Covid-19 Coronavirus
For 2022: Please click for further information:
For Step 4 from 19th July 2021
Having considered the Government guidance for step 4 and the current infection numbers, we still feel it best that some measures remain in place as we need to help continue to protect customers and staff on the Park. Therefore in practical terms not too much will change on Monday 19th July 2021. This will be reviewed regularly.
BEFORE ARRIVING
Please DO NOT travel to the Park if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, is self-isolating, or has recently tested positive for COVID-19. If you have any symptoms, however mild, stay at home.
If you are no longer able to come for your holiday, please contact us to let us know as soon as possible.
Booking and refund terms are on our website: https://www.birchwoodtouristpark.co.uk/park-rules-conditions-of-booking
PRE-BOOKING & PAYMENT FOR TOURING PITCHES
Do not travel without a Booking reference (BW/…./…..). For touring pitches, please pre-book 5 days in advance if possible.
A few days before arrival, touring bookings will be emailed pre-arrival information and a booking confirmation with a link to click on for final payment. Please ignore the payment due date on the letter, due to covid we will accept payment a few days before or on arrival due to the possibility of the situation changing. We accept card and cash.
Please advise us by phone or email of your estimated arrival time and vehicle registration/s to help us at check in.
TRACK AND TRACE & NHS TEST AND TRACE
To help support NHS Test and Trace and reduce the spread of the virus if you wish to check in on the QR poster it is still displayed in the poster box outside the shop and in the shop/reception. If you choose to scan the QR code please scan on every day of your stay. If you wish to check in but do not have the app please ask for our paper form.
SOCIAL GATHERINGS/ VISITORS / FACE COVERINGS
The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. The risk of transmission is higher indoors, so you should take extra care to ventilate indoor areas.
Please do not invite or entertain visitors at the Park. No Visitors are permitted on the Park. While cases continue to rise in the area and the Park is at full capacity we have decided not to allow additional people onto the Park. This is to help reduce exposure to our staff, family and customers and to be able to help control use of the facilities. This will be reviewed regularly.
The government guidance: “Although face coverings are no longer required by law, but the government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this can reduce the risk of transmission.”
OPEN FACILITIES
Shop OPEN. Max limits of people at a time. Please queue outside and allow people to exit. Children must be supervised. We politely ask that you please wear a face covering. Please use hand sanitiser prior to entry. Please bring your own shopping bag/s. Opening hours on the door.
Open Toilet/ Shower blocks & washing up sinks – We still strongly recommend using your own facilities wherever possible.
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A ‘Fogging’ machine will be used at any time of the day without warning. No entry is allowed during this time.
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There will be no public access when the wash blocks are being cleaned. Please use the other block.
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Children must be supervised at all time by a responsible adult from their household/ pitch.
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Please leave facilities clean after use.
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Please minimise the time spent in the wash blocks and do not leave personal items unattended.
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Be considerate to others and do not overcrowd the space. Please use other block or queue to allow others to leave.
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Wash your hands before leaving. Hand driers are on, but we recommend you bring your own towel to dry your hands.
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Please bring a waterproof carrier bag for belongings/ towel in & hang on the back of the door to keep your things dry.
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ALWAYS close the toilet lid BEFORE flushing the toilet.
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Windows will be open for ventilation. Please do not close the windows/ doors.
Open Play area & Swings & Sandpit
Outside Children’s Paddling Pool (opening from end May bank holiday weekend to August Bank holiday weekend) weather and safety permitting. The pool is 2 foot deep, unheated and unsupervised. Use hand sanitiser provided at entry and exit. Seating is provided for parental/ guardian supervision - required at all times. Maximum limits may be introduced for safety.
At any time we reserve the right to close any of the facilities (without warning)
The barrier closes overnight from 10pm until 7am. No overnight vehicular access, except in an emergency. Please contact on-call duty warden by the barriers in an emergency.
Please be patient and kind to our staff and each other. We are all doing the very best we can under the circumstances. We hope you can enjoy your stay with us despite the changes. If you have any concerns or comments please speak to a member of staff.
Please continue to follow the key behaviours:
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HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
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FACE – We recommend you wear a face covering indoors, and if in crowded areas or contact with people you do not normally meet.
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SPACE – Socially distance. Stay 2 or 1m+ metres apart from people you do not live with where possible.
