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Original poster

MUMSNET Bank Holiday Camp - East Sussex

111 replies

NettleTea · 12/07/2011 22:55

So......
The in laws have agreed that a camp out in the fields is fine for the August bank holiday weekend.
We are going to hire a couple of toilets, and Karl and Susie are going to make us some composting urinals.

The 'invite' is going out to CNA, CNT, Mumsnet Camping forum and a bunch of archaeologists from the British Museum, its not going to be open to the general public. There is plenty of room for each 'group' to have their own areas, as there are 2 fields of approx 8 acres each.

I will be knocking up a few communal fire pits, and people will be welcome to bring their own. We can provide a spade to remove turf if you want your own fire - top layer can be put back after the fire to avoid damage to the field/fields, as these fields are on our environmental stewardship land.

Camp will open 11 am Friday 26 August, and close 5pm Monday 29 August

Pre-orders for firewood, locally produced charcoal, farm reared sausages and burgers, and other local produce (MIL has offered to bake scones, this COULD be a good thing!!)

Price £35 for the weekend for the tent and up to 4 people
£10 per weekend per extra adult
£6 per weekend per extra child

Facebook page is here

will be adding some more bits and pieces to this over next few days, including prices for the 'glamping tents' If I can sell the 'Herring Gull (can sleep up to 4) and 'The Grebe' (the bell tent - could also probably sleep 4/5, though request for quiet at night as near a pheasant run with baby pheasants in) then the whole camp could move into woodland / wildflower meadow and could probably organise herb walk/foraging walks and other sorts of things. Could maybe do those anyway if there were any interest.

send me a message for more details/info

OP posts:
feetheart · 24/08/2011 22:36

Just the idea of it is great, not really bothered if I don't get to cook in it.

That looks FANTASTIC, DC's wigwam in the garden with sticks and an old curtain looks rather shabby in comparison. They will be VERY jealous and want to take it home :)

All getting excited here - packing tomorrow :o

randommoment · 25/08/2011 11:33

Have checked Met Office, adding waterproofs to list for first 24 hours... but Sunday and Monday look lovely at the moment. Any chance we can stay on a day or two if weather really does play ball? Don't have to be back in Wiltshire until Monday 5th!

lisad123 · 25/08/2011 11:40

Please please do this next year, I'm gutted we can't come but we are camping in new forest this week..

randommoment · 25/08/2011 13:27

Boo, have to go back to work Tuesday after all. Starting to make packing list!

Original poster
NettleTea · 25/08/2011 19:11

sadly we cant extend. Our 28 days is up on the 31st and we need to take everything down and remove it from site to comply with the planning laws. I will speak to MNHQ about next year though! OH seems keen. It will certainly be detailed on the FB page

OP posts:
SeaShellsInTheMoonlight · 25/08/2011 20:34

Pleeeeeeeeese do it next year! I'm discussing it with dh and we both are gutted (he wants to hang out with the archeologists and their oven, I want to perv over MissSal's bell tent and the tipi and yurt relax Grin)

Yours , currently sulking,

Seashells :)

MisSalLaneous · 25/08/2011 23:31

Grin Yes yes, 2012 meetup would be a great idea! Nettle, we'll all be on our best behaviour, I promise!

SeaShells, you're not missing too much on my tent, I'm worried now that I'm going to scare Redundant's dh off! Hmmm.

feetheart · 26/08/2011 10:15

Car packed, children bouncing off walls, leaving in 15mins.

We have cake :)

MisSalLaneous · 26/08/2011 14:04

Redundant, if you want to see our bell tent, we'll only be ready at around 12 tomorrow. Aiming to start pitching at 9, but might stop for breakfast first as we've ordered a great breakfast pack, so will cook it there instead of eating at home.

I'm gutted, the reason for the delay is that ds sat on my glasses! I really should stop putting it on the ground, I know.

