique experience to visitors and our design and construction will truly compliment this,” said Stuart Humphrey, Director, Timotay Playscapes Through a series of consultations with Timotay’s team of experts, a brief was understood, and a design created to reflect the project objectives. The projects are all managed in house, and the on-site build constructed by skilled craftsmen.

The key areas of the exciting next phase include the renewal of the main tower frame, which is set to excite! The tower respects the natural environment in which is sits within, with the frame constructed of natural materials. Stanwick Lakes attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, so the construction will be robust and extremely hard wearing. The replacement structure will cater for a wide range of ages and abilities.

The next phase…

The next part of this exciting development is the investment into the main play structure.

It will continue to be a unique and extensive playground, situated in the central zone providing visitors with a fun filled adventure.

Despite its size, it blends beautifully into the picturesque surroundings due to its wooden composition. Timotay Playscapes have been awarded the contract, to bring Stanwick Lakes vision to life.

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The next phase and construction will take place over the winter months to minimise the impact on visitor experience and maximise experience for next year.

Timotay Playscapes offer a free consultation, to book call 01933 665151 or email enquiries@timotayplayscapes.co.uk or visit www.timotayplayscapes.co.uk

ISSUE 40 l SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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January’s ‘hottest’ destination

SPATEX 2020

For the A to Z of spas, water features, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, enclosures and much more besides, there’s only one place to be …SPATEX 2020.

Now in its 24th year, SPATEX is the UK’s ONLY dedicated water leisure exhibition. Held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th January, it is free to attend, and gives every holiday park owner or manager all they need to know.

SPATEX 2020 is the mecca for those in the holiday park industry looking to add or upgrade their all-important water leisure facilities. Given that a well-maintained pool, spa or sauna is often regarded as the life blood of a holiday park, this is a vital Show for the Industry. 2020 promises an even greater wealth of new products and innovations and SPATEX remains the place where you can make over a THOUSAND wet leisure industry contacts in just ONE day.

So much NEW to see and hear There are few topics more pressing than that of climate change. As the wet leisure industry’s showcase, SPATEX 2020 aims to promote a greater awareness of the environment. Talks and demonstrations in the Show’s free-to-attend, three-day double seminar and workshop programme will, amongst many other subjects, focus on how we can all play our part in becoming more eco-aware. With over a hundred international and domestic exhibitors, there will be lots of new products, including those that support a

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low energy, low carbon footprint. The full exhibitor list can be found at www.spatex.co.uk The Show’s Organiser, Michele Bridle is delighted at just how much exhibitor space has already been sold in advance of the Show in January: “It’s shaping up to be a spectacular Exhibition,” she says. “Water leisure is a fast-moving world and many companies are using SPATEX 2020 to launch a plethora of new energy saving innovations and offer exclusive discounts and special offers. The Exhibition features every product under the water leisure umbrella - from swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, spas, enclosures and water features to all the inner workings, such as pumps, filters and heating and ventilation.”

SPATEX is proud of the bank of knowledge that it each year imparts to its delegates and all for free. Next year’s Show will once again host three full days of seminars and

workshops on topics such as how to maintain a commercial spa, the most economical ways of heating a pool and new Standards and Guidance that affect all providers of wet leisure facilities. In Arena 1 the esteemed Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) will host a series of not-to-be-missed technical workshops for which, CPD points and a certificate of attendance are available for all attendees.

Don’t forget, if you have an individual water leisure query, many of the Industry’s esteemed associations will be in attendance, giving SPATEX a unique pool of free expertise which you, as a visitor, can tap. For example: PWTAG (Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group), ISPE (Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers) and STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association), to name but three.

Visit www.spatex.co.uk to see SPATEX’s impressive list of exhibitors, details of the free double seminar and workshop programme, and keep up to date by registering for the Show’s regular enewslines.

SPATEX 2020 – Tuesday 28th January to Thursday 30th January. The Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE is easy to get to - just 500 yards off the M6 and within two hours commuting time of 75 per cent of the population, it offers 2,000 free on-site car parking spaces.

For further information, please contact Michele or Helen in the SPATEX office T: 01264 358558, helen@spatex.co.uk michele@spatex.co.uk

Explore how to harness the growth in the UK staycation at

The holiday and leisure park development forum The holiday & leisure park development forum brings the holiday and leisure park community together to share in best practice through seminars, networking with fellow professionals, and the exploration of the latest and most innovative products and services. The forum is being held at Whittlebury Hall, Northants on 3rd & 4th October 2019 The theme of the seminar programme is “Harnessing the growth in the UK staycation’ and speakers include; n Peter Gamble, Senior Partner of Holder Mathias Architects will be talking about how the design of high-quality accommodation, new guest facilities and the imaginative remodelling of existing assets can contribute to enhancing guest experience and extending the season. Over the last twenty-five years Peter has led the teams within Holder Mathias delivering major domestic tourism projects for Center Parcs, the Rank Group, Forest Holidays, Bourne Leisure and Haulfryn together with independent operators. n Paul Hardingham, UK Managing Director of Landal GreenParks who will be talking about current consumer holidaying trends and how to satisfy them, product innovation, sustainable evolution, innovation for UK holidays and today’s and tomorrow’s guest expectations. n Nathan Goodyear, property and sites director of The Camping & Caravanning Club, will be speaking about the Club’s glamping journey. The Club operates 48 glamping locations across the UK and Nathan will describe the approach, success and learning in establishing the UK’s largest glamping network.

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n Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave, the UK’s first inland surfing lake, will explain how he went from being a self employed healthcare practitioner to building a giant inland surfing destination, which will bring inspiring facilities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. n Jamie Christon, chief operating office of Chester Zoo, the UK’s largest visitor attraction outside of London with 21,000 animals, in 125 acres of award-winning zoological gardens and welcoming 1.9 million people every year. Jamie will discuss managing sustainable growth. n Matt Cartwright, director of Twelve Architects, will be talking about ‘Creating a Destination’ with reference to the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Bodmin Jail museum and hotel to create a leading visitor attraction including an exciting new build ‘Dark Walk’ experience that will set the scene for visitors to appreciate the Jail’s vivid stories. n Nicole Lazarus, Head of One Planet Living, Bioregional, will be discussing how leisure destinations and holiday park developers are using One Planet Living to provide their guests with a great experience of a sustainable, climate-crisis-free future. She will discuss case studies from Villages

Nature, Paris and New Smyrna Beach, Florida to show how holiday makers can reconnect with nature and experience holistic sustainability whilst relaxing and having a great time.

Held over one and half days, this must-attend event will bring together owner/operators and the key players involved in the design, build and management of holiday and leisure parks of all kinds. For anyone upgrading or expanding existing parks, or developing new parks then it is complimentary to attend; including access to the seminars, executive accommodation, all meals, drinks receptions, and gala dinner. As part of the event there is a fund-raising raffle the proceeds of which will go to Family Holiday Association. The event will run in parallel with the physical activity facilities forum offering further networking opportunities.

Please visit http://www.hlpd-forum.co.uk to register your interest in attending or contact Sue Ramcharan on 020 8288 1080 email: sue@stable-events.co.uk.

If you are a supplier interested in having 1-2-1 meetings with decisionmakers please contact Leslie de Hoog email: leslie@stable-events.co.uk or call 020 8288 1080.