Bell Tent for garden use

[Belltentdreamer]

Hello camping experts
I am thinking of getting a bell tent for use in my garden (it’s luckily big enough to take one).
I am a childminder so would use the tent as a sheltered learning/ resting space outside for the children - do you think this would work?
And if so, what size - I’m thinking 5m ???
Im thinking of keeping it up spring to autumn and having it down for winter (maybe!)

How many children? We have a 5m bell and it is huge, takes 2 adults, camp beds, camping cupboards, wood burning stove, table and chairs. A 4m would probably work for you. Spring to Autumn would be fine, winter would require heating and would also probably cause you mould if you are in the UK as they really are not meant to be up all year round without issues. It does sound a lovely space though!

You would need to have some sort of base, grass wont survive long and gets pretty smelly under a ground sheet after a few weeks.

I'd also echo the previous poster in thinking how long the tent will last. Sites that have tents up all year tend to replace them at the end of each season. Can be a good way to pick up a bargain, but they do often look a bit scruffy and have mildew stains on any bits that don't quickly dry out where they are in the shade.

Personally I'd want either no groundsheet or a zip in one, so you can completely roll up the walls on hot days. Canvas gives good shade but I find it gets quite hot in a tent.

Thank you both.
interesting point about the 4m, it’s considerably cheaper in that size too! The only reason I was thinking of 5m was if further down the line I wanted to add the tent inner to have a nap area but perhaps I could do that with a 4m. I tend to look after 3-5 kids so not a huge number and I wouldn’t want it to look barren inside!

Interesting point re the grass underneath - I’ve been looking at the Sussex Bell Tents as they have the zip away bottom - my garden is about an acre so I could move it every so often - do you think this would solve the ground issue if I didn’t want to put paving down underneath?

many thanks for your wisdom!

For 3-5 small kids the 4M would give them plenty of room, even if you decided to add an inner. The bells with ZIGs would be good as on hot days these can be unzipped and the sides of the tent rolled up to let in air. Alternatively you could go with a bell tent with the old style bathtub ground sheet which gives you the same option as the ZIG but will be cheaper. On really hot days you might want to dispense with the ground sheet altogether in favour of lovely cool grass.

You will definitely need to move the tent around to avoid the grass dying.

The tent will probably need a bit of a clean at the end of the season and must be thoroughly dry before packing away to avoid the dreaded mildew.

The DC will love it.

That’s so helpful thank you @RobertsRadio
I’ve just gone ahead and ordered the 4M - from looking at pics I think you’re right it’ll be big enough! Exciting 😊