Practising camping in a garden with no grass

[adogforme]

We are buying or first tent tomorrow. Been camping a fair few times before but always in a borrowed tent. This will be the first time camping with DC so we'd like a practise ruin at pitching and sleeping in it to check we won't freeze.

Our garden while big enough for the 5 man tunnel tent only had a patio or bark areas. Can we pitch the tent on either of these or will it rip the groundsheet?

[adogforme]

Bump.

Now have our tent.

[Otherworld]

I wouldn't. I would be concerned about damaging it. Do you know anyone who has a larger garden? We have to take ours elsewhere as it just won't fit in our garden!

Or are there any local campsites you could have a trial run at. First time we went we came home to collect everything we'd forgotten!

[MrsHoarder]

I wouldn't risk it. Also you are likely to all have an uncomfy night and be put off.

Just take a pile of spare blankets when you go away and remember that if anyone is a bit chilly, pop them between two other people.

[hillbilly]

Check for pitching videos on utube - they can be very helpful.

[zumo]

Put some old carpet down and pitch on that.
Best idea is just go to a local camp site.
Get some blow up beds etc to sleep on as you need to insulate your self from the cold ground, if you are skint Card board works and polystyrene
Its a very good idea to list what you take and review what you don't need.