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VENTILATION – keep fresh air flowing indoors
FOLLOW THE GROUP GATHERING LIMITS at the time of your stay, check the legal limits on group sizes.
These rules and information are under constant review and maybe updated at short notice following Government legislation or guidance.
Updated 15th May 2021 following Government guidance for Step 3
The Park is open. For step 3, anticipated until no earlier than 21st June 2021 and following the revised government guidance:
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the TOILETS & SHOWERS will be open - please wear a face covering in the wash blocks, please queue outside to observe capacity limits, socially distance from others, use hand sanitiser prior to entering, minimise the time spent in the wash blocks, do not leave personal belongings unattended and leave windows & doors open for ventilation. There are enhanced cleaning regimes in addition to our usual cleaning, however should you choose to use the wash blocks you do so at your own risk. There will be no use of the blocks during cleaning, capacity limits and queuing will be enforced.
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We recommend where possible units are self contained and you use your own facilities where possible.
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stays are permitted for up to 6 people or TWO households in a unit (on a pitch).
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the outdoor chemical toilet disposal points will be open for use
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Taps and communal touch points will be cleaned regularly
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the Laundry & washing up sinks will be open
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Social distancing must be maintained between people who do not live together or share a bubble.
Reception for check-in and enquiries (one person at a time) will be via the shop porch only (face covering required) and the additional check-in window when possible. Please queue 2m apart and use hand sanitiser.
Shop items can be purchased by request, however the shop entry still remains closed to public access. This will be reviewed during the season.
We will email arrivals with further pre-arrival information details, a few days before arrival.
If you wish to cancel or postpone your stay with us please contact us as soon as possible and we will make arrangements.
Track and Trace requirements are required for every customer (over the age of 16). The QR code is displayed at reception and each person should be scan it on everyday of your stay or you should complete a track and trace form for the duration of your stay, which will be held for 21 days from your departure.
Step 3 is from no earlier than 17th May 2021 to step 4
Step 4 is from no earlier than 21st June 2021, details will follow nearer the time.
BOOKING & PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Please Pre-book (5 days in advance) where possible.
All pre bookings will be emailed a few days before the stay with the current Park rules/ guidance or paper copies will be available at check in. Park rules must be agreed before access, and any breach will be addressed.
We require track and trace information for each pitch booked.
Before arriving: Please DO NOT travel to the Park if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms or if you or anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19.
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
· HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
· FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
· SPACE – Socially distance. Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors). Please allow others to pass at narrow points, follow any one way directions.
· VENTILATION – keep fresh air flowing indoors
· FOLLOW THE GROUP GATHERING LIMITS at the time of your stay, check the legal limits on group sizes.
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Please pay in advance if possible up to the morning of arrival. A Payment link will be sent on the booking confirmation, or card payment over the phone. In some cases payment can be made on arrival if pre-arranged.
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No visitors are permitted on the Park.
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Some facilities are closed/ unavailable as listed in the information email sent a few days before arrival, however if you have specific enquires please call us for the most up to date information.
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If anyone in your unit becomes unwell with covid symptoms during your stay, please call and report details to the reception in office hours, or on-call phone (number will be in the pre-arrival information). Stay in your unit until we have discussed how to proceed.
Please be patient with our staff and each other. We hope you can enjoy your stay with us despite the changes.
Please can everyone show consideration for our local community. Some are understandably apprehensive about the potential impacts of visitors and they will need reassurance demonstrated by your thoughtfulness.
If you have any concerns or comments please speak to a member of staff.
Unfortunately due to the situation everything is subject to change at any point and at short notice.
13th May 2021
We are currently reviewing the recently issued government guidance regarding the reopening of the showers for step 3 (from 17th May 2021) and will update our website as soon as a decision has been made.
We will also email information to pre-booked customers due to arrive from 17th May.
Updated 9th April 2021 following revised Government guidance issued of evening of 8th April 2021. SUPERSEDED see reopening update
We will reopen the Park on Monday 12th April 2021, as we are eased out of lockdown 3.
Following the revised government guidance:
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the TOILETS will be open
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the SHOWERS will be CLOSED
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stays are permitted for the same household in a unit
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the outdoor chemical toilet disposal points will be open for use, however we must clean after each use, so please follow instructions.
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Taps and communal touch points will be cleaned regularly
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the Laundry will be open
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We recommend where possible units are self contained where possible.
