Endangered tiger cubs born at Flamingo Land Resort, Yorkshire

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by Laura Diaz

Rare Sumatran tiger triplets were born at Flamingo Land Resort Yorkshire. Caravanners are welcome to visit these three darlings at the park!

Flamingo Land Resort Yorkshire announced the birth of critically endangered tiger triplets, as reported by Daily Star.

The rare cub triplets were born on 22 March to mother, Surya, and father, Bawa,. Their birth is quite extraordinary since recent estimates of Sumatran tiger population levels in the wild are a staggeringly low at approximately 400. These precious triplets boost the species’ population by nearly 1%. The zoo veterinarians hope the breeding pair have many more productive years ahead. The measure is part of a worldwide conservation effort to save the species from extinction.

“This is fantastic news for the European Endangered Species Programme and really shows the effectiveness of international collaboration,” commented Zoo Manager Ross Snip on the resort’s website. “The Sumatran tiger could quite easily disappear from the wild within the next few decades, so it is essential that we maintain a captive population in zoos worldwide.”

The wonderfully picturesque Flamingo Land Resort released the cubs into an open enclosure much to the delight of visitors last month and have since proved to be a huge hit. Not only does Flamingo Land contain a zoo and theme park, but it also offers caravanners and motorhomers the option of staying for up to three nights absolutely free; all that’s required is the purchase of a one-off admission ticket, which also includes admission to the onsite leisure complex and entertainment venue, The Club. And with some cuddly tiger cubs thrown in for good measure, who could ask for much more?!

Cheeky Little Campers campaign to encourage next generation of campers with help of Natural Connections and The Camping and Caravan Club

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by Laura Hastings

Vango has teamed up with Britain’s largest outdoor learning organisation Natural Connections, and The Camping and Caravanning Club, to inspire a love of nature in young people

The Cheeky Little Campers campaign is a fantastic initiative that aims to encourage primary school children to get outside and active, which is a difficult task in today’s world of technology and sedentary lifestyles.

Scottish manufacturer of camping and caravanning equipment, Vango, have donated tents to ten primary schools across the South West, which have been asked to participate in the scheme, and the participating schools have been set a challenge to create a fun video with their students showing how they pitch the tent. Check out the video from Longford Park Primary School below.

The schools will keep the tents that they have been given, and students will be given the opportunity to ‘sign out’ the class tent so that they may share the camping experience with their families. The Camping and Caravanning Club has also donated a night’s free stay at any of their sites across the UK, so the kids will definitely be able to get a taste for camping.

Vango has worked with young people for many years, and has a long-standing attachment to The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and more recently The Scouting Associaition. An association with Natural Connections was an ideal match for the camping brand.

The Natural Connections Demonstration project a set up in 2012, and is a three year project which works in more than 200 schools across the South West of England, increasing the number of children experiencing the full range of benefits that come from learning in natural environments. The project is funded by DEFRA, Natural England, and English Heritage, and contracted to Plymouth University.

Natural Connections project manager Ian Blackwell spoke about the learning process with Vango: “One of the things that makes learning outside so special is the children always seem to take so much away from it, and they enjoy the learning experience, even if what they learn varies from child to child. With a bit of creativity and shared resources it’s possible to teach any subject outside.

“I’m really pleased Vango has asked us to work with them on the Cheeky Little Campers campaign. It’s wonderful that these children are going to be trying out some of the best tents at school and then with their families. I always think it’s -make-or-break’ on the first camping trip, and if you’ve got good gear you’re more likely to fall in love with sleeping under the stars,” he continued.

Vango’s brand manager Emma Robinson explained how the idea was born: “The idea for the campaign came from a teacher who wrote to us asking for a Vango tent that she wanted to use to teach her children how to write instructions. After receiving her classes’ handiwork, and seeing how much the children enjoyed making the instructional video, we knew we had to get more children involved; hence Cheeky Little Campers was born!”

CaravanTimes think that this is a fantastic initiative, and hope more schools will soon be benefitting from it and encouraging the next generation of caravanners and campers to take to the great outdoors.

