Dutch artist creates garden caravan

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Caravan enthusiasts may soon be able to get their hands on a unique model created by a Dutch artist.

Kevin Van Braak, originally from Amsterdam, has transformed an old 1976 Contructam Caravan into a mobile garden, complete with synthetic animals and trees, the Daily Mail reported.

The design saw the mobile home stripped of its interior and cut down the middle to allow it to fold out almost flat.

It is capable of seating up to 15 people and the grass and trees are made of silk, while the artificial animals on show are stuffed.

The 33-year-old explained that he plans to sell the piece and suggested that many people actually prefer his “garden” to the real thing.

“I find that these days people go camping wanting to be closer to nature but in the end the experience is artificial,” he told the newspaper.

However, according to figures from VisitEngland, UK tourism experienced a strong year in 2009, with a 15 per cent year-on-year rise in August.

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Conwy Valley caravan site sees numbers rise

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The Riverside Touring Park in Betws-y-Coed, Conwy Valley, which offers caravan spaces, has reported a rise in numbers for 2009.

Conwy Valley in north Wales has seen a surge in tourism across the board, with hoteliers and holiday park owners alike benefiting from the growth in the number of people holidaying in the UK, the North Wales Weekly News reported.

Riverside managing director Edward Goddard told the paper: “Riverside Touring Park, which reopened in 2008 after a £3 million redevelopment project, has recorded a 20 per cent increase in visitors this year as staycationers have flocked to Snowdonia for holidays and short breaks.”

The park, a short walk from the centre of Betws-y-Coed, is a Caravan Club affiliate and offers 60 pitches for touring caravans.

The recession has prompted many holidaymakers to stay closer to home and explore what the great British countryside has to offer.

In the past year the number of visits by UK residents to Europe decreased by 14 percentage points from 55 million to 47.3 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Caravanners are a boon to local economies, figures show

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Caravan Club members contributed £400 million to rural tourism economies across Britain last year.

The figures were based on shopping, eating out, buying local produce and visiting local attractions.

Around £322 million was spent in England, £40 million in Wales, £36.5 million and Scotland and £1.5 million in Northern Ireland.

Nick Lomas, director of marketing for the Caravan Club, said: “With over 1.5 million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters in the UK, in 2009 all the talk was of the resurgence of the Great British holiday with value for money playing a major role in the family decision-making process.

“The 2009 local economy figures prove exactly how popular and cool caravanning and the great outdoors really is. All the signs are that rural economies are set to benefit even further in 2010,” he added.

Membership figures for the club in 2009 exceeded all previous records and were a 24 per cent increase on 2008’s figures.

Satnav voted most significant motoring moment of the decade

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The introduction of widely available satellite navigation systems has been heralded as the motoring moment of the decade by website Carsite.co.uk.

Caravanners whose holidays were blighted by missed turns and dodgy maps were handed a reprieve at the turn of the century when satnav devices entered the market.

Comprised of a small computer and a global positioning system, the gadgets ended over-reliance on maps and potentially reduced the number of arguments regarding directions.

Carsite’s Alistair Jeff said: “Despite occasionally hearing of satnav devices sending drivers in completely the wrong direction, in most cases they’re entirely accurate and a fantastic gadget that has totally changed the way we get around.

“You realise how significant an invention is when you can’t imagine making a complicated journey without one,” he added.

The satnav has become so commonplace that even some mobile telephones have the technology. The TomTom UK & Ireland application – intended for use on Apple iPhones – is the second-highest grossing application in Apple’s iTunes app store.

Caravan site Parkdean offers New Year’s resolutions

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Holiday park operator Parkdean has constructed a list of suggestions for caravanners to use as their New Year’s resolutions.

The firm suggested that 2010 would offer holidaymakers a chance for a fresh start and that it is a time to look to the future.

One of the first things on the list was to get fit, which the company claimed is a good way of making yourself feel better.

This ties in with losing weight and stopping smoking – both of which can be beneficial to your health.

It may also be a great time to change your outlook and Parkdean hopes its customers will try to enjoy life more in 2010.

“The saying goes ‘we only live once’ so why not make the most of it. Spend some quality time with your friends and family or enjoy a nice family holiday,” the site operator advised.

Meanwhile, the firm recently noted that the Scottish Highland town of Nairn was rated second in Tripadvisor’s list of top destinations for 2010.

AA: ‘Christmas accident rate falling’

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The AA has revealed that the number of accident insurance claims has fallen in the past week as the warmer weather approaches the south.

Just 529 claims were registered yesterday (December 23rd) compared to 644 on Monday December 21st when the icy weather began in earnest.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said: “The worst of the weather seems to be receding in many parts of England, reducing the risk of a collision due to icy conditions – although Scotland is still in a tight wintry grip.

“Caution is vital – it’s far better to delay your journey and arrive late, but safe,” he added.

Black ice was identified as a “hidden enemy” and all caravan drivers should take caution when making journeys in this weather.

Earlier this week transport minister Sadiq Khan criticised the apparent lack of gritting on British roads.

Brits to give up luxuries for breaks

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Regardless of whether Brits spend a week in a caravan in the UK or head off in search of some foreign sun, holidays are considered by many to be “one of the main highlights of the year”, it has been claimed.

