Secure Season Pitches From The Caravan And Motorhome Club

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By William Coleman

Ever wanted to safely leave your caravan or motorhome at your favourite holiday destination? Well now you can with the Caravan And Motorhome Club as they offer seasonal pitches at over 80 sites from just £230, apply now for the 2019/20 season.

No matter where you are in the UK The Club will have a seasonal pitch for you. From Exeter to Edinburgh The Club has a wide choice of sites where you can pick your pitch. Members can stay on a Club pitch for 21 days at a time so you can really make the most of your down time.

Depending on how much leisure time you have spare you book pitches for a selected time period which will enable you to leave your vehicle safely on site. The bonus of this is that you have a very safe and secure place to store your touring home and visit without having to tow or maneuver when you arrive on site.

Another plus side to having a touring pitch on stand by is that at the drop of a hat you can have a spontaneous getaway. You may have to pack some fresh milk and a pack of tea bags but all the loading and packing is ready and waiting for you on site.

Harvey Alexander, marketing director of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “Seasonal pitches offer the ultimate easy and flexible option for tourers who want to make the most of their favourite location. There’s nothing better than getting away for a few days, especially when you can do so at a moment’s notice, so we’re delighted to be able to make our members’ lives easier by offering seasonal pitches.”

Pitch fees include electric hook-up and all services on site including fresh water and waste disposal, plus the use of onsite amenities where available. Those interested in securing a seasonal pitch, have until Friday 21 September to register for the ballot. The Club will inform all applicants whether or not they have been successful by Friday 28 September.

To find out more about seasonal pitches and to register, visit www.camc.com/seasonal

BBC Give Insight Into Increase In Adult Only Holiday Parks

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By William Coleman

When on your touring holiday I imagine that the main requirement of the trip is peace and quiet. Something that family friendly sites may not always have an abundance of during school break times. As some of get a little older and do not have to look after our children any more we flock to adult only sites, but why has there been such a large influx of adult only sites?

Child free sites are starting to become a lot more popular throughout the UK, one popular park has now declared itself a child-free zone. The BBC decided to do a radio feature on the site and why the rising phenomenon of adults only holidays is happening.

BBC reporters ventured to Back of Beyond park near Ringwood for an indepth look into why a large proportion of holiday makers prefer to escape to a more peaceful childless getaway.

Martin and Vicki Bowrey, who had acquired the park 5 years ago, were happy to help explain to the BBC why they immediately placed an 18+ age requirement on guests when they took over.

The decision that the couple made had a “one hundred percent positive” reaction from guests new and old. From the get go it seemed to get a thumbs up across the board with the no vacancy sign getting very little rest in peak season.

Speaking live, from the park, on BBC Radio Solent’s popular morning show Vicki told the audience that grown up holidays have a special appeal to certain sectors.

There are very specific groups such as teachers and child care professionals who want to get away on their holidays and not be constantly reminded about their jobs which are waiting for them when the get back. Another group who enjoy not hearing the pitter patter of little feet are young professional couples who have yet to dip their toe into parenthood.

As well as speaking with the park owners the BBC took the opportunity to speak with guests who were staying at Back of Beyond. The holiday makers wanted to express that the decision to go 18+ had nothing to do with disliking children in any way, shape or form.

Having spoke with families with children there does seem to be an overwhelming feeling that a site that is 18+ has something to do with being anti child, something I disagree with. It is just a preference, not a political stance.

Although there is no ill feeling towards youngsters, elderly couples explained that they found it a lot easier to relax when there are no children running around the site.

The site covers 40 acres of tranquil Dorset countryside, over 50% of which is woodland. Back of Beyond offers pitches for camping, touring caravans and motorhomes.

If you want to leave the leisure vehicles at home but still visit the site you can book ready-erected tents, yurts and timer lodges for glamping. The glamping facilities offers some pitch perfect creature comforts such as full size double beds, heating and kitchen areas.

Those who listened to the BBC broadcast were told that Back of Beyond adopting the 18+ rule is not a one off, and that more parks across the UK are adopting the adult only policy.

Back of Beyond, said Vicki, is also a member of the Tranquil Parks group whose 40 members are all exclusively for people of voting age and above:

“There are hundreds of parks in Britain which welcome children, and which we greatly enjoyed visiting when our three teenage sons were younger,” she said.

“Parks like Back of Beyond are simply offering an alternative for those who want to chill in a gorgeous environment, and wake up to bird song rather than chirping children.

