The dawning of a new year often brings renewed hope and anticipation for the forthcoming 12 months. I know it’s just an arbitrarily defined date but there’s something about starting anew that galvanizes us into tackling new projects, trying new things or simply addressing long-standing problems. Instead of making hard-to-achieve New Year’s Resolutions that founder within the first few months of 2017, turn to page 51 and read our all-new Suppliers and Services Directory instead! Our comprehensive directory is bigger and better than ever and lists experienced, trustworthy and reliable specialists in many a park home field. These include refurbishment companies, decking and verandah fitters, insurance providers, part-exchange firms and many more.
So, if you spent the lion’s share of 2016 procrastinating over whether to get your park home’s exterior reclad, pondering the best way to replace your ailing garden shed or simply umming and ahhing over who to choose to redecorate your living room – stop right there! Our directory has all the answers you’ll ever need!
But it’s not just our homes and gardens that need maintaining, protecting, updating or overhauling. No, we have to think about bank balances sometimes, too. If you are contemplating living la dolce vita on one of the UK’s premier parks, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge than now. Our special feature examines the landscape of post-Brexit vote Britain and, intriugingly, concludes that park living could see you on the side of the victors. Turn to page 99 to find out why, and how you could benefit.
As well as this, we visit two award-winning parks and get the lowdown from some fantastic people on what it is that makes a park’s social scene special.
Teena Ettridge scooped our inaugural Park Warden of the Year award for her sterling endeavours on Takeley Park, in Hertfordshire (see page 24). Teena tells us all about how she helps the park’s social club committee have more fun, on and off the site! We also travel to Staffordshire to meet big-hearted Peter Blakeway, chairman of Lower Lodge Park’s residents’ association (see page 10). He, too, has won a new PH&HC award: Resident of the Year 2016. This modest and unassuming chap doesn’t think it, but he’s a real park champion and we reveal how inside.
Enjoy the issue!
Alex Melvin, Editor
Email: phhc.ed@kelsey.co.uk
PS: Don’t miss our reader offer of 20 FREE Perennials worth a whopping £35 plus a great magazine subscription offer if you subscribe for 12 months!