According to travelsupermarket.com, people are willing to sacrifice a lot to ensure they can take a break from their everyday lives.

Travel expert with the online resource Bob Atkinson said: “Brits will give up all sorts of things in order to save up and spend on a trip or a series of trips as a reward for working hard during the year.”

He added that value for money is important, especially if they have had to do without things throughout the year.

The comments follow a Travelzoo poll which showed that 42 per cent of respondents intend to travel more next year than they did in 2009.

A further 52 per cent said that they would sacrifice luxuries in their day-to-day lives to be able to afford their trips.

Sedgemoor to host caravan awareness day

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Sedgemoor District Council is to host an awareness day for caravan and holiday park owners at Brean Leisure Park.

The event, set to take place on March 2nd 2010, is being held to highlight significant health and safety issues and help managers stay on the right side of the law, the Somerset Guardian reported.

As well as information on asbestos and legionnaires disease, the day will be used to boost knowledge of risk assessments, as well as gas, fire and electricity safety.

Further options include swimming pool management, play area equipment safety, crime prevention and how to market your business.

It is a free event organised in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council, the Health and Safety Executive, South West Tourism and the Environmental Health Department.

Meanwhile, Saga has revealed that a third of caravan owners will use their mobile homes to house guests over Christmas, with 41 per cent using their units for winter holidays.

Caravan family move into new home

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A family who have spent the past four Christmases in a caravan in their garden will be able to enjoy a festive meal in their own home this year thanks to the kindness of others.

Joe James and his four children were left living in the mobile home after a series of unfortunate events which saw the single dad lose hearing in one ear, his mother and his business all within a short space of time.

Furthermore, his partner of 14 years left him, meaning Mr James was unable to finish much-needed work on the family home, the Holyhead and Anglesey Mail reported.

The family have been spared another year in the caravan though after Mr James’ former employers wrote to DIY SOS.

The TV show made a special episode highlighting the plight of kids across the UK living in inadequate housing.

It invited dozens of local tradesmen to help revamp and repair the existing building and complete a large extension in less than a week.

“I thought if they were able to get the building up, and possibly have the lounge and Kerry’s bedroom finished, that would have been more than enough, because it was such a big job,” Mr James told the newspaper.

He added that the work done in the week would have taken him a decade to complete.

Meanwhile, the Burton Mail has revealed how a local crook who was given a curfew order has had to apply to have it changed after it emerged his wife had thrown him out and he is now living in a caravan.

Caravan site plans thrown out

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Plans for a new static caravan site near Malvern have been thrown out after local residents opposed the move.

According to the Malvern Gazette, there were 40 objections to the plans from W J Beard and Leigh Sinton Nurseries to construct the site for 31 timber-clad caravans.

The companies had already received permission for 24 units but opted to ask for more, which resulted in the Leigh and Bransford Parish Council noting that it was against the move.

Objectors were concerned that the work would harm the landscape and “close the gap between Leigh Sinton and Malvern”.

There are also worries over increased traffic on the B4505, despite the applicants producing their own 22-name petition in favour of the site.

Malvern Hills District Council planning officers had backed the move, saying that it would be appropriate use of the land, but the southern area development control committee voted against it, citing the lack of a demonstrable need for the development and its effect on the landscape.

Meanwhile, the Camping and Caravanning Club has predicted another bumper year of trading in 2010.

Camping and caravanning popularity grows

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The popularity of camping and caravanning has soared this year and is set to continue to grow in 2010, it has been claimed.

According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, 2009 was a record-breaking year for memberships, with a 24 per cent year-on-year increase.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that between August and October this year, the seasonally-adjusted number of visits abroad by UK citizens fell by three per cent.

According to Camping and Caravan Club spokesperson Jon Dale, the financial downturn has led to less people heading to foreign lands and encouraged more to holiday in the UK.

“People have not had as much disposable income as what they did have, due to the recession, so people are opting to holidaying in this country rather than going abroad,” he said.

Mr Dale added that popular caravan destinations include Scotland, the Lake District, Devon and Cornwall.

He noted that there has been a 48 per cent increase in advance bookings for 2010 and suggested that the signs are positive for another solid year.

Cumbria and Yorkshire popular Christmas choices

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The popular caravan destinations of Cumbria and Yorkshire are good choices for Christmas holidays, it has been claimed.

According to VisitEngland, such areas are great for last-minute deals in winter and offer a number of options for those taking a break from their normal working life.

A recent iknow-uk report found that Brits are increasingly favouring the Lake District and Yorkshire as their festive destination of choice, with 20 per cent and 36 per cent of holiday searches respectively.

Commenting, VisitEngland head of strategy Jenny McGee said that heading off to a “cosy cottage” or “recreating … childhood memories”, such as those spent in a caravan, is popular during the winter months.

“Visitors can enjoy long walks through stunning countryside before tucking into their Christmas dinner or finding a warm and welcoming pub to sneak into for a cup of mulled wine … making [the north of England] an excellent destination for a last-minute winter break,” she said.

Recent statistics from VisitBritain show that the average spend per tourist has increased of late, despite a drop in visitor numbers.