Watch the video from Longford Park Primary School below:


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Father of cancer victim supports caravan holidays for families dealing with childhood cancer

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by Laura Diaz

Ian Mustard, father of cancer victim Abbie Mustard, launches a charity to buy static caravans on holiday sites so families affected by cancer can enjoy paid-for-holidays

The father of Abbie Mustard, a 16-year-old victim of leukaemia, launched Abbie’s Hideaway after his daughter’s passing. The charity’s current project is to raise money to buy static caravans on holiday sites to offer free-of-charge holidays to the families of children suffering from childhood cancer, as reported by Leicester Mercury.

Ian Mustard lost his daughter, Abbie, after a two-year battle against acute promyelocytic leukaemia. The courageous family underwent not only Abbie’s treatment, but also a stem cell transplant which proved unsuccessful in saving the teenage girl’s life. Abbie passed six months after receiving her transplant, which followed a global search to find a donor. The Hinckley father remembers his daughter’s courage, “Abbie was incredibly brave and incredibly positive right up until the end. We all hoped the transplant would save her but it was not to be.”

Despite grieving for his daughter, Ian has remained a proactive member of the cancer support community. His establishment of Abbie’s Hideaway in September 2013 speaks for his activism. The charity’s aim is to raise money to provide families with the chance to spend quality vacation time with their children while they undergo cancer treatment. The current project is to purchase static caravans on holiday sites near Matlock, Derbyshire. The charity is looking to purchase caravans which can sleep six to eight people. When asked about the location, Ian commented, “[The location] is suited to children undergoing treatment for cancer of leukaemia at Leicester Royal, Nottingham Queen’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals.”

“I did not discuss this idea with Abbie, but I know she would be very happy to have her name associated with such a charity,” Ian said. “We miss her terribly, but this is giving us something to focus on.”

Ian calculates the cost of buying a caravan and setting it up as a family holiday home would be £20,000. So far, Abbie’s Hideaway has raised £13,000, so they have already raised over half of the money required to buy the first caravan. The team at CaravanTimes is certain Abbie’s Hideaway will not only succeed in purchasing that first caravan, but also continue to fund quality holidays for those families whose children are affected by childhood cancer. These families deserve proper breaks, and it is wonderful to see there is an organisation specialising in this.

If you would like to make a donation to this noble cause, please visit the charity’s website.

Additional security and protection for your caravan

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by Philip Lovegrove

In the third of a series of videos, CaravanTimes speaks to the Central Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS), detailing additional security and protection for your caravan.
In the unfortunate event of your touring caravan being stolen, CRiS have designed an extra service to considerably improve the chances of enforcement identifying and recovering your caravan, even if all signs and traces of its unique identity from the windows and chassis have been removed or changed.
In this video, Chris Jefferies of CaravanTimes talks to CRiS about the thinking behind the CRiS Plus scheme, and we catch up with Tim Booth of AVCIS (Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service), who tells us how important the service is in helping return stolen items from caravans, as well as which items inside your caravan should be tagged with CRiS Plus microdots, to make your mobile home more easy to identify.
Visit CRiS at www.cris.co.uk to find out more.

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Caravan road trip seeks to boost morale of women with cancer

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by Laura Diaz

Cancer support charity, Look Good Feel Better (LGFB), will take a road trip around the UK in an eye-catching caravan to boost morale of women with cancer

Look Good Feel Better (LGFB), a cancer support charity, will begin caravan road trip around the UK as part of their mission to boost the morale of women around the country. The road trip will begin from Epsom High Street in Surrey on Wednesday, 4 June, as reported by Your Local Guardian.

The striking pink and silver caravan will travel to more than 20 cities to mark the charity’s 20th anniversary. The caravan-based mobile information service will strive to follow the charity’s purpose in strengthening the self-esteem of cancer patients through a series of support activities and workshops.

Epsom and Ewell MP, Chris Graylling, promoted the caravan, “I am sure a lot of people aren’t aware that a national cancer charity is based in offices close to Epsom town centre. I urge all local residents and businesses to come and visit their new eye-catching mobile unit and find out how they help women and teenagers who are struggling with the visible side effects of cancer treatment.”

