Last modified on Sun 14 Feb 2021 05.33 EST
While transport secretary Grant Shapps might not be planning a summer break given his declaration that “people shouldn’t be booking holidays right now”, it seems that many others are. Bookings for glamping and camping places have surged to record levels, a rise matched by the rapid growth in new sites.
“We’ve had the busiest January and February yet in terms of bookings,” says James Warner Smith, founder of Cool Camping.
“But there’s also been a huge increase in numbers of new sites wanting to advertise.”
Mike Bevens, MD at glamping specialist Canopy and Stars, agrees. “We’re up 200% on bookings from last year and have around 100 new sites coming online for this summer.”
More than 420 people participated in the eighth annual Clays for a Cause sporting clay shoot, presented by St. Johns home builder MasterCraft Builder Group, which raised $207,000 for dozens of North Florida charities.
The event, which took place Dec. 10 at Saltwaters Shooting Club in St. Augustine, was the largest to date and will support organizations such as St. Augustine Youth Services, Seamark Ranch, American Legion Post 194’s Kids Safe Zone, Reathreaded, HorsePlay Therapy Center, Alpha-Omega Miracle Home and Port in the Storm.
“Year after year, I’m blown away by the generosity and willingness to serve those in need here at home,” said MasterCraft Builder Group CEO and Founder Chris Shee. “Clays for a Cause started as a fun, end-of-year activity for my employees and a few trade partners and has turned into a community-wide event focused on community, camaraderie and charity.”