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As a child I used to camp  in the garden. Now approaching 40 with 2 young kids I do the same. It started with birth of second child - festival tent, parent and eldest, to make him feel special. Then last summer my new weekend tent - me and both kids. This summer we're at the age when sleepovers happen, so I'm sure a couple will happen in the garden.

BBQ, toasted marshmellows, fry up outdoors always happen :)

I've never camped in the garden yet, but when he was in his teens my son went through a period of doing just that with a couple of his mates. They camped every weekend for about three months, even when the weather started getting colder, but then his mates gave up and he carried on on his own. He even camped when we had snow, only coming in to get something to eat, but eventually he got interested in other things and the tent was abandoned at the bottom of the garden.

My son, who is now 13, has spent most of the last 3 or 4 summer holidays camped in the back garden on his own or with friends.

They love it, but they can get a bit noisy, so I do worry they will annoy the neighbours!

This year he did his first garden camp in Feb half term!

I'm camping this weekend!!! Away from the house mind you.

And again next weekend, and then it will be summer.

I have only once campled in the back garden, in March when I was 11 only cos we just got our tent and wanted to try it out. Was fine until 4am when it was cold so we went inside but apart from that was great.

Promised the kids we would camp outside tonight after they saw me put the new tent up last night.  Now that the rain has started I just hope we dont find any leaks in the waterproofing else we could be in for a damp night.

We can get our Monty 6 up in what OH calls my half of the garden (my half `cos it has the washing line and my flowerbed borders) and now OH has stopped growing veg and turned his half to lawn we can get the Vermont XL up in part of his half. I suppose we are lucky to have such a huge garden.

We put the Vermont up the other day to try it out and inspect it before we take it to York, a must I thought after having three faulty Nebraska XXL`s and once the tent was up I really, really wanted to sleep in it. Unfotunately OH wouldn`t let me as he said the new lawn wasn`t properly established to leave the tent up  The kids have slept in their smaller tent in the garden before, it`s been a regular summer thing for years. I can`t wait to go camping now.

Yep, we (me and kids) had a weekend camp in our garden last autumn to test out our new tent.  We had a great time and it was really nice to have close access to spotless (almost!!) loo's/showers!!  The dog hated it tho' - all he thought was 'Why are we outside when there's a lovely warm house next door!'  We also did all our cooking outdoors as well (did use the dish washer tho').  The kids enjoyed it so much my daughter wants to have a 'camping party' for her birthday this summer.  It'll be nice to have our household making the noise for a change instead of our party animal neighbours.  But, reading some of these posts makes me (as well) realise how lucky we are to have a nice garden which is a clean and safe outdoor space.

Hope your new tent is dry and toasty Justin.