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Indoors, people are not permitted to meet others they do not live with
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People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 6 people, or as a group of 2 households.
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Social distancing must be maintained between people who do not live together or share a bubble.
This will be for step 2, anticipated to continue until no earlier than 17th May.
Reception for check-in and enquiries (one person at a time) will be via the shop porch only (face covering required) and the additional check-in window when possible. Please queue 2m apart and use hand sanitiser.
Shop items can be purchased via request, however the shop entry still remains closed to public access. This will be reviewed when during the season.
We will email arrivals due from the 12th April and seasonal and storage customers with further pre-arrival information details, a few days before arrival.
If you wish to cancel or postpone your stay with us please contact us as soon as possible and we will make arrangements.
If you had cancelled your reservation and wish to re-book due to the government changing the guidance regarding toilet facilities, please contact us and we will try to accommodate you if we can.
Track and Trace requirements have been increased and every customer (over the age of 16) must complete the details required. The QR code is displayed at reception and each person should be scan it on everyday of your stay or you should complete the track and trace form for each stay, which will be held for 21 days from your departure.
Step 3 is from no earlier than 17th May 2021 to 21st June 2021, and then all being well, we would be able to fully reopen the toilet/shower blocks, if government allows.
Step 4 is from no earlier than 21st June 2021, details will follow nearer the time.
BOOKING & PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Please Pre-book (5 days in advance) where possible.
All pre bookings will be emailed a few days before the stay with the current Park rules/ guidance or paper copies will be available at check in. Park rules must be agreed before access, and any breach will be addressed.
We may require track and trace information for each pitch booked.
Before arriving: Please DO NOT travel to the Park if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms or if you or anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19.
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
· HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
· FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
· SPACE – Socially distance. Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors). Please allow others to pass at narrow points, follow any one way directions.
· VENTILATION – keep fresh air flowing indoors
· FOLLOW THE GROUP GATHERING LIMITS at the time of your stay, check the legal limits on group sizes.
-
Please pay in advance if possible. A Payment link will be sent with the booking confirmation, or card payment over the phone. In some cases payment can be made on arrival if pre-arranged.
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No visitors are permitted on the Park.
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We strongly advise you use your own facilities in your unit wherever possible.
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If the toilet / shower blocks are permitted to be open, there will be enhanced cleaning regimes in addition to our usual cleaning. Should you choose to use them you do so at your own risk. There will be no use of the blocks during cleaning, capacity limits and queuing will be enforced.
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Some facilities are closed/ unavailable as listed in the information email sent a few days before arrival, however if you have specific enquires please call us for the most up to date information.
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If anyone in your unit becomes unwell with covid symptoms during your stay, please call and report details to the reception in office hours, or on-call phone (number will be in the pre-arrival information). Stay in your unit until we have discussed how to proceed.
Please be patient with our staff and each other. We hope you can enjoy your stay with us despite the changes.
Please can everyone show consideration for our local community. Some are understandably apprehensive about the potential impacts of visitors and they will need reassurance demonstrated by your thoughtfulness.
If you have any concerns or comments please speak to a member of staff.
Unfortunately due to the situation everything is subject to change at any point and at short notice.
UPDATE regarding Park reopening for 2021
(updated 27th February 2021)
Following the Government roadmap announcement on 22nd February 2021, we interpret the following and will be hoping to reopen Birchwood Tourist Park on 12th April 2021.
“Self-contained holiday accommodation in which all facilities (including for sleeping, catering, bathing, and indoor lobbies and corridors for entry and exit) are restricted to exclusive use of a single household/support bubble will reopen.”
The Park remains closed until Step 2 (currently no earlier than Monday 12th April 2021). We intend to reopen the Park at Step 2, if it is permitted, possibly with closed toilet/shower blocks. This is awaiting clarification as no detailed guidance nor any regulations yet been published. We will update you as soon as confirmation is received.
The Government will announce one week in advance whether restrictions for each Step will be eased as planned.
TOURING CUSTOMERS
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Customers with bookings prior to April 12th, 2021 will be contacted to ask if they would like to postpone or cancel the reservation. Any money paid can be moved onto a future date within 24 months, or refunded if preferred.
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If a booking is moved to a future date, the relevant tariff will apply to the dates of the stay, so changes to the price of the stay may occur, should the new dates fall in a different tariff.
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Existing bookings after 12th April 2021, will remain in place unless the customer contacts us to move dates or we will contact you should the circumstances change.