“It was great to be able to explain this type of holiday to the BBC audience, and the interviewer finished up by saying that the park sounded just like her cup of tea!” added Vicki.

There is more information about Back of Beyond at Caerphilly County Borough Council

Just An Opinion – Volkswagen Grand California

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By Nick Harding

Here at Caravan Times, our mission is to bring you reviews like no others. Here’s the first in our series of motorhome reports – where we tell it like it is

What are we looking at this week?

Volkswagen has just announced the Grand California. Two high-top conversions – 600 and 680; 6m and 6.8m long respectively – based on its Crafter van. They were unveiled at September 2018’s Caravan Salon, click here, and go on sale in the UK from the start of next year.

Why so special?

Californias are the only motorhomes actually produced by Volkswagen (the rest are made by independent specialists, some with VW’s blessing, some not). With the Grand California, however, Volkswagen has produced their first motorhomes with washrooms – toilet and shower are now on board! Grand Californias will be made alongside Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art, dedicated Crafter production plant in Wrzesnia, Poland.

What’s The Crafter?

It’s the next size up van from the Transporter, doyen of the campervan sector. Its most obvious rival is Fiat’s Ducato, which – along with its Peugeot Boxer cousin – dominates in the motorhome market. Greater authorities than me have decreed the Crafter is “excellent”. It’s also won plenty of major Van of the Year-type awards since its introduction in 2016. Engine upgrades, DSG automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive are among the options.

So what can we expect in a Grand California?

Conversion work of the highest order, for starters. Best quality components. Sturdy fittings. Superior plastic mouldings. No cheapskate carpet lining. And there’s a greater attention to safety, eg proper rear travel seat (with Isofix).

Slightly strangely, the 680 is a two-berth, while the shorter 600 offers the option of a clever slide-out roof bed system for two children. Both models have a four-seater lounge up front, rear double bed and central,washroom and kitchen.

Don’t confuse it with.

.the Grand Californian. That’s the hotel at Disneyland, California. Do look out for Crafter-based alternatives from Westfalia and Knaus/Weinsberg, though. As well as the UK’s Hillside Leisure.

So, what do you really think, Nick?

These are superb. I always think the lockers are a good indicator of the overall quality of any conversion. Here, the doors are solid, the positive catches are easy to operate, the hinges are superb, and you won’t find any loose wiring lurking at the back.

The Crafter base vehicle is streets ahead of its closest rivals in terms of build
quality, driveability, safety. probably long-term reliability, too. There are signs, also, that Volkswagen is looking to make Grand California prices very keen. And, because it’s a Volkswagen product, it will hold its value better than other motorhomes.

Will Grand California van conversions become icons, like the Transporter- based California campers? No. Well, not for a few decades, at least.

There must be things we won’t like.

OK, so the conversion won’t be “switched” for the UK – which means the sliding door stays on our driver’s side. The kitchen facilities are basic. No microwave, no oven, no way of making toast may not endear the Grand Cali to UK camper-chefs.

The roof profile of the 600 is a bit Marmite. The all-white furniture certainly
won’t appeal to traditionalists.

Above all, someone needs to have a word with the California design team: we prefer end lounge layouts in our van conversions over here.

Details, details

Grand Californias are set to go on sale in the UK next spring, via Volkswagen’s own Van Centres. Prices are still to be confirmed, but over on the mainland the 600 with top-of-the-range 177PS engine and DSG transmission will start at 55,000 euros. That’s about £49,500 – in other words, highly competitive in the van conversion sector.

Are you just biased?

Of course I am. I currently own a five-year-old California SE. But, see also the notes below.

Who is Nick Harding, anyway?

Nick grew up with motorhomes, tested his first vehicle over 30 years ago and has reviewed literally thousands since then. You might not always like what he says.

Lets’ have a Grand debate

Agree with Nick? Disagree? Feel free to add to the discussion, below.

Lowdhams Named Dealer Of The Year By Swift Group

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By William Coleman

Hard work, significant investment, teamwork, determination and a solid 12 months of sales has proved to be the winning recipe for Lowdhams Nottingham as they sweep up 3 awards are the 2018 Swift Group Dealer Network Awards.

With a turnover of over £4,000,000 Lowdhams Nottingham took home the big one at the annual Swift Awards. Their Huddersfield branch was also named as the runner in both the Motorhome Dealer Of The Year and Caravan Dealer of the year the £1.5m to £3.5m turnover categories.