LGFB is the only worldwide cancer support charity which specialises in providing practical support for women struggling with the side effects of cancer treatments. The extreme physical changes some patients undergo as a result of aggressive cancer treatments can have quite a negative effect on their self-esteem. The mission of LGFB is to aid patients in dealing with these side effects by improving their self-image and appearance through free group and self-help skincare and make-up workshops. These activities create a sense of support, confidence and well-being. Since its establishment in 1993, LGFB has supported nearly 100,000 patients.

Fiona, one of the charity’s beneficiaries, gleamed when discussing their mission, “The whole experience was outstanding. It’s not just about a bit of make-up, it’s not vanity-it’s about control. It gives women the strength to fight this horrible disease.”

CaravanTimes urges caravanners in the area to visit the impressive caravan and support this noble cause!

Lunar Partners with Scottish Dealer Dicksons of Perth

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by Laura Diaz

Lunar appoints Dicksons of Perth as its newest Scottish main dealer

Lunar seeks to strengthen its Scottish representation as they appoint Dicksons of Perth as a new main dealer.

The dealership, along with its subsidiary business Perth Caravans, has been a family-run business since its establishment in 1958. It will stock both new and used models of Lunar caravans. The Lunar Landstar, won the distinction of ‘Motor Caravan’ of the year in The Caravan Club’s Design and Drive Awards. Besides the sales of these vehicles, the dealership also offers MOT’s, servicing and habitation, an on-site accessory store and motorhome hire.

Managing director, Norman Dickson, stated, “Lunar is a brand recognised for its quality and versatility. It offers caravanners at every life stage, from young families to fancy-free retirees, a high quality leisure vehicle that suits their requirements. We’re looking forward to welcoming new and existing Lunar customers to our showroom.”

About the appointment, Lunar Sales Manager, Lee Roberts, said, “Dicksons is a solid family business which is renowned for offering an exemplary standard of customer service. Their team are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate about helping caravanners find the perfect caravan or motorhome. These are attributes we look for when selecting a Lunar dealership and we’re delighted to have them on board.”

This partnership is great news for all caravanners in the Perth area. The team at CaravanTimes hopes to see more of these collaborations in the future!

Up to 30 per cent off Club Site breaks in June with the C&C Club

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by Philip Lovegrove

Camping and Caravanning Club giving you the opportunity to save up to 30 per cent off your camping breaks

Are you looking for a great deal this summer on your camping break? Well look no further.
The Camping and Caravanning Club has teamed up with Out & About Live to give you the chance to have a camping break during June at members’ rates – that’s a saving of up to 30 per cent.
With over 60 Club Sites participating across the UK, there is sure to be a campsite close by to suit everyone’s needs – so what better opportunity to experience the great outdoors this summer.
The offer is only available for a limited time – from May 26th until June 29th, so don’t miss out.
For more information, you can book online or call 024 7767 1998 and enter or quote the promotion code JUNEMN at the time of booking.

2-for-1 tickets for Foodies Festivals with Practical Caravan

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by Laura Hastings

If you enjoy learning to make delicious food and drinks, or if you just love consuming it, then a trip to a Foodies Festival this Summer should be on your agenda

Foodies Festival will be touring the UK this Summer, offering food and drink lovers a variety of demonstrations and sampling opportunities. Practical Caravan wants to provide you with the opportunity to get two tickets for the price of one.

With the Festival taking place in nine locations across the UK between May and August, visit the website to check for the venue closest to you, there are ample opportunities to make a visit and check out what’s on offer.

Top celebrity chefs will be present to teach new cookery skills, such as Great British Menu judge Glyn Purnell, Masterchef winner Mat Follas, former Coronation Street star and cheese-maker Sean Wilson, and actor turned farm shop owner Charlie Lawson.

Alongside these and other fantastic chefs, there will be many tents offering the chance to try some delicious food and beverages. The Vintage Tea Tent is sure to be popular, along with the Chocolate, Baking and Preserves Tent.