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Any bookings (new or postponement) for a stay after Park reopening (from Step 2 of the roadmap until Step 3), are being taken on our current understanding of the government announcement and guidelines, that your unit is self-contained. Thus, we currently will not be in a position to provide toilet block facilities as we interpret this to be a communal area. The unit must also only be occupied by one single household (indoors). Social contact guidance for Step 2 is Rule of 6 or 2 households outdoors.
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We are going to continually review this matter, but at the moment we interpret the toilet/shower blocks will not be open for communal use until step 3 which is currently “no earlier than 17th May 2021”.
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Any bookings (new or postponement) for a stay during Step 3 are being taken on our current understanding of the government announcement and guidelines, that domestic overnight stays are allowed, but indoors (in your unit) limited to the rule of 6 or with one other household. Gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors will remain illegal. Shared facilities will be allowed to reopen.
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Step 4, which is currently no earlier than 21st June 2021, is hoping to remove legal limits on social contact and restrictions.
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Covid secure guidance will remain in place and premises must not cater for groups larger than the legal limits.
We will update this as soon as we have clarification from the government advice.
Unfortunately it remains that until further notice, we cannot allow day visitors on-site.
The online booking system will be live for bookings from 1st March 2021, bookings can be made through this or provisional reservations and queries can be made by phone or email. Any amendments, date changes or additions to reservations will need to be made via phone or email.
We anticipate any pre-arrival Park information will be emailed to customers a few days prior to arrival based on the circumstances at the time.
WINTER SEASONAL (2020-2021) CUSTOMERS & SEASONAL CUSTOMERS for 2021
We will be communicating with you soon regarding the seasonal refund policy due to Park closure and also any details regarding packing your caravan ready for moving it to your summer pitch, if applicable. Please do not worry, we will not move your caravan to the summer pitch until we have discussed it with you and confirmed it is ready to move.
STORAGE CUSTOMERS
Storage invoices for the period of 1st March 2021 to 31st October 2021 have been made and will be emailed or posted out with a storage agreement form and the Storage guidance for return with caravan insurance documentation.
We are taking pre-bookings for 2021, obviously dependent upon the steps in the roadmap. Should you wish to make any bookings for the 2021 season as mentioned, the 2021 tariff can be found on the website page: tariff-enquiry-check
We will keep this page as up to date as possible, but as this is a complex and ever-changing situation, please always check the relevant Government websites for the very latest information by clicking here
Park Closed from 31st December 2020 as Dorset enters Tier 3 and National Lockdown from 5th January 2021. When we have a reopening date we will update our website. If you would like to discuss or postpone any reservations in January or February please email or call and leave a message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
We are taking provisional reservations for 2021. The 2021 tariff is due to be finalised soon. In the New Year we will contact or email the tariff to all customers with a 2021 reservation and with information regarding payments and ask you to confirm or cancel the booking. Please complete the enquiry or booking form if you would like to check availability for 2021.
SAT 19th DECEMBER 2020: Following the introduction of a Tier 4 and reduction of "5 day to Christmas Bubble" to 1 day
FROM SUNDAY 20th DECEMBER 2020 the updated guidance is here:
· Tier 1
· Tier 2
· Tier 3
The list of areas under each Tier is here, with the postcode checker here.
Travel & overnight stays:
In Tier 4, the law requires, ‘If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse (e.g. for work or education purposes)’. You cannot leave your home or the place where you are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed. This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if that is not your primary residence. This also includes staying with anyone who you don’t live with unless they’re in your support bubble.
The advice to people in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 is, you should stay local and avoid travelling outside of your local area. So Government is advising against leisure and holiday travel in Tiers 1, 2 and 3.
You can still travel within Tier 2 areas to hotels and other guest accommodation. You should only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
If you live in a Tier 3 area, you should avoid staying overnight outside of your area other than for the specified reasons. This means you should not leave a Tier 3 alert level area to stay in a second home. If you live in a Tier 3 area, you must continue to follow Tier 3 rules when you travel to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area. You must not stay with anyone you do not live with elsewhere in the UK or visit their home (unless you share a support bubble).
Christmas rules have changed:
A Christmas bubble cannot include anyone from a Tier 4 area. Holiday parks and campsites will remain closed in Tier 4 over Christmas.
