Camping holiday of a lifetime for Kent family
Kent family wins wonderful camping holiday with Camping and Caravanning Club…
Sharon Brown from Kent had a holiday of a lifetime last week, camping out under the stars with TV presenter Julia Bradbury as part of the annual National Camping and Caravanning Week celebrations.
Sharon and her three grandchildren, Holly (6), Tommy (4) and Hadley (3) won a competition through The Camping and Caravanning Club and Coleman to win five nights camping at Drayton Manor Camping and Caravanning Club Site. The prize included a Coleman Weathermaster tent plus other prizes from Coleman.
Sharon, who had been searching for holidays when she saw the competition on Facebook, said: “The grandchildren have loved every single minute of it – they don’t want to go home.
“They really have been able to let go after spending so much time spent at home with the same people. They have come here and have that freedom to run and interact with people they don’t know, it’s fantastic to see them with other children running around playing together. That is why I love camping.
“We’ve enjoyed some campsite cooking and forest walks plus testing all of the great kit we’ve won.”
TV presenter and outdoor advocate, Julia Bradbury, spent the week celebrating the great outdoors with the families, who were all first-time campers. As Britain gears up for a summer of staycationing, pitch bookings are up 48% ahead of what The Camping and Caravanning Club would normally expect for the time of year and the Club’s new member recruitment was the highest ever for the month of April.
Julia’s, who has been President of The Camping and Caravanning Club since 2013, is known for her love of nature is something she has shared with her own family, with her ten-year-old son Zephyr and six-year-old twin daughters, Xanthe and Zena, also enjoying her passion for the great outdoors and came with her for the week
“We had such fun during the week – games on the green, forest bathing, archery – simple outdoor activities. Lockdown has really reminded us of the essential value of ‘Vitamin N’ – the great nature boost – and we want people to enjoy the outdoors responsibility and safely. The Club has worked so hard to make sure that all of its sites are operating in line with the latest guidance and ready to welcome campers back – new or established – to have a summer of fun after the crazy past 15 months. They’ve also got some great sites in unusual places, slightly off the beaten track where there is good last-minute availability.”
Julia has put together her top camping hacks that everyone, especially those new to camping, can adopt to make their trip run more smoothly:
- It’s really important to be dressed for all weathers as it’s likely you’ll encounter rain, sun and cold all in one trip with the inclement British weather! Literally four seasons in one day. Think about a lightweight, quick-dry, waterproof jacket, T-shirts, fleeces and extra layers and socks for chilly nights.
- When it comes to camping kit, make sure you buy something that suits your needs in terms of space but also technical know-how. If you can, have a practice in the garden before you go to make sure everything works and no bits are missing.
- If you’d rather have everything ready for you, The Camping and Caravanning Club has its ‘Ready Camp’ safari-style tents around its campsite network where everything is provided for you except bedding and towels.
- Make sure you have your basic food – cereal, some croissants, and snacks to keep you going when you set up.
- And if you can’t get away, don’t forget you can camp anywhere – in the kitchen, living room or garden! In the past I’ve done some amazing stunts to raise awareness, camping on a barge or on top of the O2, but the most fun I have is at home with the kids in the back garden.
Visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk for more information and to check campsite late availability.
