No Mow May
Pity the peeps who have booked a grass pitch. Take wellies. Apparently this is across the network also - to encourage dandelions and daisies.
Comments
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I'm all for no mow May where its appropriate.
I wouldn't say a campsite pitch was!
The verges are being cut and strimmed here REGARDLESS of no mow May or safety issues. I just wish they'd show the same enthusiasm to cutting back bushes and greeny from the road signs. Being new to the area I'd like a pointer that signs agree with SatNav. Sometimes I try to do local runs without SatNav to see how my memory of routes is doing. The signs are either totally overgrown or barely readable 😡🤐. So its always a bit nerve racking or stop and put Satnav on and add mileage! And yes I have written to our local council & highways. Not so much as an acknowledgement as yet.
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I didn’t think it applied to pitching areas but to the surroundings 🤷🏻♂️
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No Mow May is not about a total abstinence, it’s about allowing flora to do its own thing wherever possible. That flora help will in turn pay dividends for the fauna like bees and other pollinators which in turn will help us greatly. Wonderful don’t you think! It’s a win, win and just possibly crucial for the future! Just a tiny bit of rewilding we can all do, just find that significant area to no mow!
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I’d be very surprised if CAMC haven’t stipulated that pitching areas are to be mowed.
It would be useful to hear from JK if he’s around.
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So, No Mow May then. It's been left optional if sites wish to take part but it's encouraged. Sites that do take part will still maintain the grass pitches. A 9 meter x 9 meter (average pitch size)square pitch gets cut, everything else will be left except maybe a pathway to an electric point etc.
JK
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Cheers, JK. 👍🏻
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Currently on Old Hartley and nothing is being cut, it looks a mess and we are still 2 weeks to go to the end of the month. I did overhear the relief warden say he's not happy with it and it will take a lot of work at the start of next month. Obviously, going by previous replies the message of what can and can't be cut is not being communicated correctly. For those who've not been here the only part not grass is the ground under your caravan/motorhome which is chippings.
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Perhaps the Club needs a warning App. Don’t come if you can’t cope with grass, (longer than two inches), if you don’t like birdsong, rabbits, deer, daisies, dandelions, less than perfect lawned edges, uncut shrubs and peace and quiet, etc…….
Sterile, manicured environment? = boring, boring, boring. Not what I got into camping for, sorry. I like my World colourful, as natural as is practical and safe, as full of wildlife as possible. A £10 pair of wellies should be essential camping kit, and copes with most things.
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bit of bull going on with no mow may just excuse for councils and others to do b all for a month .have various plants and shrubs in garden that flower from February to November . plenty of pollinators come in also the bird life to take advantage
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The grounds people at Swiss Farm clearly don't subscribe to No Mow May
Whilst we were there they seemed to be mowing and strimming every day, they do have a very large tent field. As to roads I think a sensible approach should be taken rather than an excuse not to mow at all. Here in MK we still have two way roads which were originally planned to be dual carriageways which is probably not going to happen now so there is plenty of space to allow the grass to grow and perhaps even to sow some wild flower seeds. However I would prefer the the grass to be cut along the edge of the road, perhaps to a metre wide so its not distracting to drivers (most of these roads have the national speed limit) and also gives half a chance to any small creature likely to jump out in the road to be seen.David
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The daffodils and bluebells faded and while I was doing No Mow May the grass saw its chance. .So my orchard is a hayfield already and no domestic mower could touch it. I will do No Mow June and July and possibly part of No Mow August too - then call in Martin from the farm to bring some serious equipment and clear it. Otherwise we would never find the windfalls when they come down later in the year. If we ran a campsite here the visitors would certainly complain.
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I am saddened to see Craigie Gardens Ayr in such a mess, the grass was almost knee high, not what I expect on a Club site. Craigie has got 100's of trees around the site so that must really help the environment so not cutting grass for month of May I cannot see the point. At site fees what they are I expect site to be neat and tidy, when I arrived at Ayr on 31st May site was a disgrace and looking rather run down as if about to close. I have used this site for over 40 years and this is first time I have ever seen it in such a mess, no wonder it was empty for a few days. The roads etc were also in a poor state , a bit like main roads in Scotland with pot holes, that also needs attention sooner rather than later, the chemical disposal also had a large crack at hole, that cannot be good for health reasons, it was same 6 months ago, why not fix it when site was closed over winter?
I hope someone takes note and does something about a tidy up, grass was getting cut when we left on 8th June. That is June not May.
Concerned member wondering who makes the decisions.
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It seems that 'No Mow May' has been extended well into June .. it certainly seems to be the case at Wyatts Covert !
I've never seen the site looking so unkempt .. lots of overgrown grass areas including the fingers between some of the pitches.
What's happened to the pride there used to be in well kept sites ? .. Is 'Scruffy' now an acceptable standard thanks to 'green tourism'.
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Have either or both of you, NMSmith and H1UBS, written a review for the respective sites on their web pages, and on Trustpilot, highlighting your dissatisfaction with the state of the sites during your stays? The club is more likely to take notice of the reviews on there than comments on here unfortunately, although your posts on here do warn others of what they might expect when visiting those sites.
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Or, just write a formal complaint via enquiries@camc.com rather than using social media.
