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Quote: Originally posted by cunsworth on 17/8/2009

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We avoid sites with hard standing because we like to have grass under our feet. I did mention this to the CC when I renewed my membership, they advised me that it was fine to put the van on the hard standing and pitch the porch awning on the grass alongside. I always feel that hard standing is like camping on Tesco car park.
I do accept that sometimes it is necessary on badly drained sites, or pitches were the last occupant didn't lift the ground sheet every day to let the grass
breath

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I was surprised by this relaxation. I have found the CC sites where we have stayed to be fairly strict on positioning on pitch to ensure the spacing for fire safety is not compromised.  Wouldn't moving the van to one side so as to get the awning onto grass make this a problem?

Bertie.

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 20/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by cunsworth on 17/8/2009

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We avoid sites with hard standing because we like to have grass under our feet. I did mention this to the CC when I renewed my membership, they advised me that it was fine to put the van on the hard standing and pitch the porch awning on the grass alongside. I always feel that hard standing is like camping on Tesco car park.

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I do accept that sometimes it is necessary on badly drained sites, or pitches were the last occupant didn't lift the ground sheet every day to let the grass
breath

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I was surprised by this relaxation. I have found the CC sites where we have stayed to be fairly strict on positioning on pitch to ensure the spacing for fire safety is not compromised.  Wouldn't moving the van to one side so as to get the awning onto grass make this a problem?

Bertie.

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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 20/8/2009

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If I felt the need to move the awning to one side of a hardstanding so as to get the awning on the grass, then I think I would go for a grass pitch anyway.  I think the only time I would do this is if I wanted an all service pitch and could only get it on a hardstanding - unless I'm missing something here?

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Quote: Originally posted by cunsworth on 17/8/2009

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We avoid sites with hard standing because we like to have grass under our feet. I did mention this to the CC when I renewed my membership, they advised me that it was fine to put the van on the hard standing and pitch the porch awning on the grass alongside. I always feel that hard standing is like camping on Tesco car park.
I do accept that sometimes it is necessary on badly drained sites, or pitches were the last occupant didn't lift the ground sheet every day to let the grass
breath

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The main problems that we have found with grass is that, (a) it is often the case that the only pitches left available are in a muddy state from previous campers, and (b) if the weather does turn foul, and the site is a bit on the slope, then surface rainwater can find its way into the awning and make the ground unpleasant.

We spent 4 weeks in Cornwall this July. There was a lot of heavy rain.  Being on gravel, with a waterproof tarpaulin under the groundsheet, we were fortunate.  The surrounding grass, in spite of the site being well drained, reached saturation point and simply could not accept more water.  Even with the most careful movement of a car, the weight of the vehicle caused mud to ooze to the surface.

Had we been on grass, an early vacation of the pitch would almost certainly have been necessary.  This is why, in the UK, we go for hardstandings because there is always the risk of heavy rain.

In France, hardstandings are not the norm, and grass is usually the only option.  France in 2007 was very rainy in May.  We pulled in at Camp de Florence (Remieu - south of France), and there had been a violent thunderstorm the previous night.  Many caravans had sunk into the softened ground, and were being pulled out by tractors. Fortunately for us, another British couple were just leaving a pitch positioned on high ground, and we managed to grab it.  Over the next few days the weather did improve, and the ground soon dried out.  But it seems that on any grass pitch, it doesn't take much to change the conditions from ideal to miserable; at home or abroad.

Bertie.