The Christmas bubble relaxations (up to three households, outside Tier 4) will only apply on Christmas Day. The guidance confirms for people in Tiers 1, 2 and 3:
‘Outside a Tier 4 area, you can stay in private rented accommodation, a hotel, hostel or B&B in England over Christmas, in line with the social gathering rules in your tier. This includes in a tier 3: Very High alert area between 24 and 26 December, as long as you are staying by yourself, or with other members of your household and it is necessary for the purposes of seeing your Christmas bubble on Christmas Day. If necessary, you can stay in private rented accommodation with members of your household, or your Christmas bubble.’
So, holiday parks and campsites in Tier 3 may reopen for customers from Tiers 1, 2 and 3 for the nights of 24 and 25 December, closing again on 26 December.
Customers from Tiers 1, 2 and 3 can travel to holiday parks and campsites which are open in Tiers 1 and 2 for Christmas reasons between 24 and 26 December.
Reservations:
We have now contacted our Tier 4 customers to either cancel or postpone upcoming reservations.
We remain open at the moment, in Tier 2. Payment is not required until the morning of arrival or on arrival.
If you have a reservation over Christmas or New Year, and you are in Tier 3, please contact us by phone or email if you would like to discuss or postpone or cancel your booking.
Please continue to follow the government guidance and our pre-arrival information, and do not travel if you or anyone in your household have any COVID symptoms.
We await the next Government review on 30th December 2020.
PARK REOPENING FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN 2.0 on Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Following the Government announcement, we plan to reopen Birchwood Tourist Park on Wednesday 2nd December 2020.
3 TIERS IN ENGLAND - SUPERSEDED
We will be following the Tier system guidance from this date, although we believe this will be reviewed in 2 weeks. There are different rules depending on the tier an area is in or which tier you may be residing or travelling from. There are 3 tiers. Dorset is currently in Tier 2. If our area enters tier 3 we will have to close the Park again.
In tier 2, one household, including your support bubble can meet indoors. You can still travel within Tier 2 areas to hotels and other guest accommodation. You should only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
You can see friends and family you do not live with (or do not have a support bubble with) outdoors, in a group of no more than 6. This limit of 6 includes children of any age. ‘Outdoors’ means in a private garden or other outdoor space.
If you live in a Tier 1 area and travel to an area in a higher tier you should follow the rules for that area while you are there.
If you reside in a Tier 3 area, you should avoid travelling outside your area, including for overnight stays, other than where necessary: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-3-very-high-alert. If you live in a Tier 3 area, you must continue to follow Tier 3 rules when you travel to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area. You must not stay with anyone you do not live with elsewhere in the UK or visit their home (unless you share a support bubble). In a Tier 3, you should avoid travelling outside of your area.
CHRISTMAS - SUPERSEDED
Currently, we believe during the Christmas period (23 to 27 December) rules will be revised to:
www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period
BOOKING TO STAY AT BIRCHWOOD TOURIST PARK
If you choose to make a provisional reservation and restrictions or a lockdown are reinstated then we would contact you to either cancel or postpone your reservation. If the area you live in changes to a Tier 3, please contact us so we can discuss your reservation.
Due to COVID we do not require any payment when the provisional reservation is made.
Payment will be required closer to the arrival date in case the situation changes.
If we open for the dates of your booking, you will receive an email a few days before arrival with a pre-arrival information letter, payment details and a Track and Trace form.
We hope you will be able to enjoy your stay with us, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Birchwood.
We are taking reservations for 2021. The 2021 tariff is due to be finalised soon. In the New Year we will contact or email the tariff to all customers with a 2021 reservation and with information regarding payments and ask you to confirm or cancel the booking.
PRE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
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HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
-
FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
-
SPACE - Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors).
Please DO NOT travel to the Park if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms or if you or anyone in your household are self-isolating, awaiting COVID test results.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough or high temperature or loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).
If you have any of these symptoms, however mild, stay at home: self-isolate for recommended time – do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with, & anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate.
Get a test – to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, or in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Please let us know by email or phone if you need to cancel or reschedule your stay with us.
OPEN FACILITIES
Over the winter months, as usual, the block paved hard-standing and some gravel pitches are available to reserve.
These are either fully serviced, semi serviced or 10 amp electric hook up.
Our toilet and shower facilities are open (one toilet/shower block for the winter months), with enhanced cleaning, capacity limits for social distancing and queuing, however we recommend you use your own facilities wherever possible.
