Smallholders, tractor runs and storage!

We woke to another beautiful morning today with the hope that it might just feel a bit warmer, it is, a mite but it hardly feels like spring at the moment.  The grass is growing, we have mowed the campsite three or four times, but not like it normally is in the middle of May. This has definitely made a difference to the number of people that we have been seeing on the site.   I think the retirees who traditionally occupy pitches at this time of year are staying at home with the central heating turned up! 

It’s the Smallholders Show this weekend on the Royal Welsh Showground  http://www.rwas.co.uk/en/garden-festival/ A really lovely event, better, in a way, than the Royal Welsh itself. You can spend a day there and see everything, from pigs to pigeons (well, I can’t guarantee that!!)  wood workers to wombats, (or that!)  silage makers to solar panels.  It is a really god day out. We have quite a few booked onto the site but plenty of pitches available if you fancy coming to stay.

 Last weekend it was the annual Hundred House tractor run.  Unusually this year we did not venture out on the Dexter but George took a more modern tractor with a heater! On the day, last Sunday, he actually did not need it, it was the most beautiful day, almost warm! We have a lovely couple who have stayed with us for the last two years and brought their Discovery on it, anything is welcome to take part apart from tractors, there are always a smattering of 4 x 4’s, quads and old land rovers .

  It does not seem possible that it is only two weeks until the Whitsun   weekend. I am so sorry to anyone who has tried to book in the last couple of weeks and been told we are up to our numbers.

I do have a waiting list so if for any reason you need to cancel please remember to call me.

Bookings are looking good for the Royal Welsh, if you want to come for that, 19^th to 23^rd of July please get in touch as soon as you can and I will send you a booking form.

 I want to thank everyone for their continued support. I think that we are one of the only camping websites that allow you to upload pictures;  I take great pride in pointing out that most of the ones on there are taken by you, not filtered by us!  Your recommendations have seen us receive a fantastically good review in the Cool Camping Guide and help towards our David Bellamy Award of Special Distinction. All in all a pretty good start to 2010!  We now have nearly a hundred and fifty followers of the Fforest Fields Ffacebook page and over 1,600 Twitterers.  Fingers crossed, it’s going to be a busy year!

Lastly, for some time we have been thinking of providing caravan storage at Fforest Fields. Originally we thought of just doing it during the season, pitch and store, on an field adjacent to the campsite. More recently we have been thinking that we might develop the Depot (the buildings at the entrance, off the main road) and putting up a modern, clear-span barn and offering caravan servicing as well as storage. We would be very interested to hear from any one who might consider using it. Please drop me a line, let me know, do you already keep you 'van in storage and might have some advice on what you like about your storage place or perhaps even more useful, what you don't like.   I know already that many say that they have to leave early on a Sunday to get their caravans back into storage before they shut. How mean! Surely you stay open late on a Sunday to accommodate your customers, not demand that they curtail their holiday so you can be home in time for tea!

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written by steve harrison, May 14, 2010

Hi Katie
The only problem i would see with storage as an issue to campers would be that people who store them there and just use your site would be like seasonal tourers and booking every weekend and main holiday weeks every year hence reducing the amount of spaces available throughout the year to visitors. I could leave my tent behind and when i want to come have it erected for when i get there lol.No matter what you do you will do it so that it does not alter the site in any way. Hope to see you early June once Chris has had her hospital appointments in the next week or so

steve

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written by Katie Barstow, May 14, 2010

That's a very good point Steve and something that we would try hard to avoid. I completely agree that we don't want the site to become like a seasonal site. Will says he is open to suggestions/bribes about your tent! Thank you for your comments. We look foward to seeing you later in the year. Fingers crossed for Chris.

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written by Bill Nicholls, May 18, 2010

Coming from one who has a seasonal pitch I think it is a good Idea certanly for those who want to revisit again and do not want to tow the caravan home. Problem I see is thoses who do have storage are not likley to let it go due to it is had to get hold of so then end up like I used to and paying for storage elsewhere they are not useing. If they keep the caravan at home they are likly to go for it. The seviceing is also a good idea as the nearest place is 12 miles away.
I hope your not thinking of getting rid of the small seasonal area you have we like it here and really look forward to coming down.
I might be open to offering tent storage in my awning.

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