The BBQ Arena will provide entertainment as well as food, as it will host challenges and meat-eating competitions. The Restaurant Area offers a more relaxed experience, where you can sit down and try sample dishes from several local restaurants. The Feasting Tent provides an opportunity to get social with fellow foodies; you can sit at long banqueting tables to discuss the day’s offerings with those around.

Visit the Real Ale and Cider Farm area for the opportunity to relax on hay bales and enjoy a few tipples. If you want to bring the kids along, there’s plenty to keep them entertained at the Children’s Cookery Theatre, where experts will be on hand to teach a variety of basics.

The Vintage Kitchen Market will give you an opportunity to kit out your caravan kitchen with some lovely décor pieces.

To avail of Practical Caravan’s 2-for-1 offer on tickets, enter the code PC241, when purchasing online from the website, or by phone at 0844 995 1111

Sussex Artist’s work produced in caravan for 40 years sells for £800,000

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by Laura Diaz

The work of Sussex artist who painted from a caravan for 40 years has been sold for over £800,000 at the Bonhams sale of British and Irish art

Ivon Hitchens, a Sussex artist, painted from his caravan for 40 years after tragedy struck. His works were sold for over £800,000 at the Bonhams sale of British and Irish art on Wednesday (28 May), as reported by Crawley News.

The artist’s home was bombed during the Second World War, a tragedy which forced him to live in a caravan. However, Hitchens utilised his difficult situation as fuel for his creativity. Throughout 40 years, he produced fascinating works of art. The Bonhams sale of British and Irish art sold 15 of his paintings, which totalled a value of £812,100. The top price in Hitchens’ collection was paid for the painting “Poppies against a Grey Background”; it sold for £79,300. Hitchens’ style is best known for its panoramic landscape images using dominant blocks of colour, as evidenced by the highest-priced painting.

The Sussex artist is part of a family tradition. His father was a painter, as are his son and grandson. Furthermore, Hitchens was part of the collection of artists known as the London Group. Before the war, he exhibited his works with the group. In the years subsequent to the bombing, Hitchens added a series of buildings to his encampment, situated on a patch of woodland in Petworth.

The 15 paintings sold belonged to the Estate of Elizabeth Creak, who passed away last year. Profits from the sales will benefit the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust. The funds will provide scholarships in agriculture to support new blood in farming and finance projects. These are meant to provide farmers with the tools to survive and thrive in the challenging modern agricultural environment.

It is wonderful to see how such a distinguished artist created dazzling works from inside a caravan for four decades!

The Caravan Club and Elddis Team up for the Meek Family’s Xplore Challenge 2014

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by Laura Diaz

The Caravan Club and Co Durham-based leisure vehicle manufacturer, Elddis, team up to create a new challenge for the adventurous Meek family, the Xplore Challenge 2014

The Meek family gained attention last year when Tim and Kerry Meek challenged their daughters, Amy,10, and Ella, 8, to complete 100 outdoor tasks in a one-year period. After learning of the parents’ success in keeping their children active, The Caravan Club and Elddis teamed up to offer them the Xplore Challenge 2014.

Last year, the Meeks made a revolutionary decision regarding their daughters’ upbringing. Both Nottingham teachers, they noticed the common trend among children to remain stuck in front of the television instead of leading active lives. Worried about how this could affect their daughters, they challenged the youngsters to ditch the television in favour of completing 100 outdoor tasks throughout the course of a year. By October, the girls had completed all 100 challenges and reduced their television time to a maximum of three hours a week. This is undoubtedly an unheard-of statistic among this technology-loving generation of children.

On their motivation to get their daughters to complete last year’s challenge, Tim explained, “We feel strongly about getting the children outside, getting them to enjoy the outdoors and feeling comfortable with it.” Their efforts were definitely successful as their daughters have now become accustomed to outdoor adventures, and will be endeavouring in quite the challenge for almost half a year.

The family’s success sparked the interest of The Caravan Club, so they teamed up with Co Durham-based leisure vehicle manufacturer, Elddis, to set the family another challenge for this year. The Xplore Challenge 2014 consists of having the Meeks undertake 20 caravan holidays throughout 20 weeks. To be successful, the family must visit Caravan Club sites and Certified Locations (CL’s) in England, Wales and Scotland. Additionally, the family must complete a number of outdoor activities along the way during their travels. The Meeks will keep an account of their adventures on Club Together, which our readers are encouraged to follow. In addition, The Caravan Club Magazine will provide coverage on the Meeks’ journey.