The laundry room, new dog wash, play area and chemical toilet waste disposal point is open.
The shop is not currently open to the public, however we can 'do the shopping for you' and
we can collect items you require for payment in the porch, please wear a face covering.
We are trying to keep basic groceries in stock, such as bread, milk, tins, drinks, sweets, chocolate and some camping supplies.
Access points into the forest and Sika Trail are open for social distance walking, dog exercising and cycling, and the Silent Woman Inn is now under new management, open for food and families.
Obviously, due to the circumstances, everything is subject to change at short notice.
Please be aware, should the Park be required to close during your stay, we will refund or credit for nights not able to be stayed, at that point. You may be asked at short notice to leave the Park should we be instructed to close by any authority, at any time. If our area experiences a local COVID-19 outbreak or local lockdown measures are imposed, different guidance and legislation may apply. These rules and information are under constant review and maybe updated at short notice following Government legislation or guidance.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your stay with us please call or email us.
PARK CLOSED FOR LOCKDOWN 2.0 From Thursday 5th November 2020 until Wednesday 2nd December 2020
The Government have now updated the guidance on businesses which must close and also that overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed- including holidays in the UK and abroad. This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if you own one, or staying with anyone you do not live with or are in a support bubble with.
This applies to England.
“COVID-19 case numbers are rising rapidly across the whole of the UK and in other countries. We must act now to control the spread of the virus. The single most important action we can all take to fight coronavirus is to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.
When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we reduce the spread of the infection. That is why, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, you must:
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Stay at home, except for specific purposes.
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Avoid meeting people you do not live with, except for specific purposes.
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Close certain businesses and venues.”
Campsites are included in the businesses and venues which must close.
Following this, Birchwood Tourist Park has now closed for the duration of Lockdown 2. We have padlocked the top gates again, and unfortunately there will be no access for the duration of this lockdown, unless we are advised otherwise.
Our wardens remain on the Park.
We are still able to take provisional reservations for future dates. We are operating the same system we have since 4th July 2020, where we will reserve a pitch without any payment and contact you closer to the arrival date with all the relevant COVID information and a payment request.
Reservations for 2021 can be made in the same way, although the tariff is not yet confirmed. We email out the booking details when the prices are confirmed in the New Year and we ask for you to either confirm the booking, or to let us know to cancel the booking.
We will inform you again when we have more information and any further details regarding reopening again. If you have any queries please email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please take care and we look forward to seeing you again when we reopen.
From Saturday 4th July 2020
PARK IS NOW REOPEN
Pre-bookings are being taken for stays where possible and with agreement to our new additional Park rules and guidance. We prefer bookings to be made at least 5 days before arrival.
All pre bookings will be contacted a few days before the stay with the current Park rules/ guidance, a track and trace form and your booking confirmation with details to check prior to payment.
Payment will be required in advance wherever possible, to reduce contact time at check in, this can be done by clicking on the link on the booking confirmation email, or card payment over the phone. In some cases payment can be made on arrival.
We have been informed of very strict rules which have to be adhered to and we will be enforcing these rules. Upon arrival at the Park it is essential that you check in at reception. There will be certain procedures which you will have to follow and additional measures will be in place for your safety and that of our staff. It is paramount that these are all observed.
Please carefully read the additional rules and information and follow our guidance to help us to ensure we can reopen for all our customers, staff and family. We will require written acknowledgement and agreement that these Park rules will be abided by. Any breach of the rules will mean you invalidate the contract you have with us, your unit will need to be removed from the Park immediately, at your own cost, and there will be no refund on any monies paid.
Unfortunately due to the situation they are subject to change at any point and at short notice.
As per Government guidelines, for each stay we now require a track and trace form to be completed.
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
· HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.
· FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
· SPACE - Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors).
Do not travel to us without a Booking reference number (BW/…..). We will only check in Pre-booked units.
Before arriving: Please DO NOT travel to the Park if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough or high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home (self-isolate) – do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate. Get a test – get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms.
If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Changes on the Park
Unfortunately we now have to do some things differently. We have put in measures of social distancing signs, hand sanitising points, encouraging hand washing with soap and water, one way pedestrian routes, staff have additional PPE and protective screens. We strongly advise you use your own facilities in your unit wherever possible.
