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I've pitched on that sort of rubber reinforcing mesh with grass growing through it, and it was brilliant. One additional thing though was that the pitch was slightly elevated...there was a depression of about four inches on each side and the same sort of slope onto the road. This meant it drained really well, and despite it raining a lot when we were there we had no mud problems. We needed rock pegs though because about two inches under the grass and mesh was hardcore/rocks of some sort, which must have also helped a lot with drainage.

Speaking of damage to grass: I've just come back from spending four weeks on the same pitch in Brittany, with a lot of rain.  The pitch had a slight slope so no problems with drainage, but I was worried about the grass. I was using the TT so had the two underbed pods down plus a three foot wide strip of groundsheet right across the front of the cabin area. What I did was to roll the groundsheet up when I went out for the day, plus tucked up each undertent for a day each per week. When we left the grass did look very yellow and a bit unhappy, but it certainly wasn't dead or slimey. I think it would have bounced back in a couple of days if left...and as I said, that was after four weeks. It would have been in a right mess if we'd used a SIG for that period of time.

Another thing I've encountered in France is the habit of filling in depressions on a pitch that could potentially flood in wet weather, using sand. This seems to work amazingly well. We had a couple of rainy weeks on a site last year and the area in front of the door was getting very compacted and boggy. The owner came and filled it up with a coarse gravel/sand mix and the problem was solved for us. He said the grass would grow through it very quickly.

Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 18/8/2008

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Ban SIG's? ....

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Hi, but its not just SIGs though, that's the issue. Its the bottom of bedroom inners and any solid groundsheet. And I for one would not camp in wet weather without a solid groundsheet under the living area.

The big disadavantage of a sig tent is, I agree,  that you cannot choose during a longer stay to lift up a bedroom inner or roll back the groundsheet during the day to give the grass a chance. Val does that, but how many of the rest of us do it without being reminded   MT

When I was young we had to braille the tents, lift groundsheets, and everything had to be off the floor during the day, to allow the grass to breathe.

Time for a return to the good old days of camping to save the grass?

sorry to say but just having had to move two lots of campers that that's pretty much it for tents at brynawelon.  also the poeple we have moved were less than grateful - somehow we are supposed to stop the rain??  we helped them move and help them re-set up which is all we could do really, having to listen to the snide comments!

As for the bank holiday we are in the process of cancelling and refunding deposits, sorry guys another site that will probably only take 5 tents max next year and then we'll be limiting length of stay, the rest will be seaonals - guarenteed money and all that, also they don't seem to believe that we can turn the weather on and off.

4 years a bl**dy hard work has just gone to the dogs

That must be such a difficult thought for you. While you're planning for next year, perhaps if you looked at Brynawelon's UKCS reviews it might cheer you up to think how much pleasure you have brought people over the last four years ...

• We arrived to find our pitch (a very good size) close to the kids play area which was very handy for us. The amenities were excellent, the shower facilities were very good for families,...The owners were very helpful and friendly
• Well there not many campsites that get my 10/10 rating but this is it.
  Toilets, excellent - immaculate and enough. Showers, Excellent - immaculate and enough, didnt have to queue. Pitches spot on and well layed out. Excellent facilities, playground for kids.....
  Superb Site ...Thanks guys for a great week, and keep up the good work.
• Beautiful site. Pitches very spacious and well laid out. All facilities spotless and thoughtfully arranged. Toilet block superb  Lovely play area,.....
  ...Highly recommended for friendly relaxing site.

And so on and so on and so on. MT

Jakers, my heart goes out to you.   I can really understand how the weather affects a seasonal business like yours, and how it can do so much damage to your site.

I think that SIGs can do so much damage.    I have been on sites where tents with SIGs have been, and they have left yellowed dying grass.

Was at a site last week and one camper not only had a very large tent, but had several tarps all around his tent.    Dread to think of the state the grass will be in when he leaves in a couple of weeks time.

thanks guys, unfortunately not all campers have your attitude and it's these that really kick you when you're down.  We have some lovely regular customers who camp no matter what the weather and we are going to keep a few tenting pitches mainly for these folks.....

thanks again guys for keeping me cheer....

Liz

hi jakers

 this problem must be a real worry to you with this awful weather over the last few years,on a lot of sites we have used in France and Spain the use a very fine gravel about the size of a grain of rice and it has coarse sand mixed with it and its packed down so its very hard,it drains really well and we have never had a problem pegging into it,its never damaged the ground sheets and when dry it brushes off like sand .i think if you spoke to an aggregate supplier and told them what you need they could help you if you tell them what you need it for its like the stuff they use on boule courts:not spelt right sorry:.

       geoff.

Jakers that is so sad. Maybe if you had a good business year next year you could re-assess the situation.

It seems such a shame when you've clearly done so much to make the site as good as possible.

My heart goes out to you and I really hope things can improve

Paula

x

Hi All

And very many thank yous for all your support - think we'd have closed the doors completely if it hadn't been for all of you.  Looking at the ground today it appears that we are not as bad as we thought and whilst we are extremely soggy we do not have the mud we thought we did.  Unfortunately it seems that no matter what we can do we'd have still had pitches swimming as the ground literally could take no more.  Even today with quite a bit of dry the playpark (on bark) is still got about 3" of water all over.

We have made the decision to reseed the entire park - having found some hardy grass that is supposed to shoot real hardy roots and take a lot of hammer and increased our seasonal users whilst retaining a few tents/tourers, with a time limit and basically 'suck it and see how we got next season. 

So if you are looking to camp with us here then please book up early. All the best to you all and hope to see you during our 2009 indian summer!!!

Liz

Quote: Originally posted by Merry on 20/8/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 18/8/2008

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Ban SIG's? ....

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Hi, but its not just SIGs though, that's the issue. Its the bottom of bedroom inners and any solid groundsheet. And I for one would not camp in wet weather without a solid groundsheet under the living area.

The big disadavantage of a sig tent is, I agree, that you cannot choose during a longer stay to lift up a bedroom inner or roll back the groundsheet during the day to give the grass a chance. Val does that, but how many of the rest of us do it without being reminded MT

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