by Joe Jeffrey
HGV dashcam footage shows caravanner crash pride and joy in act of idiocy
We at CaravanTimes are strong advocates of caravan safety, and with safety comes the belief that it pays to plan ahead. If only someone had told that to the caravanner you’re about to see.
In what can only be described – we are ashamed to say – as an act of sheer stupidity, watch on as a fellow caravanner attempts to push in front of a long queue of traffic merging into a lane on the M6.
Yes, it could be said that the HGV driver could have seen some leniency and allowed for the caravanner to move into the correct lane by slowing down, but when you decide to take on a 44 ton lorry in your Renault estate whilst towing your caravan, prepare for the worst. Either that or drive to the next junction where you will have more time to manoeuver and position yourself safely.
Footage of the incident has already caused somewhat of a furore on YouTube, with a mixed bag of comments defending both lorry driver and caravanner, but what do you think of the footage below? It will be interesting to know your thoughts.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING FOOTAGE CONTAINS LANGUAGE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

by Joe Jeffrey
Met Office issues weather warning for most parts of the UK this bank holiday
Remember that three-month heatwave we told you about a couple of weeks ago? Well, it seems as though we may have spoken too soon, as the Met Office has warned of an Arctic blast that could make for a wintery bank holiday weekend for some parts of the UK.
A sharp drop in temperature has ushered in snow and sleet for parts of the UK with some areas having endured the coldest night ever recorded for the month of April, including Northern Ireland which saw temperatures falls to as low as -8C over the weekend. Gale force winds of 50mph have also been predicted for the week ahead.
Elsewhere across the UK, things aren’t looking that much better, with temperatures in the south remaining rather chilly and just managing to maintain double digits, whilst some parts of northern England are predicted to be worse affected.
As to the reason why the UK is set to brace itself for a harsh end of April, Met Office spokesperson, Nicola Maxey, explained: “The weather has started to change and it is coming from the Arctic.

“We have had a long stretch of quite settled weather where high pressure has dominated, but that has moved out. This cold air has moved in from the Arctic and that is moving slowly south.”

“We are in colder air for this week which is coming down from the Arctic,” she added.

“It looks like we are staying fairly unsettled into the start of May with temperatures average or a bit below average.”
Drivers across the UK are being warned to take care on potentially hazardous roads as a precaution, with more bad weather predicted for northern England, Wales and the east coast, so wherever you’re heading make sure you remain vigilant and safe.

by Justine Iorga
Old Oaks makes taking a holiday with your pet an outstanding experience for all, including your four-legged friend
Old Oaks Touring Park based in Glastonbury has taken their park to a whole new level by providing only the best amenities for one of the most cherished members of your family. The The AA award-winning park – with awards including the Professor David Bellamy‘s Conservation Award at its top gold level – puts pooches on a pedestal by providing them and their owners with a kennel-load of dog friendly facilities.
Most places that claim to be dog friendly usually are but it seems Old Oaks has gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to prove to you that your pet really does come first with some great amenities.
Onsite facilities include:
– A dedicated washer and dryer for dog bedding
– Discovery walks which start and finish on the park
– A list of local attractions and places to eat with the Rex-factor
– A doggy shower so that they can get cleaned up after a day of play
– A safe area where they can be tethered outside the shower buildings while you attend to personal matters
– Free-range romping is also positively encouraged with a large securely-fenced exercise area on regularly mown grassland with views across to the Mendip Hills
Furthermore, a partnership with local dog walking business, Glastonbury Dog Walkers, allows for them to take the lead when owners wish to venture out alone.
Owners, Tara and James White, have been running this site for over 30 years and they’ve always welcomed pets at their park. Tara commented: “We genuinely enjoy having responsible pet owners on the park, and dogs enjoy a change of scenery as much as the rest of the family, so everybody benefits from the holiday.
“There are so many places now where you can’t take a dog on holiday, so we thought we would ensure that the Old Oaks answers everybody’s needs in one stroke!”
So if you’re looking to take your furry friend along on the adventures this summer then this place will surely be able to provide a genuine experience for not only you but your pet. For more information, click here.

by Justine Iorga
Caravanners accused of smuggling in killer Asian hornets to UK
Chairwoman of the Norfolk Beekeepers’ Association, Carolyn Liston, has blamed caravanners over concerns that millions of killer hornets could be heading to the UK.
Rumoured to have managed to buzz their way into France by hiding away in a consignment of pottery originating from the Far East, these vicious creatures have already killed six people in France after the sting caused them to go into anaphylactic shock. Their sting is filled with eight toxic chemicals that cause an allergic shock in humans which then can result in deadly consequences.
Now, chairwoman of the Norfolk Beekeepers’ Association, Carolyne Liston, has weighed in on the issue, blaming any possible sighting of Asian hornets on UK soil on caravannners.
She said: “We are concerned they are going to come into Britain on someone’s caravan who has been travelling in France.
“They are a very, very aggressive predator. They wait by the entrance and grab foraging bees as they come back into the hive. They can absolutely decimate bee colonies.”
Caravanners have been blamed for quite a bit over the years – from causing traffic jams to putting a blot on the UK’s landscape – but hornets? Seriously?
Meanwhile, the Animal Veterinary Laboratories Agency is on standby to kill the hornets should they cross the Channel with or without the help of those with caravans and the National Bee Unit of the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will meet in Suffolk next month for a seminar where they will discuss ways to deal with these predators that can devour as many as 50 honey bees in a day. Defra has sent email alerts to beekeepers across the country, urging them to be on guard for this menace.
We at CaravanTimes are totally for protecting ourselves and others from danger, but for Liston to assume these killer insects are on a one way ticket courtesy of our caravans is, perhaps stretching things a tad too far. What about the huge number of heavy goods vehicles en route from France too? Or, for that matter, regular passengers on ferry crossings or other forms of transportation from across the Channel? The issue certainly shouldn’t be contained to those with caravans.
The above said, it pays to be on the look out for these killer hornets, which could possibly be attracted to the warm spring we are currently experiencing across the UK. So, if you’re unsure about how to tell these Asian hornets apart from European hornets, we’ve included some facts about them below:
– Asian hornets are generally active between April and November.
– Queens can grow up to 3cm in length, with her workers measuring in at around 2.5cm.
– Asian hornets have an entirely dark brown or black velvety body, bordered with a fine yellow band. It has a black head with orange-yellow face
– It nests in tall trees in urban and rural areas, and nests can also be found in sheds, garages, under decking or in holes in the wall or ground
– The Asian Hornet is a day flying species which, unlike the European hornet, returns to its nest at dusk.
Make sure you’re on the look out for the killer hornets wherever you are in the UK and let us know what you think about Carolyne Liston’s comments below? Should caravanners be singled out or should this be a message to all those who make a Channel crossing? One thing’s for sure – she’s certainly put bee in our bonnet.