We apologise if these rules seem strict, however we hope you understand we must all try our best to protect our staff and your fellow campers.
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You are coming to the Park at your own risk and you must take responsibility for your own and family’s health and hygiene. We have put measures in place in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. These conditions set out must be met by everyone occupying the park premises to allow the Park to reopen.
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No visitors are permitted on the Park.
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Always socially distance yourself from people outside your household & our staff, preferably at 2m apart or ‘1m plus’ as per the recent Government recommendation.
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From 14th September 2020, you should not go on holiday in England with people you do not live with (or who are not in your support bubble) in a group larger than 6 people, when a new legal gathering limit comes into force. Doing so will be against the law. You should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or is not in your support bubble. A support bubble is a close support network between a household with only one adult in the home (known as a single-adult household) and one other household of any size. This is called making a ‘support bubble’. Once you’re in a support bubble, you can think of yourself as being in a single household with people from the other household. It means you can have close contact with that household as if they were members of your own household. Once you make a support bubble, you should not change who is in your bubble.
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We encourage good hygiene: Please wash your hands using soap and water more often than usual, or use hand sanitiser. We have installed additional soap and sanitiser points around the Park. Please bring you own towels to use in the toilet/ shower blocks.
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We strongly recommend you use your own unit facilities while on the Park wherever possible.
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Our toilet / shower blocks will be open with enhanced cleaning regimes in addition to our usual cleaning to help reduce the spread of any infection. Should you choose to use them you do so at your own risk. There will be no use of the blocks during cleaning, capacity limits and queuing will be enforced. If toilet/shower facilities are open, there will be regular closures of the blocks for cleaning. No one is authorised to enter during cleaning, other than staff wearing PPE.
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Be aware our staff may be wearing a face covering or a mask and additional PPE.
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Test/ Track and Trace requirements must be completed prior to arrival
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Follow our new markings to manage social space. Unfortunately it is likely there may be queues. Please bring a brolly, waterproofs and/or hat and sun cream to account for the unpredictable weather.
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Some facilities are closed/ unavailable as listed in the information pack, however if you have specific enquires please call us for the most up to date information.
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Please be patient with our staff and each other. This is a very different way of working for everyone and may not always run as smoothly as we hope, but we are doing the very best we can under the circumstances. We will be glad to have finally reopened and hope you can enjoy your stay with us despite the changes.
If you have any concerns or comments please speak to a member of staff.
23rd June 2020: UPDATE REGARDING PARK REOPENING
Following the announcement by Boris at lunchtime today that campsites can reopen from 4th July 2020, we have been inundated with calls, messages and emails.
We are so happy to have the support of our customers and are looking forward to welcoming everyone back.
Please bear with us as we gather the Government guidance over the next few days to ensure we can reopen safely. Rest assured we will get back to everyone as soon as we can and will try to accommodate your bookings and enquiries if we can. Online booking will resume in due course when we have established the Government guidelines regarding any capacity or facility restrictions.
We have been working on risk assessments and arrangements to get ready for 4th July but there is still work for us to do. Unfortunately we now have to do some things differently to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. There will be additional rules and changes, however we hope you understand we must all try our best to protect our staff and your fellow campers.
Anyone with holiday bookings in place from 4th July will be contacted in the next week by email or phone with pre- arrival information and details.
Seasonal pitch customers will also be contacted by email with the reopening information as soon as we have finalised the details.
We hope everyone is safe and well, and we very much look forward to seeing everyone again
Best wishes from everyone at Birchwood
18th June 2020: UPDATE
The Park is still currently closed.
We will update our website when we are allowed to re-open again.
We are currently working on risk assessments and reopening arrangements with the aim to open on 4th July if this date is announced, although this is still to be confirmed by the Government and is not an official reopening date.
Until we have further guidance facility decisions and restrictions are still under review.
We can make you a provisional holiday reservation if you have dates in mind, to reserve the pitch in anticipation in case we were able to reopen, and then we would contact you if a deposit is required.
Obviously, if we are still closed we would have to cancel/ postpone the booking. It does not guarantee the reservation and details may be subject to change depending the restrictions at the time of the intended booking.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming our customers back to Birchwood but we hope you understand we must abide by the law and legislation to provide staff and customer safety. There will also be some changes to the Park to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.
Seasonal customers will be emailed with details regarding reopening when we have a definitive a Government announcement.
We greatly miss seeing everyone, and hope to have some news soon.