Lowdhams are no stranger to award wins as these new awards follow previous success in last year’s first ever Swift Awards. At the inaugural awards Lowdhams received the coveted title of Touring Caravan Dealership of the year, in the turnover above £5m category.

These new wins follow many other success for Lowdhams in 2018 as the company have opened a dedicated caravan service centre at their Nottingham branch, along with a 24 bay handover area. Lowdhams are not stopping their either. Later on this year they are planning on doubling the existing showroom space.

Managing director of Lowdhams, Steve Sharpe said that he was delighted with the awards. “For a company to thrive you have to keep looking after customers in the right way, so that they keep coming back, and that’s what we’re committed to as a business.

“We’ve invested a lot over the last year in terms of time, money and training to ensure that our customers have the most positive experience possible when they buy a vehicle from us. Every team member is dedicated to delivering outstanding customer service, and that’s why I’m so pleased that we’ve been recognised for all the effort we all put in every single day.”

The Swift awards have been designed to help dealers to raise their customer service standards, training and business development which will help the entire leisure vehicle industry.

The dealership of the year award is one that all dealers strive to win. The main reason being is that the winner is chosen from feedback given by members of the public and not industry types which helps validate their hard work.

Swift’s deputy managing director Amy Archer said, “Congratulations to all our nominees and winners. The achievements across the network are phenomenal and we are delighted to recognise them at the annual awards event.”

Steve concludes that working in the leisure industry is a privilege in itself, “Caravans and motorhomes give people unlimited holidays and they can go anywhere – that is so exciting! From a folding camper right through to the most luxurious motorhome, these things give people the freedom to go on holidays. That is what our business is all about and we can’t wait to share that passion with the next customer to walk in through the door.”

There are a lot of different awarding bodies out there that love to hand out awards based on their own opinion. Not to say that is a bad thing as they are industry experts but an award where the results are taken from customer and public feedback in an award you can put your faith behind.

Dartmoor Park United

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By William Coleman

Devon is a location where I would spend most of my holiday time as a youngster. Dartmoor was an area in particular I was very fond of due to the “beast” that roamed the Moors in search of its dinner. Now the area has done its part in bringing together a family reunion after 40 years of holiday memories.

Peter and Margaret Richards have been holidaying in Dartmoor for over 40 years! Their very first destination of choice all those years ago was Dartmoor’s Langstone Manor Holiday Park. They have recently gone back, but this time they were not alone.

The couple, who are located in East Sussex, decided to celebrate 4 decades of happy holiday memories by arranging a trip to the park with their entire family. The large family consists of a whopping 18 children and grandchildren.

The multi-award winning park, located near Tavistock, welcomed the the family as they prepared for a fortnight of festivities as the extended family enjoyed a get together of a lifetime.

The owners of Langstone Manor, Jane and David Kellett, were more than happy to have the family reunion at their site. The booking was the largest single booking they had ever received from one single family since they acquired the park 20 years ago.

So where does one fit so many people on a site when not everyone has their own leisure vehicle? The mums, dads and grandchildren took over the apartment in the 150 year old manor house, two luxury cottages and a caravan for their 2 week stay. A nice varied mix of accommodation that perfectly demonstrates the freedom and flexibility of staying at a site such as Langstone Manor.

Now that both Peter and Margaret are both retired they are making the most of their leisure time. The couple used a tent as their accomodation during their very first visit at Langstone Manor. As the years went on the couple spent the first wedding anniversary on site in a two-berth caravan.

Time went by and their careers blossomed and they became parents, Peter and Margaret continued their visits to Langstone.

Unchanged from then to the present day, though, is their love of the Devon countryside – and especially Dartmoor – which has been passed down to their three children.

John, Zoe and George now live in different parts of the country, but were delighted to be reunited at the park, and to show their offspring where they had enjoyed their summers as youngsters.

But although the standpipes, small shop selling eggs and milk, and the trek to the toilet blocks have long disappeared, Peter and Margaret say the park’s most important qualities remain the same.

It is still, they assert, the peaceful, welcoming, well-run and friendly park it always was – and that Langstone Manor will forever hold a very affectionate place in their hearts.

Among the park’s many accolades is the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level, and the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for its consistently glowing reviews.

Today the park still provides camping and touring facilities along with a wide range of holiday homes and luxury glamping pods, plus facilities including a popular bar and restaurant.

