How to get your caravanning fix while still staying safe

This weekend marks the start of the Easter holidays and a traditional time to enjoy some caravan travel. Of course, it's a very different story this year, but although we may not be able to leave our homes currently, there are plenty of home camping and caravanning events around to help keep campers’ spirits up - while still respecting the lockdown.

And if your caravan isn't on your drive, why not set up in your living room or dust off the old tent you had before the kids were born?

Here Liz Morrell picks a few events you can get involved with:

The Great British Campout for NHS Staff
Saturday 4 April
The Great British Campout for NHS Staff encourages people to camp out in caravans, tents or motorhomes located in their own gardens or driveways. As an added bonus, it raises money for the NHS too. More than £12,000 has already been donated. The event encourages indoor and garden campers to donate £2 to NHS Charities Together via an associated JustGiving page.

A Facebook group was established earlier this week by Ian Alcorn. “The initial idea came from me wanting to do something with the kids at the weekend and treat them for all their hard work home learning,” he says.

He had hoped to try to raise £100 says he has been blown away by the response. As of Thursday, day four, there were more than 7,000 members of the group, more than 1,300 of whom had donated and an ever increasing total in the thousands. The event has even had a shout out from DJ Chris Evans.

Join the fun and donate via the Facebook group

StayHomeCamp
Friday 10 - Monday 13 April
Millets has teamed with camping bloggers Tentlife for its home camping event which will take place over the Easter Bank Holiday. They are encouraging everyone to be part of a wider camping community by getting out into the garden and camping and then sharing their pictures using the hashtag #StayHomeCamp.

Find out more on the Millets Facebook page

Easter Camp-In
Saturday 11 April
Retailer Cotswold Outdoor is planning a full day celebrating camping on Saturday 11 April. It is  encouraging people to share pictures of their home campsites and lockdown camping activities via the hash-tag #campingathome.

The retailer will be providing plenty of advice and tips beforehand as well as tutorials on subjects such as local wildlife and the night sky on the day itself.

For more information visit the Cotswold Outdoors website or join the Facebook group.

Big Little Tent Festival and Big Little TeaTime Festival
Wednesday 15 April then every Wednesday

The Caravan and Motorhome Club will hold the Big Little Tent Festival on Wednesday 15 April. The event was originally launched in 2015 as a way of encouraging people who had never been camping to try it in their back garden with all home comforts close at hand. Free downloadable festival packs are available including tips, recipes and lots to keep the children occupied. The club has also launched the Big Little TeaTime Festival to help families kept apart because of the lockdown to connect. Every Wednesday club members are being encouraged to have tea in their tents, caravans, motorhomes and campervans and connect with each other via video messaging, social media, or phone.

For more information, visit the Caravan And Motorhome Club website

Let us know what events you are taking part in – whether it’s a virtual campout with friends or just a family sleepover – and share your pictures on Facebook or Twitter pages or send to [email protected]