Monday 24th March 2020
Following the Prime Ministers statement on the evening of 23rd March 2020 to the nation, amongst other details mentioned he stated that all touring parks must be closed.
Holiday and touring parks have now been closed by Government.
Government guidance published last night on this link confirms the businesses and premises which must now shut and must remain closed including: ‘Caravan parks/sites for commercial uses’
We have followed guidance over the weekend and this statement and further to the statement last night we are now required by law to close.
We have put this into effect and we trust you will understand our position.
It is an ever changing situation and we will contact you as soon as we have any further information.
9.30pm Sunday 22nd March 2020
Updated to Website Monday 23rd 2020
To our valued customers and visitors of Birchwood Tourist Park
We hope you can appreciate John and Linda have owned and run Birchwood for over 20 years, with Rachael and Tim joining them for the last 6 years, and never had any of us thought we would have to be addressing such an crisis. These are unprecedented times.
We all have a responsibility to consider not just ourselves but the people of our country, the local community and on this Park.
We are having to make decisions and take actions which were unimaginable a few weeks ago.
We as a family, unfortunately have to announce, that we have made the very sad and difficult decision to close our gates to new arrivals, pre-booked or touring. Our online booking system has been deactivated until further notice. We will be closing all facilities on the park from 6pm Tuesday 24th March 2020. Where possible we will try to speak to you personally, although regrettably some information will come through email or phone messages as we try to contact everyone. Please do not call us, as we will need the phone line clear to contact upcoming bookings in chronological order. If you feel you need to contact us, email is the best contact at this current time, we will respond as soon as we can. As you know we are a small team but please trust that we will be in touch as we work through all our customers and bookings.
As I write this, the Government have announced additional guidance regarding essential travel. “Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, campsites, caravan sites or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holiday.”
This reinforces the decision and we ask all storage and touring or camping customers to remain at your primary residence and we will contact each booking to make arrangements and offer alternative dates for when the crisis is over.
We ask all Seasonal occupiers on the Park, not to stay in your holiday caravan at the time and to be sensitive towards the views and needs of the local community and NHS.
Over the last 24 hours, there has been an increasing and understandable concern in local communities towards the owners of second homes and caravans, as well as holiday visitors. The government’s clear guidance is that there must be no unnecessary or non-essential travel. We are expecting the Government to give us more guidance very shortly. We expect a clear message that holiday and touring parks must not stay open for business as usual. We hope there will also be some guidance about those using holiday caravans as their home.
If you are currently on site, the time for you to leave in and safe and orderly way is limited and if there is any reason why you cannot leave, you need to discuss that with us now.
We trust the announcements of support which have come from Government should help us to be ready to resume business just as soon as the crisis passes however this may be complex and we ask you to bear with us, as the family try to navigate through these processes.
We will be making every effort to ensure our staff are looked after during this period.
We are following the Government’s guidance so closing to protect you and the wider society. We urge you to co-operate and support us at this difficult time please.
John and Linda Orford, Rachael and Tim, and families
Updated: 18 March 2020 -Superseded by 23.03.2020 (above)
We are currently following government recommendations and guidelines with regard to the infection threat from Coronavirus. We have revised our procedures and added additional precautions to try to protect our staff, family, visitors and customers.
We are currently open, however we will close if instructed to by a relevant authority. The day to day running of the Park will be revised if and when this happens, and we will try to contact you with the update.
Please email us if you wish to be contacted by email.
If you or a member in your unit is experiencing symptoms or knows/ thinks they have been exposed, please do not approach our staff, the shop/reception or use the communal toilets. Remain in your unit, contact 111 for advice and call or email us so we are aware as we need to report this, and also make arrangements for you to use separate toilet and waste facilities.
Please follow the current guidance from the:
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Government (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public)
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And NHS (https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19):
What to do if you have symptoms (From last update on www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
18 March 2020)
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home if you have either:
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a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
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a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.
Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
The symptoms of Coronavirus are: •cough •high temperature •shortness of breath.
Things are changing on a daily basis and we may need to respond quickly and without warning to advice, restrictions or the daily Government update recommendations.
If you have any queries please email or call us, leave a message if we cannot get to the phone and we will respond as soon as possible. The on-call site wardens rotate with the on-call phone when the shop is closed.
Wish best wishes to you all, from all at Birchwood.
Tel: 01929 554 763
