Where have all the grass pitches gone????

I am afraid I am in the camp who would willingly support having more hardstanding. Had my fair share of grass over the years, now much prefer hardstanding. Easier with teh dogs as well.

Hard rock pegs with a lump hammer and they do go in fairly easy, or though I will agree a slightly softer surface would allow my drill pegs to work.

I am afraid I am in the camp who would willingly support having more hardstanding. Had my fair share of grass over the years, now much prefer hardstanding. Easier with teh dogs as well.

Hard rock pegs with a lump hammer and they do go in fairly easy, or though I will agree a slightly softer surface would allow my drill pegs to work.

Generally, this would suit me very well.

David

I am afraid I am in the camp who would willingly support having more hardstanding. Had my fair share of grass over the years, now much prefer hardstanding. Easier with teh dogs as well.

Hard rock pegs with a lump hammer and they do go in fairly easy, or though I will agree a slightly softer surface would allow my drill pegs to work.

Generally, this would suit me very well.

David

Quote "Hard rock pegs with a lump hammer and they do go in fairly easy, or though I will agree a slightly softer surface would allow my drill pegs to work."

Well, I've freecycled my drill pegs, as they wouldn't hold in soft ground or go in to hard ground.  The hardstandings on some sites (Sheepcote Valley, for example) have eroded to form a sort of concrete underlayer which defies all but the strongest rock peg (and I always use a lump hammer).  Sandringham has smaller, rounder gravel, as some have suggested, and it gets absolutely everywhere.

There doesn't seem to be an answer to this, as the selfish , groundsheet brigade always ruin the grass pitches even if they are alongside hard standing for the 'van.

Well thanks for all your comments everyone! A mix of h/s and Grass seems the way forward..but back to my original post ..why cant the hard stands be more attractive and user friendly?

I have all hard-standng on my cl sites - yes, some of the lumpy rocks (at least until traffic and weather breaks it down).  However, the hardstanding is only the width of a caravan plus car to allow awnings to be sited on grass areas.

All my pitches have grass areas in between the hardstanding - it is a pain in the backside to cut the grass - especially at the edges of the hard-core but I consider it to be worthwhile to offer the option and the asethtic properties.  I guess in larger sites, these factors put off having grass in these areas aand that's why they don't offer it.

We also have the pitches laid out so you're not looking into another caravan as well as flower beds throughout the site.  I have to say, I did consider privacy hedges but the problem with maintaining the grass around them ruled them out as well as limiting what side the awning was located on....

My advice, go for the CL option where attention to detail over-rides convenience!

Low Glengyre Farm CL

I have to admit my preference is for hardstandings as well. Usually no worries about getting stuck in bad weather, and usually less mud about to trail in the caravan too.

There are many benefits for the site owners too, with no money lost to unusable grass pitches, no repairs to churned up grass pitches and not having to disappoint customers by cancelling their holidays at the last minute, due to unusable grass pitches.

I know the 'car park' term often gets used, but with grass strips and suitable foliage thoughtfully installed, even an all hardstanding site can be a very pleasant environment.

Well thanks for all your comments everyone! A mix of h/s and Grass seems the way forward..but back to my original post ..why cant the hard stands be more attractive and user friendly?

I think you are right Wanderin'Stars, but as there appear to be strong opinions both ways.......... and you all know what's coming next.......... allow people to book a hardstandinding or grass pitch when they make their booking......... LOL

David

What do you do if you prefer grass unless it is exceptionally wet? Book one of each and cancel one based on the prior two weeks weather?

This should provoke some frothing at the mouth.

What do you do if you prefer grass unless it is exceptionally wet? Book one of each and cancel one based on the prior two weeks weather?

This should provoke some frothing at the mouth.

Firstly, the system would not allow you to book more than one pitch at the same time - it doesn't at the moment and I can't see that neding to be changed.

When you book you make a judgement as to whether or not you want to book a hardstanding or grass.  There will be those who would always book a hardstanding and, I guess those who would always book grass.  You make your choice.  If in doubt, I would book a hardstanding.  If when you arrive on site certain types of pitches have still not been booked, then you should be given the option of changing - that would be simple to determine.

If when you book, all the hardstandings or grass pitches are already fully booked, then you have the option of booking one of the other types of pitches.  In reality, I guess the hardstandings will be booked first (but it is possible that this may not always be the case), so that those who book later can only book the remaining type of pitches.  This would probably work out as being a 'fairer' system, as if pitches became waterlogged, or unusable then grass pitches would probably be the first to be taken out of commission, therefore, in most cases, those who have booked later would be those who would be 'cancelled' first.  This would probably be preferable to the apparent random system that seems to be employed at present.

At any time you can amend your booking, as at present, if the type of pitch you want is available at the time you make your ammendment.

There is no difference between this, (what I have outlined) and any other similar system used by other sites in the UK - remembering, of course that virtually all other other sites in the UK, including the C&CC allow you to choose the type of pitch when you book.  Even the CC allow you to book a serviced pitch, a super pitch, an economy pitch, or a small 'non-awning pitch'.

If you had booked an economy pitch, but when you arrive, you decide you would prefer a serviced pitch, you would only be allowed to swap if there was a pitch available.  There would be no difference.

David