Original poster
NettleTea · 26/08/2011 14:05

hope you've got your wellies!!

OP posts:
MisSalLaneous · 26/08/2011 14:10

Wellies and wetsuit. Wink

RedundantTautology · 26/08/2011 14:25

Ok thanks for that, we'll probably make it over later in the afternoon anyway. Forecast not looking good but then again maybe seeing them in the rain is actually a sensible idea?!

MisSalLaneous · 26/08/2011 14:29

Yes yes, sitting inside a canvas tent with the rain falling is actually a beautiful sound, and will proof to your dh that they don't leak - dh was worried about that before we got ours.

RedundantTautology · 26/08/2011 14:34

Tell me if there is any time that would suit you best, I don't want to be intruding on your relaxing weekend by being inconvenient :)

MisSalLaneous · 26/08/2011 14:36

No it's ok, any time after 12 good. Thanks for asking though. :)

RedundantTautology · 26/08/2011 14:42

Ok, will give NettleTea a call tomorrow afternoon before we head over. See you then!

MisSalLaneous · 26/08/2011 14:47

Cool, see you then.

MisSalLaneous · 29/08/2011 11:39

Hi Nettle. Not sure if you're back from camping yet, but just wanted to say thank you for allowing us to camp with you. It is beautiful there and you were great hosts. Best of luck with your glamping site - you're obviously very organised and I believe your business would do very well.

RedundantTautology · 30/08/2011 19:06

Just to say a huge thank you to MisSalLaneous and NettleTea for letting us interrupt the camp and nose around the (beautifully appointed and not at all chaotic) tent, it was very kind of you. I'm sorry we didn't accept more of your hospitality but think we could easily have stayed all day given half the chance!

Not sure if we are any closer to making a decision - DH came away quite open to the idea of a bell, and I did like the look of the Khyam! Thinking about a bell with inners...

Original poster
NettleTea · 30/08/2011 20:33

Thank you to everyone who came, and OH is definately keen to make it a regular thing, only next time we may just use the tipi as a focal point/kids story telling area/ chill out zone, and find ourselves something less chilly, leaky and smokey to sleep in!
It was lovely to meet you all and the kids had great fun playing with their new friends.

OP posts:
SeaShellsInTheMoonlight · 30/08/2011 21:57

Glad it went well Nettle! It would be fun to may be try one next year at yours and a meet up more centrally as well at different points in the "summer" Wink

feetheart · 31/08/2011 00:15

Thank you so much Nettletea and family for your hospitality.

We all had a wonderful time and would definitely be up for it being a regular event. There were tears as we left and the DC were planning a return before we got a mile up the road. DD has also declared that she now wants us to live in the country and have stars :)

Tripod barbeque/fire pit located and will be ordered tomorrow!

Thanks again, lovely idea, lovely location, lovely company :)

randommoment · 31/08/2011 19:20

RedundantTautology, I'm deeply offended! Didn't you like my cheapo Go Outdoors special offer tent? Having said, MisSalLaneous's bell tent was rather splendid, and you should have seen how fast the Khyam went down on Monday.

randommoment · 31/08/2011 19:26

Absolutely wonderful weekend, Nettletea, thank you! Big hugs from me and DD1 and DD2 to you and all of yours. DH had had a lovely time with Man U, Formula 1 and sole control of the remote, so all the Randoms very happy.

MisSalLaneous · 31/08/2011 20:12

RedundantTautology, it was a pleasure. Not sure if we helped or made the case for bell tents worse! If you can find someone, see if you could view a 5m inside. Ideally with the inners so that you could get an idea of how that would feel. It's difficult deciding on a bell tent in the UK, actually, as most other tents you can properly feel and then decide. It would be a little bit of a "waste", but as it's such an expensive purchase anyway, you could try renting one for a night or two. Example Welsummer, where you could rent a fully furnished one for £45 per night. It might be worth it in the long term. (Plus no-hassle camping!)