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Community Camping Weekend Information sheet
Following on from the success of last year’s camping weekend, we have been invited to return to Cudham Shaws Campsite again this year, from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th June.
The weekend provides a great opportunity to gather a large number of LFA families together, to enjoy the beautiful local countryside (and hopefully the weather) and to create a memorable and fun weekend for all involved.
Information sheet Community Camping
Cudham Shaws – Code of Conduct – Aug 2015 (5)
Camping essentials Community Camping
The site:
Cudham Shaws, located 15 minutes from school, is usually used for youth groups and girl guides. It is a completely private 93 acre estate, combining rolling hills and ancient woodland. We have a designated camping area in the top field, access to a modest club-house, washing-up facilities and basic fire-building equipment. There are also flushing toilets and a small number of showers. You’ll be pleased to know the area for pitching tents is completely flat! Plenty of car parking space is available. Please note that Electricity is NOT available for phone charging, only for refreshment facilities.
Location: Cudham Shaws Campsite, 144 Cudham Lane North, Cudham, TN14 7QT.
Follow the A21 from school towards the Orpington/M25, when you descend the hill towards Green St Green and the large ‘Rose and Crown’ pub, take the third exit from the roundabout into Cudham Lane North. The campsite is approx. 1.5 miles along the winding lane on the right hand side. Once you enter the site, parking will be made available in a nearby ‘overflow’ carpark and our pitch is 3 minutes walk from the car park.
Responsibility
Cudham Shaws management have kindly allowed us to book for a second year as a community group, asking that we adhere to their site code of conduct, and that each parent/carer is responsible for the children in their party, at all times. On arrival, each person in our party will be given a wristband, to identify ourselves as the LFA group, to all other youth groups using the site. This is for their safeguarding purposes.
T&Cs are attached in a separate document. The conditions primarily cover responsible and social behaviour, being considerate of others, cleaning, littering etc. Please note that dogs are not allowed on site.
Guests will need to plan meals and pack accordingly. Everyone is free to bring or build a BBQ (perhaps a disposable one). Fires need to be raised from the ground to avoid scorched grass, there are quite a few metal crates provided for this purpose. Gas camping stoves are also fine to use.
The nearest food shops are the Holwood farm shop, Waitrose or a Co-op (all accessible by car). There is a great pub very nearby (perhaps for Sunday Lunch…) the Blacksmiths Arms. Drinking glasses are not permitted on site, so please bring plastic/metal alternatives.
On Friday evening we have booked Odori e Sapori, Italian wood-fired pizza! Due to numbers and efficiency, the food will be pre-ordered and pre-paid. If you require a gluten free option, please contact Laura Tully directly (laura@tullyconstruction.co.uk)
On Saturday evening, there will be a fantastic hog roast and a volunteer-run BBQ for anyone who’d rather keep it really simple! There will also be a separate BBQ for roasting halloumi (vegetarian option). The meat supplied will be from the local farm shop, great-quality, free-range and the portions generous.
Free tea, coffee and hot chocolate (self-service) will be available all weekend in the clubhouse. There will also be refrigerated (cow and oat) milk available to children wanting cereal for breakfast.
Shelter:
Tents are to be pitched in our group area. For anyone who hasn’t camped before, try to borrow one perhaps? If families have larger tents, it might be possible to share? This will be left to you all to discuss and arrange privately.
Entertainment:
The freedom to explore will be enough for many, but Cudham Shaws do offer a few organised activities, we have booked grass-sledging, archery and badge-making. The hire cost of each activity has been divided equally between the maximum number of participants, so places are capped.
There will be a roaring campfire at dusk, with marshmallows (although you’ll probably want to bring more…). If anyone with a talent for music wishes to bring an instrument, please do!
Please note: It is extremely important that children understand how to behave safely when near the campfire, for their own benefit and that of others. Parents and carers are asked to discuss this with the children and supervise accordingly.
Simple toys and games like kites, tennis/badminton sets, Pétanque etc could be useful, they will be played away from the main campfire area in the open field. We aim to provide some woodland craft ideas too..
Sunday:
After a lazy breakfast and a few more hours of play, it will inevitably be time to pack up and leave.
There will be instructions at the clubhouse on where to take rubbish, recycling, bbq ash etc.
We have a group responsibility to respect the site and leave all facilities spotless.
By joining this community camp you are sharing the responsibility for these less exciting, but necessary duties. Please feel free to contribute as and when you are able. Thank you.
Hopefully this will answer some of your questions, please feel free to speak to Laura Tully, Sharon Newbury or email contact@ptalafontaine.org.uk with anything further. A suggested packing list is also attached for anyone needing suggestions or who is new to camping.
Beware, you might just LOVE camping and have to come every year!