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Quote: Originally posted by baymaster on 01/9/2008

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Sorry to keep bumping this thread but i cant believe that nobody has yet thought of a solution to this problem namely all year round  weather pitches for tents.

What about that stuff they use on ski slopes on top of a gravel layer in a nice shade of 'grass green'

  Feel a visit to Dragons Den coming on to make my fortune 

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Hi, this is my first post so hello all.

I must declare an interest in that I do run a small campsite (and I am a camper!), and this thread is particularly relevant to a real problem I have - waterlogged pitches. This year it was so bad that I had to make a decision as to whether to simply shut up shop or do something about it. I did something about it and made 5 all weather pitches. They were the only ones I was able to book out during August, I closed the rest of the site.

My concern was how they would be looked upon by my campers, I needn't have worried, they went down a storm - or more like it the storm came down and my campers didn't go home!

So, as an earlier poster said ''But site owners are understandably cautious as to whether we will use them. So the more feed back we give will help them decide''

I am going to fully convert for next year, and would ask any camper to support any site that converts some pitches - they really do make all the difference to a holiday.

My method - lay terram to the pitch size, overlay with wood bark shavings (not chippings, they get caught up in shoe treads and carried into tents), there is a potential for fire so I am adding a seperate gravel area for cooking and firepits on each pitch, with a shelter over the cooking area.

Results: No mud, no one gone home before due, and many compliments.

Hi Greg and welcome.

Sounds like a great idea you have and wish you luck with it. One other advantage of the AWP is the fact that cars don't end up churning up the pitches or getting stuck in the mud.

IMO it is the way forward. With more and more people using footprint ground sheets and carpets these days there is little discomfort from the harder base.

Hi

All am particularly interested in this thread and yes would really really welcome campers experiences of AWP and their construction.

gregrb41 - can you let us know where you have sourced your bark shavings as we can't seem to find them and also how do they cope under a prolonged stay say 15nights?? do they rot? smell?? do they drain well??? Given the appauling weather we are looking at a cost effective option for our camping pitches - many do not like shingle/gravel and tus we wanted a 'different' material. 

Cheers

Liz

It is something that we are thinking of too, of course. Where is your campsite gregrb41, would it be possible to visit during the 'off season'. You are most welcome to repy off line if you want katie at fforestfields dot co dot uk

Of course, it will no doubt, be the most lovely summer next year.  So I suggest that we keep talking about choices for all weather pitches just to invoke 'sod's law'!!

We have taken quite a battering this summer and have just had to cancel the local village show which is held on the Sports Field, next to the site. Another victim of the weather I'm afraid.

KatieB

I manage a youth football team and unfortunately Astro turf holds the water.

Could have a game of footy though when you pack the tent away?