Vegan Camp LogoVegan Camp is a well-deserved break for vegans, or anyone willing to be vegan during their stay, including many active campaigners, for 2 weeks, or for a day or two.

The 31st consecutive camp in 2011 is proposed to be held either Chichester in Sussex, South Derbyshire or Kent

All ages are welcome, many children attend, about 35% are under 18. Campers will be welcome for any period of stay within the fortnight.

Seeking Camp Site in Derbyshire

Heather writes:

Hope you’re all well and have had a fab Summer? Been talking to Daniel from Newcastle about vegan camp next year and the venue is hopefully Derbyshire!

They have a potental one at Moira bordering North West Leicestershire, yet has to be checked out, but options are open; so just to let you know if you notice anything on your travels, to let me or Daniel know pleeeeeez!

If the word is spread, someone else who is familiar with beautiful Derbyshire may also know of somewhere. Thought I’d let you know anyway.

TTFN

Heather xx

Criteria are as below : –

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Criteria, in no particular order, by which sites for the annual (established 1981) vegan camp are chosen:

Please do not mention any issues below to a campsite that may mean they refuse us – better to let John (Dan) mess it up, as he has had plenty of practice! Remember 1983 and 1999!

a. At least Dan (John), the general organiser since 1982 and maybe other committee members are to have visited and assessed the site, not limited to the committee, all welcome to do this, either alone or together with us or others. No site is used without one or more visits.

b. Site is to be vegan friendly, Dan mentions our veganism when booking, but it is not the first thing we say!

c. Site is to have trees/shelter from the winds if possible and to be fairly flat and well drained.

d. Facilities are to include at least laundry and showers and toilets.

e. The site must be able to accommodate up to 65 units over the fortnight, about 100 to 150 people. (NB a unit is either a single, a couple or a family).

f. The camp is to be relatively easy to access by public transport.

g. We request but are seldom given the opportunity, to have an organised camp fire.

h. An on-site swimming pool is to be considered a bonus and is favoured when choosing.

i. Sites to be selected are not to be near main roads or motorways, cities or airports etc., if at all possible.

j. Our standardised dates are the first two full weeks in August, Saturday to Saturday, annually.

k. The site is to allow us to bring our own two small marquees for wet weather.

l. The site is to allow us to organise and sell our own sourced vegan produce and camping accessories.

m. The site must be happy that we shall likely charge our campers different rates to what they charge. (NB this is mainly because we consider children to be aged up to and including 17, most sites don’t agree, and we do not charge for ages under six although the sites charge us for both. Also, adults are often charged at the same rate as couples or families, as they are being charged for the space taken up, not per person. So adult and other prices need to be re-calculated to create a fair balance for our singles, couples and families).

n. Site may need to be encouraged to accept a mixed group of adults, children, singles and couples and families, especially one like us who can provide references from at least last year.

o. We prefer sites which will allow us to organise our bookings centrally throughout the year, meaning that we give them no work to do on our behalf all year till camp.

p. We don’t usually consider fields owned by farmers or other owners with whom we may not see eye to eye, but take care not to offend anyone in the b=name of veganism.

q. We check out and avoid any animal connected activities on site or nearby, like farming etc.
(NB this would include sites with zoos, animal corners, birds of prey centres, factory farming.)

r. We try to avoid sewerage plants and cement factories being located nearby.

s. We avoid all areas where there may be the proximity of a nuclear site.

t. If at all possible we are to have a field or part of a field to ourselves, being aware of any internal roads which may cause a problem especially where children are concerned, so we usually look for a site with no or few internal roads for the safety of all.

u. We like our sites to have a play area or adventure playground.

v. We try to ensure that sites are either by rivers or near running water or are near the coast.

w. We try to use sites that also have alternative accommodation to camping for those who require such.

x. Added 2009 – we check with sites as to whether they have any plans for future developments on site, especially those which may involve animals.

y. Added 2009 – we check out the existence/proximity of a pond or lake and any fishing activity and consider it in our decision.

z. Added 2010 – we need to ensure that there is alternative accommodation either on site or very close nearby for those who do not want to camp.

For more info or to make suggestions contact:

danielsherwoodjohnstrettle@yahoo.co.uk

Veggies AR Calendar Listing
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=130