There is more information about the park at www.LangstoneManor.co.uk

The 2018 Caravan Salon In Dusseldorf- Our Take

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This year was my first time at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf and I wanted to share my thoughts with you guys. Should anyone be thinking of taking the trip should have a read of this article as it may just be the influence you need to head to Germany for Europe’s largest caravan and motorhome event.

I cannot start this article without mentioning the sheer size of the Caravan Salon! It is one of the largest trade shows I have ever visited. So if you do visit I would suggest staying in the onsite camping site or very close by. You are going to need a good couple of days to get round it and make the most of everything that is on offer.

Another thing that that is well worth the trip is seeing all the new vehicles, tech and gadgets before the UK see it. Many manufacturers use the Dusseldorf show to launch products as the show gets visitors all over the globe to see what goods they can add to their next year’s product range. So you can get a head start on your friends of what to expect from next year.

Spread across 18 halls as well as around 60-70 different exhibitors outside the show will have something for everyone. If you are at the show then you will find everything you want from new models or leisure vehicle down to the newest tech in disposing your waste, an onboard furnis that incinerates your waste instead of filling up your cassette? I quite like the idea and to be honest the crowd certainly seemed to enjoy the idea.

There were a lot of new concept designs on offer, a stand out being the Burstner Harmony. Imagine a very modern and posh/expensive hotel that you’d find in London or Tokyo then put it into a 8ft wide caravan. From top to bottom the Harmony has state of the art technology; removable lights that double up at a torch and mini lamp that can go anywhere, see pictures below, also an iPad in the wall that control all the interior and exterior lights. Amazing from start to finish.


Once you manage to get round the halls you should make your way to the outside to try the amazing food on offer. There was an 18 wheeler that had a smoker/BBQ grill mounted on the back. The food this grill produced would rival any burger restaurant I have ever visited.

If you want to take the family with you, you will not be disappointed by the amount of entertainment that the Salon has aimed towards children and families. Interactive games, rides and creches for the smaller children. So take the children because they will have a great time on your adventure to Germany.

The fact that the Salon takes place during the last week or so of the school holidays means you can make a trip to the Salon a real holiday. Without too many stops you can get to Germany in or day or. But why rush when you can stop at a few locations along the way and make the trip to Germany a continental touring holiday.

Caravan Salon- Oyster On The Salon And Continental TV Touring

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By William Coleman

CaravanTimes are a big advocate or continental touring, so much so that we’ve travelled to the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf to speak with Julian Preston, from Oyster Sat Tech, about how easy taking your TV abroad is and why people from the UK should travel to the Salon as part of their travels.

TV inside your motorhome or caravan used to be a bit of a nightmare, so much so that a lot of people used to do away with the whole idea. With Oyster’s sat systems it is as easy as pressing one button. After simply pressing one button on the remote you can be watching Eastenders or catching up with current affairs .

Oyster is actually a German company and Julian runs things in the UK. Having spent many years in Germany actually speaks fluent German and have been to the Salon many, many times. So while we were there we wanted to take the opportunity to get his opinion in the show, the tech on display and why more and more people are visiting from the UK.

Caravan Salon 2018- Meeting Truma

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By William Coleman

We’ve all used onboard heating and air-con, especially over the past few months during the UK’s summer heatwave. As time rolls on it seems that our spring and summer months will be getting hotter and hotter, hence the need for more innovative cutting edge air conditioning technology. So we have a good look at the Truma, a product you either own or have never been more than 20 feet away on site, at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon.

Having spent a fair amount of time with Truma’s UK Managing Director on the Bristanbul tour I got to find out that onboard heating systems are a lot more intricate than I first thought. It is true that every day is a school day.

At this year’s Salon Truma had one of the more impressive stands on display. Not only were Truma displaying brand new tech but the whole stand was completely interactive. Everything TV monitor was actually giant touch screen, imagine a 55″ iPad, an interactive spin the wheel game where a prize is won on every spin.

The stand out product on the Truma stand is the Aventa comfort. Truma Aventa comfort cools your vehicle to a pleasant temperature within a very short time. The air is also cleaned and dehumidified to ensure a pleasant indoor climate even with minor differences between the inside and outside temperature. But the powerful roof-mounted air conditioning system can do even more: it can also be used as a heater. Thanks to the integrated heat pump, you can heat your motorhome or caravan especially on cooler days in spring and autumn. And it’s extremely energy-saving.

So for some expert advice on your onboard heating products be sure to visit C31 in Hall 13. And as always you can visit them directly on their website, Truma.com.