The Caravan Club seeks to involve its members in the Xplore Challenge. So far, 75 of the activities have already been decided with 25 still left to be selected. To choose the remaining activities, The Caravan Club is launching a competition. Participants can submit their ideas for these activities, and the Meeks will select the 25 activities that appeal to them the most. The winners of the competition are in for a real treat. They will win either seven nights in a caravan in Devon or three nights in their own outfit on a Caravan Club site of their choice. Needless to say, the prize is quite appealing given the simplicity of the entry.

To view which activities have already been selected follow this link. All Caravan Club members are encouraged to enter this fantastic contest! Good luck, fellow caravanners!

Aberafon Holiday Park given year-round licence

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by Laura Diaz

The owners of Aberafon Holiday Park in Gwynedd, North Wales, are now licenced to receive holidaymakers all year-round

Gwynedd Council planning committee has given Aberafon Holiday Park permission to extend its occupancy period of static caravans on the site from ten and a half months to the entire year, as reported by Cambrian News.

The council discussed the application last week, as requested by councillor Gruffydd Williams, who was opposed to the idea but unable to vote. The councillor claimed there was a growing trend of caravan parks pursuing extensions of their occupancy period in the Llyn Peninsula. He stated, “People in the area are mostly concerned that, if these caravan parks are opening all year round, people who stay here for over a year can claim they are homeless and jump the queue on the waiting list for housing. I was also concerned as there was no assessment on the impact on the Welsh language with this application, but I’ve been told it doesn’t need one.”

Among the councillor’s other concerns was the allegation that tourism has an effect on the Welsh language. On this, he declared, “If you look at areas like Abersoch, a massive percentage of the population there are people who have moved there after coming on holiday.”

Aberafon, which many consider the finest North Wales holiday park, will regardless enjoy this extended period now offered to its visitors. The time extension is congruent with the continued trend of UK staycations. A survey conducted by Barclays earlier this month predicted spending by UK domestic tourists holidaying in Wales will increase from £5.3bn to £6.6bn between 2013 and 2017. This 25% surge is undoubtedly one of the driving factors behind the many initiatives for holiday parks to stay open year-round, as reported by CaravanTimes.

For more information about Aberafon Holiday Park, please visit their website.

Glanllyn Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park benefits from rise in domestic tourism

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by Laura Diaz

Glanllyn Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park owners claim their business has seen the benefits of the rise in domestic tourism

The surge in UK staycations, linked to the recessionary practice of domestic holidaying, will increase staycationer spending in Wales by 25 per cent, a survey by Barclays claims.

The research results forecast UK domestic tourists holidaying in Wales will shift from spending £5.3bn to £6.6bn between 2013 and 2017. Furthermore, the survey predicts that spending by domestic tourists throughout the UK will also rise by 25 per cent surpassing £108bn by 2017. The results suggest economic recovery is on track, but people are hesitant to revert back to their pre-recession habits of holidaying abroad.

Edward and Megan Pugh, owners of Glanllyn Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park in Wales, are among those who are benefiting from the continuing trend in staycations. The couple claims their business’s activity is starting to resemble what was common in pre-recession times.

However, the Pughs have remained mindful of the continued economic recovery. Mrs. Pugh stated, “[Tourists] have got a tight budget so they just stay for as many nights as they can afford and that’s it. People are very wary of spending on their luxuries, and I suppose you would call a holiday a luxury.” Hence, the Pughs have not risen the Park’s prices.

Glanllyn Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park is located by Wales’ largest natural lake, Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), in the south of Snowdonia National Park. Glanllyn offers views of Aran and Arenig mountains, as well as 16 acres of level parkland that accommodates 75 caravans, 25 motor homes and 100 tents.

With such a breath-taking landscape as backdrop and affordable prices, it is no wonder Glanllyn Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park is reaping the benefits of staycationer spending.