09 Jun COVID-19 – crazy times

Thought I’d start updating the blog regularly again, now that things have calmed down slightly. I say calmed down, but the reality in our house, as I’m sure it is for many, is complete chaos. With a 5 year old at home and trying to juggle work work, a college qualification, home schooling and running a business, it’s not been easy. We have been so lucky compared to some – my bell tent hire business is purely a side line at the moment ( one day I’d LOVE for it to be my main income ) so when we went into lockdown and knew we wouldn’t be able to carry out our bookings for this year, it wasn’t complete devastation. It was, however, so disappointing to know that everything we’d been working so hard for was just going to have to wait, something that as a nation we’ve had to get used to now – waiting. Waiting to see our friends and family, waiting for shops to repopen, for businesses to revive, for schools to reopen, to go on holiday…

We’ve had to improvise – we waited for restrictions to ease and then decided to offer up our tents to the local community for free. Self – pitching and asking for donations and giving 50% of those donations to our local community scrubs team, was a great success. I didn’t want all our tents just sitting gathering dust and not being used and with so many families with children at home, some with cancelled holidays or birthdays in lockdown, I just wanted to spread a little joy.

We’ve gradually started returning to zero contact pitched bookings of our blank canvas tents, again, a great success. We’ve also started to look forward to next year and all the wonderful events and parties we will be involved in. We have glamping villages for weddings, for hen parties, and for family weekend retreats. We have birthday parties, anniversaries and baby showers… we cannot wait for 2021!

In the meantime, we’ve also talked to so many local suppliers who we cannot wait to collaborate with next year. I’ve included some links below to local businesses who would all be a perfect addition to our bell tents, to add that something special! Check them out below.

Stay safe everyone and hopefully see many of you soon

Ruth

https://www.facebook.com/lowgingerfield/ – Low Gingerfield Farm

Gill runs a beautiful B&B just outside Richmond, North Yorkshire. Small, outdoor rustic wedding and events are her thing and we cannot wait to work with Gill next year to provide Glamping Villages for her wedding and family weekends.

https://www.totemtipi.co.uk/ –  Totem Tipi

If you’re after a tipi wedding in North Yorkshire, look no further than these guys. Beautiful tipis, fantastic customer service, everything you need for your outdoor wedding or celebration. Perfect with a village of bell tents for your guests!

http://bedalebubbles.co.uk/ – Bedale Bubbles hot tub hire

Why not add a hot tub to your bell tent booking? A super luxury addition to a hen party, wedding, birthday or special event.

https://www.briarwoodrusticweddinghire.com/ Briarwood rustic wedding and events hire

Toni and Dave run a wonderful business hiring everything you need for a rustic wedding or event – from light up letters to crazy golf, fire pits to hay bales, look no further if you’re planning an outdoor wedding. The perfect addition to our bell tent glamping villages for weddings.

https://www.facebook.com/SipCoffeeLtd/ – Sip Coffee, Richmond

Wendy runs a gorgeous coffee shop in Richmond, North Yorkshire. With picnic options, afternoon teas and an amazing menu, why not treat yourselves to a sumptuous catering option for your bell tent party, birthday or celebration?

https://www.facebook.com/GlitterCritterz/ – Glitter Critterz glitter and facepaint

Tasha is THE BEST glitter and facepaint artist around ( my opinion and that of many others!) Together we offer The Glitter Tent to add something truly unique to your wedding or event. Hire Tasha for your party or celebration and your guests will just love her!