Caravan Salon- Travelworld What’s New For 2019

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By William Coleman

A lot of the companies that display at the show off some innovative tech as well as some exclusive brand new leisure vehicles. While we were at the Salon we spoke with Jake, from Travelworld, about what they are exhibiting at the show, how people from the UK can enjoy the Salon and what is new for their UK audience come 2019.

Over the past few years Travelworld have gone from strength to strength and are now a major dealer in the UK having been recently awarded with the Erwin Hymer status and opening a state of the art flagship dealership.

Travelworld are in Hall 5 at the Salon and that is where you will find the high end luxury touring homes. Imagine a hotel on wheels where you can even bring your car with you. Travelworld were displaying some amazing motorhomes from their major ranges such as; Neismann+Bischoff, Hymer and Carado.

Once we spoke with Jake about the brand new showroom that Travelworld have almost completed and the amazing new models for the 2019 season he gave me a guided tour around the motorhomes and campervans he was they were displaying.

From start to finish my jaw was practically on the floor. Each vehicle is so much different from the next. You can see that Travelworld’s manufacturers have such an eye for details even down to the minutest of design details. These vehicles really do demonstrate the true meaning of luxury.

But I do not want to give too much away. Have a watch of our exclusive interview from the show and see what’s new for the 2019. Also if you do not get a chance to see the team at Travelworld they will also be showing some new and exclusive models at this year’s October NEC show in Birmingham.

To find out more about the company and their leisure vehicles you can visit their website here, https://www.motorhomes.co.uk/

CaravanTimes Introduce The 2018 Caravan Salon In Dusseldorf

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William Coleman

Ok, so let me start by saying that I was totally unprepared for just how large the Salon is. CaravanTimes have visited the Dusseldorf show before but this was my first time and I was blown away by just how much there is to see and do. So we decided to give anyone visiting, or thinking of visiting, a little look into what is on offer.

Having been to the NEC shows as well as other expos around the UK I can safely say that the Salon might just be the most impressive. There really is something for everyone no matter what your interests are. If you are into the touring holiday lifestyle there is nothing here that will not be of interest.

While I was there I noticed just how many things there were for children to do. Due to the sheer size of the show it would be quite easy for the little ones to get fatigued by the walking around. There are soft play areas, entertainment and even a creche. So take the kids as I am sure they will have as much, if not more, fun than you do.

So if you have never been to the show have a read of our articles and watch the videos we made while we were there and get a feel of just how easy getting to and staying at the Salon actually is. On top of that we want to highlight just how great touring is on the continent.

Bank Holiday Fun With The Caravan And Motorhome Club

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By William Coleman

How are we already almost in September? It seems like only yesterday I was taking the tree down and preparing for New Year’s Eve. Now before you know it we are almost at the end of the summer and the 2018 touring season. So why not make the most of this year’s last warm Bank Holiday Monday by staying with The Club.

With the weather set to be in the early to mid 20s you really can have a last minute adventure from the Cornish coast to the Gloucestershire countryside. Pack up the van and family and head on a weekend to remember as Autumn closes in.

What’s more with National Dog Day taking place on 26 August, the Club has put together a selection of its top three dog-friendly sites with good availability suitable for our furry friends this weekend.

Where to enjoy this bank holiday weekend

St Agnes Club site the ultimate retreat for the long weekend. Head to the Cornish coast for some down time and enjoy fresh seafood or local famous delicacies of Cornish Pasties. St Agnes Club site offers panoramic views of the coastline of England’s most south-westerly county in a peaceful setting. The coastal footpath that runs alongside the site is a haven for walkers and the site is also within easy reach of great surfing spots, like Chapel Porth which is only five minutes away. Prices start from £20.70 per night based on two adults sharing a standard pitch.

Rowan Park Club site in West Sussex is a great pitstop for southern explorers this bank holiday. The site is only two miles from the traditional British seaside resort of Bognor Regis and is close to Goodwood Racecourse, which is hosting a bank holiday extravaganza this year. The picturesque village of Bosham is also nearby with its harbour and country pubs. Prices start from £25.40 per night based on two adults sharing a standard pitch.

Bourton-on-the-Water Club site in the Gloucestershire countryside is a magical setting for a bank holiday break. Situated high up in the Cotswolds and graded as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site is a picturesque getaway. Nearby must-visits include Chedworth Roman Villa, a local perfumery, famous miniature village and the motor museum based in a nostalgic 18 Century water mill. Prices start from £17.10 per night based on two adults sharing a standard pitch.