JK
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No Mow May is an initiative that has been running for several years and participants are increasing according to the data. It is important as ‘we’ have lost almost 97% of flower rich meadows and grasslands since the 1970’s.
Consequently that vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies has been lost.
Not all grassed areas are suitable for attention, or lack of it, it’s about finding those areas which can be left and then training those who maintain these areas to be more savvy in these regards and skilled in doing so. Being a nimby is not helpful nor is using the initiative to excuse laziness or a means of cutting fuel bills. What our ‘world’ needs is a greater understanding and tolerance and more of the positive corrective actions many are increasingly exploring. Im sure many in the CaMC know what is right and educating/training ground staff in where and how best to achieve the best results. Savings on fuel, if there are any, should be invested in helping habitats recover and maintained them. 👍1 -
Mickysf...... I am as much an Ecco Warrior as you, but having just left Putts Corner after our usual annual stay for the past 30 years I have to say I have never seen such a decline in a Club Site in all my years. It is no wonder the site was only about a quarter full in July. I am all for rewilding, but not for reweeding on pitches and cobwebbs in toilets. Even though certain insects will benefeit from such things. Quite a few people on site remarked how scruffy and unkept everywhere looked and that they intended to complain to the club on their return home and would have done in the usual review book but this has been removed and no longer available. If this is what the Club think sites should look like and Wardens should behave like, then count me out as it is certainly not for me and my desired holiday format. I might add that I was reluctant to post on CT ever again, but felt the need to express my disappointment with what the Cub considers progress.
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Quite a few people on site remarked how scruffy and unkept everywhere looked and that they intended to complain to the club on their return home and would have done in the usual review book but this has been removed and no longer available.
ADP
If you touch on the search magnifier top right and type in Putts Corner it will bring up the site name top of the list. Touch / click on that and you will be taken to the old site pages and you can leave your review as you did before.
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certainly others with similar views....
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Totally agree but it’s now become a question of doing the best ‘we’ possibly can where we can. With the right knowledge and skill these areas can be attractive and species rich. Of course it’s a compromise but finding space for nature, we are part of it after all, is becoming increasingly essential for our following generations. CaMC are making an effort but what’s the point of these bug hotels which seem to be appearing on sites if some supportive habitat is not there to assist those creatures. Creating species rich areas where possible is the answer. After all, the mess recent generations have made we can’t afford not to! There have been several sites we’ve been to this year that are doing it well. Keep at it you folk!
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Well, there you have it. The ‘official’ policy to this madness of No Mow May, following a Review via Trustpilot. It is to continue, unabated.
It appears that the future holds no hope for pristine, well-presented, clean, tidy sites; just a future appearance of neglect, unkempt and rather rundown conditions to look forward to. Happydays.
Anyone been to Putts Corner will know it is surrounded by fields, woods and open land. The Caravan Clubs contribution will not make a ha’porth of difference. A futile gesture I would suggest aimed at saving money. Just what are the Wardens going to do with this surplus ‘ground works’ time; possible reductions in staffing or redundancies! cannot see these current exorbitant site fees reducing as a result of this cut back in work being carried out.!
Think twice
Well, a sight of utter disbelief and dismay. Been to Putts Corner numerous times before. A site situated amongst fields, wooded areas and very rural indeed. Nearest building the Fox and Hounds pub, a quarter of a mile away. Nothing else for miles.Caravan and Motor Home club policy makers, bluntly what have you done?
What are we faced with now. From a well-cared for and pristine site, a very successful transformation to one of an appearance of neglect, being run down, even abandoned due to a complete lack of any ground work attention. It looks untidy and unkempt. The site is quite frankly a mess and the powers that be up the chain of command should be ashamed of themselves in adopting a ‘No mow May, (now the end of June) and Giving wild life a chance in such a rural area. It is not necessary. It has ruined a lovely site in a nice location. It is though the lunatics have taken over the asylum. Come Autumn when the leaf’s begin to fall the site will be a nightmare to return to some semblance of tidiness and normality with its long grass and overgrown hedgerows. Such a shame.
Date of experience: 25 June 2023
Edit
Reply from Caravan and Motorhome Club (previously The Caravan Club)
12 minutes ago
Dear Bernard, thank you for your comments. Sustainability is a growing area of focus within the Club, and something our members share with us they are keen to see us do more about. We’re now collaborating with Green Tourism to ensure we’re moving towards a more eco friendly operation and as you’ve experienced, this year we have supported ‘No Mow May’ a national campaign to support, protect and help nature in early Spring thrive - see more here https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/whats-on/caravan-club-news/no-mow-may. As well as this, we have encouraged many of our Campsites to extend this beyond May and allow growth and Biodiverse areas around our Campsites, but to carefully manage these in the right locations so they do not impact the areas immediately adjacent to pitches"We want to do all we can to support environmentally sustainable opportunities and do our bit to help nature thrive. We are listening to feedback and want to understand the impact on our Campsites and how the staff have found it in different locations. We're sending further guidance to make it known that each team will need keep an eye on to ensure conditions don't get out of control - even if we have to mow a couple of times throughout May, it will still be a significant reduction on previous approaches. ~Dan
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Can remember Plymouth city centre had amazing formal borders this then was changed to wild flower meadows now just left as very long grass (no wild flowers) and a sign saying urban meadow ( unkept waste ground). Coming to all your favourite sites.
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