I've had a think about that since getting home. I think CiA events are as well known (and enjoyed) for the social side as they are for the gaming side of things and people look forward to them almost as much as the game itself. I don't think if I were a paying punter, I'd want to not have a social the night before a 1 day game. It's the only thing that puts a damper on the site as a venue, as it's got real potential for us.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Tricky isn't it - of course some events attract a lot of over-nighters but not everyone attends the social. But you are right, it is part of what makes our events and event, not just another game.
From the conversation we had today I got the impression that the use of the site for airsoft is tolerated by the FC but hated by the locals, so there is some 'treading on eggshells' here. With this in mind I think it would be unlikely CA would ask for permission for us to be able to camp over - even if FC are unlikely to say no. For the FC definitely DO allow camping http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/cfutravel/4433191.Northants_makes_a_pleasant_change/
Yes, the FC are pretty accomodating for wild camping. The only thing they don't like you doing is lighting fires (they'd have had a heart attack if they'd seen us at CR!). So, I agree it is probably CA being a bit cagey about an already tense relationship with the locals.
It may be worth calling the Fineshade camping site to enquire about the wild camping area. I've trawled the net and can't find anytihng about it.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
The local Forestry Commission, being well ahead of the latest festival trends, has long been offering glamping (or glamourous camping) in Far Markham’s area of the woodland. Based on a Danish design and built by local craftsmen, you may stumble across a cluster of timber sleeping shelters on your amble through the forest.
Able to sleep between five and eight people with sleeping bags, the roofed but open sided shelters enable you to truly experience the forest at night. The camping area is equipped with tables, a fire site and compost toilet to make for easy living. Due to their popularity with youth groups and schools, advance booking for the shelters is essential.
http://www.nayc.org/view/newsdetails.php?groupid=2&newsid=99
http://fenlaners.blogspot.com/2008/04/fineshade-log-shelters.html
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebNewsReleases/A7A3A4CC5DFBD5A88025749F0045146A
Our ‘laeskurs’ are designed for organisations like Scouts, Guides, ramblers, cycle clubs, or any group that has public liability insurance.The shelters can each sleep up to eight adults. They are weather-proof and come complete with environmentally-friendly composting loos.
“There are facilities for building camp fires too. The two sites, which are around 12 miles apart, provide the perfect setting for folk wanting to experience real forest living.Near the Fineshade camp we also have our Top Lodge visitor centre, which offers a huge range of education and recreational facilities. People have to book the laeskurs in advance. But all we charge is a one-off £25 administration fee.â€
Ah! Your google-fu is strong David! 18 bed spaces isn't a lot but, better than nothing and £25 is nothing. Mind you, after dark, in October, there won't be any ramblers about! I'd quite happily sleep outside a shelter in my bivi bag if the space was needed, especially if we built a big fire.
Edit -" The shelters are open-fronted structures made from locally sourced timber, with roofs of grass. They are to be used for sleeping as an alternative, or in addition to, tents. "
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Ah, all the elements there then - adjacent to site, fires, shelters, tents, loo, £25.
Worth following up!
Whos' PLI would we use though? Not everyone has AFRA. Would AFRA even cover anyone for camping out in the forest?
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Yes, AFRA would cover the member. So one possibility is that over-nighers have to have AFRA membership OR more sensibly, see if CA think their PLI will cover this (they aren't usually tied down to a particular location/boundary).
Making overnight camping an AFRA "members only" thing would help keep the numbers sensible (or create a flood of AFRA applications! 
).
Dave, can yourself or Steve contact the CA chaps to enquire about it? They know you guys better than me at the moment. It's starting to get complicated before we've even got a rough outline of a gameplan!
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Just a thought , as we're not playing in the Laskars, why not blag it a bit . If we ask Dalby for a copy of the
PLI certificate to wave about and invite him along , I'm sure he wouldn't mind us blagging a bit as he's a bit bend the rules himslef . Its not for play just camping ?
I have a copy of the certificate as do all members - however, no way we can 'blag' this. PD wouldn't even entertain it. AFRA PLI insurance pertains to individual members, not groups. If something happened not only would the AFRA thing blow up but we would also be personally liable to be sued. No thanks.
Ill ask Tony if they will cover it.
Hmmm, don't know how to answer this:
Chris and I were thinking of having another simple WW2 themed day perhaps in March/April. would this be worth doing do you think. It would be a chance for folk to get out and play. We would have this as an extra event on our calender.
Let me know what you think
regards
Tony
It would scupper the 'new site' thing for our game!
It would scupper the 'new site' thing for our game!
Most definitely.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
I have a copy of the certificate as do all members - however, no way we can 'blag' this. PD wouldn't even entertain it. AFRA PLI insurance pertains to individual members, not groups. If something happened not only would the AFRA thing blow up but we would also be personally liable to be sued. No thanks.
Ill ask Tony if they will cover it.
we were talking about camping on a campsite FFS . .....
Yes, exactly - we need PLI for camping. Waving a 'certificate' and pretending we have PLI is fraud.
Why do they require PLI for camping?! The world's gone mad!
S
Probably because their insurers insist on it - spreads the liability!
I hate insurers. I wish them all dead...and ironically uninsured for it.
Ditto - the country is insured so many times over it is nothing short of legalised extortion. The FC has its own PLI, it has to. There is no reason for insurance to be duplicated except that insurers want to be able to jointly fund claims and effectively increase total premiums paid. Same thing happens at reenactment shows!