Alderstead Heath Club site is a great pitstop for exploring the capital this bank holiday. Located just 20 miles from central London, this Surrey site offers a good base for exploring Notting Hill Carnival. As the largest street festival in Europe, this free Caribbean Carnival comes to West London for one weekend with its traditional West Indies food, live music, dancing and a street party. Prices start from £25.70 per night based on two adults sharing a standard pitch.

Balbirnie Park Club site is an ideal stay for those heading to the idyllic Scottish capital this summer for the Edinburgh Fringe. Escape the madness of the city and stay at the site which is just 34 miles outside of the centre. It makes a great overnight spot after a day exploring the surroundings of Fife or watching a show at the Fringe. Prices start from £18.20 per night based on two adults sharing a standard pitch.

Celebrate National Dog Day on 26 August at these dog-friendly sites

High Onn Club site in Staffordshire is set in such a peaceful spot that it will be hard to believe that you are less than 11 miles away from the motorway network. Views from this location are typical, traditional English farmland, with some fantastic scenery to be seen towards the Wrekin and the Shropshire hills. Dog walks are available on site and prices start from just £14 – a great value all-inclusive fee for a standard pitch, 2 adults and a dog!

Exebridge Lakeside Club site in Somerset has many excellent facilities and all pitches are level, boasting superb views of the surrounding hills and the Exe Valley. There is a convenient path leading from the caravan site around the fishing lake; walk up a thirst with dog walks from the site and The Anchor pub, a traditional local landmark just 400 yards away. Prices start from £26.70 based on two adults and a dog sharing one pitch.

Richmond Hargill House Club site in North Yorkshire offers magnificent views southwards over the Yorkshire Dales National Park and has a wealth of fun activities to make your family holiday memorable. Set in the famous area of James Herriot’s novels, the site offers the opportunity to see many of the locations used within the famous series as well as dog walks from the site. Prices start from £24.70 based on two adults and a dog sharing on one pitch.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club offers a great break for our four-legged friends, as well as humans. Many of the Club’s sites have a dog walk on-site or very nearby. Fans of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, Aurelie and her adorable dog Marcel of the popular Le Corgi blog says:

“We love how the Caravan and Motorhome Club treats dogs as family members. When we have visited their sites and events, dogs were not just allowed, they were made to feel welcome – with facilities including dog-friendly activities and exercising areas. Having a clear policy and encouraging owners to take their dogs with them on breaks not only decreases stress (for both dogs and owners), it also reduces the risk of them being abandoned comes holiday time”

Kids Wildlife Discovery Day At Lanc Park

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By William Coleman

Children went wild at a Lancaster holiday park this August when they tackled a series of challenges to help heighten their awareness of the natural world. It all took place during a wildlife discovery day at Moss Wood in Cockerham which was attended by a line-up of Lancashire-based charities and organisations.

Aimed at both youngsters and grown-ups, activities included supervised pond dipping sessions, and the chance for children to built their own bee and bug hotels.

Bodies such as the RSPB and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust explained to guests how they can identify and help protect the county’s native animals, birds and plant-life.

Hungry visitors also enjoyed tasting locally-produced foods from exhibitors, including goats-meat burgers from Cockerham Boers, and honey from hives tended by Lancaster Beekeepers.

The beekeeping organisation also helps maintain three traditional timber hives on the park which, in the summer months, are home to more than 100,000 honey bees.

Family-owned Moss Wood caravan park held the wildlife discovery day to help local people and holiday guests learn more about rural Lancashire’s abundant flora and fauna.

The park’s Henry Wild said the business also wanted to demonstrate the wealth of food, drink and other products which could be sourced from within the county.

For over 20 years, the Moss Wood has been an annual winner of the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Last year, the award also came with a rare Special Distinction to celebrate the success of the first wildlife discovery day and the number of young people it drew in.

Many of the park’s environment-friendly initiatives were on view to guests at this year’s event..

They included a 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness which attracts many honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

There is also a spring-fed lake at Moss Wood which acts as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, waterfowl and a host of other different aquatic species.

“This was our second wildlife day to be held on the park, and it proved even more popular than last year’s inaugural event,” said Henry.

“Activities such as pond dipping and bug-hunts are a fantastic way for youngsters to become inspired by nature and to learn more about its wonderful secrets.

“Many visitors also went away with ideas on how to copy our conservation work at home, such as planting high-nectar blooms and using red squirrel friendly feeders,” said Henry.

Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. There is more information about the park at www.mosswood.co.uk