Couple finds new roots with growing business at Waites Farm
Many aspiring glamping businesses ask TruDomes for advice on how to avoid the headache of planning delays and we often recommend that they join an ‘exempted organisation’ which has the authority to approve sites without the need for planning permission or a licence. It certainly helped one of our latest customers at Waites Farm in Lincolnshire, where they fast-tracked the launch of a thriving glampsite featuring one of our geodomes.
Husband and wife, Lloyd and Carol Hicks, were a couple looking to leave behind the stresses of suburban life and immerse themselves in rural tranquillity. They found the perfect escape route with an expanse of scenic farmland in Lincolnshire, bypassing the planning process through membership of the Greener Camping Club. Established in 2015, the Greener Camping Club is one of several exempted organisations which welcome membership applications from glamping businesses. With an aim to provide a more environmentally-friendly style of camping experience, their ideal setting for a campsite is a sheltered area of at least one acre in a quiet rural setting. Waites Farm ticked all the right boxes and was quickly approved as a certified member site.
Lloyd explained the process that led to them starting out in glamping:
“I had been interested in setting up a glamping site since 2016, but it took me six years to convince my wife Carol. We have slowly been moving out of London looking for more space. Having lived in Epping Forest for 10 years, the big skies of rural Lincolnshire was the next natural move. We were originally looking at Suffolk and Norfolk but they already seemed to have a lot of glamping and leisure offerings. Although our location is 20 minutes from Skegness, which is teeming with holiday parks, we felt we could develop a contrasting ‘wilder’ offer.”
Doing their homework
Lloyd and Carol did plenty of homework on the options available for glamping accommodation and, influenced by one of TruDomes’ other customers, they decided geodomes were the best fit for Waites Farm.
Lloyd said:
“We looked at a lot of structures but I kept coming back to the geodome. We have been fans of Tractors and Cream for some time and just loved the contrasting look of the domes. However, Carol wasn’t fully convinced at first and wanted to go the safari tent route but in the end we felt the geodome would be a more unique offering. We love the fact that it’s insulated, wipe cleanable and has a view. Safari tents couldn’t really offer the same. We chose TruDomes as they are a UK company which gives us peace of mind should there be any issues but also it’s important to us to invest at home rather than with overseas companies where we can.”
“As Greener Camping Club site, we operate under an exemption certificate. TruDomes’ geodomes can sit on a deck on blocks without the need for ground anchors, which was an important consideration in working within the exemption rules. As long as the skirt is covered, the dome can take a huge amount of wind loading. Our site in winter can be very windy and so far the dome has coped with wind speeds of up to 65mph with ease.”
Designed for sustainability
The Greener Camping Club value members that share their environmental ethos. Waites Farm is designed and planned with sustainability in mind, supported with the use of our eco-friendly dome. Lloyd and Carol recognised the advantages that our domes offer over other glamping units, including the fully recyclable aluminium frames and built-in durability which reduces maintenance and waste.
Lloyd said:
“The less carbon miles the better for products as well as the lifespan of the product. We see a lot of bell tents being used for just one or two years before they are passed on because they are tricky to clean. Not very green me thinks!”
Upgrades to enhance luxury
Like many TruDomes customers, Waites Farm incorporated some of our optional extras to customise their accommodation and provide a more distinctive, high-end offering. They picked out various bespoke features with all-season, all-weather durability and comfort in mind.
“We specified the wood burner so we can extend the season, ideally opening most of the year round,” said Lloyd. “The solar fan is very efficient at keeping the dome cool. We felt the dome needed a proper door to complete the look as well as weatherproofing and the porch will hopefully ensure the door lasts a little longer whilst giving guests a bit of cover when getting their wellies on when the rain comes. The pewter curtains we thought worked really well with the natural insulation colour and we wanted to keep it a light palette of colours to allow the warmth from the timbers a contrasting backdrop. The curtains really do block out the light very well.”
Helping Waites Farm in the design of their domes is part of the service at TruDomes. As glamping newcomers, they were grateful for our ongoing advice and support.
“Leanne at TruDomes has been incredibly helpful,” said Lloyd. “We have probably asked some silly questions on the way keen to get it all right and she has been patient with me and very helpful indeed. The ordering was a simple process and the after sales support is spot-on. We would absolutely recommend TruDomes to other sites, although not near us and not in Lincolnshire thank you very much! It’s a great product and we are really pleased with it.”
Plans for more growth
Waites Farm has enjoyed a very promising first year with a busy season of bookings. Encouraged by their success, Lloyd and Carol are planning to expand their glamping capacity and continue their environmental work as a Greener Camping Club member.
“We are looking to add more domes,” said Lloyd. “It’s our first season so we are seeing how everything pans out but so far it’s working really well. We are lucky to have a tree surround to our long grass meadow but we don’t want to stop there. Each year we plan to plant a number of trees to create more of a forest landscape with clearings in the years to come.”
It’s wonderful to see Waites Farm thriving. Lloyd and Carol have established new roots in the wide-open spaces of Lincolnshire and we’re sure that their business will continue to grow and blossom in the years ahead!
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