The North Essex Centre

Was well and truly open for business!   With their arms wide open this team welcomed all onto this venue with a warm embrace. Birch Park is a long used venue for us and is situated just a few miles from Colchester Zoo. This site has history dating back as far as 1066 although more modern buildings are 1830 .   We arrived midway at 1400  😃 entering just past the old gate keepers lodge. We already knew that the site was extremely dry due to the prolonged dry spell, so no charcoal BBQ’s this time.   A good number had booked on and the venue was quite full already, even at this early hour. Event No : 31 18th-20th July 2025 Once settled members made their way over to the new marques with chairs, drinks and nibbles. Straight away we noticed something new!!! Modern technology is starting to provide equipment to enhance what we do when operating remotely i.e. with no electricity.    These relatively new rechargeable portable power stations are now avail...

  Event 29 11th-13th July 2025 Just 25 miles from Colchester are Stonham Barns, a quick drive up the A12 and A14 gets you there in no time. This venue has changed massively over the years, moving on from just an Owl Sanctuary with attached camp site to something quite unique. Long gone is the old caravan site which squeezed in as many as possible.   Now there is a new vast area which must be 25 acres at least.   It boasts two toilet/shower blocks both with washing up areas.   The camp site is probably split 50/50 with EHU on one half while the other is just field for non-EHU. Boasting many facilities including : Tea Rooms, Café 24, Golf, Fishing, Garden Centre and a Shopping Village there is no reason to be bored on any visit. Our marshals this weekend were Tanya & Steve and Lynn & Den who, a s usual, greeted us with their warm welcome and smiles. We were sited next to some new ralliers! While it is always nice when new ralliers with children arrive...

 Event 27 : 4th-6th July 2025 For those that were wondering......  A “Dirty Weekend in Weely” was all about the film Dirty Dancing. Those that thought otherwise, you were so wrong!! In a changed venue to that originally advertised, Grange Farm at Thorpe-Le-Soken is a new site for us.  Set well away from any roads with just a train line in the distance, this lovely country side location is comprising of many acres nestled amongst crop growing farm land.  It hosts three separate ‘camping’ areas, these are “Oak”, Cherry Trees” and Brambles.  All were very well maintained with new and very clean toilet and shower blocks.  All pitches as far as I could see had EHU. Although a commercial site, it still has that small feeling and of being secluded in the wonderful Essex countryside. There are some nice little touches of model birds dotted around all three sites.   Its things like this that show the owners care and make the site what it is, charming is a w...

Event 26 27th-29th June 2025 On what was probably the hottest weekend of the year a small group of members attended the Fun & Laughter event at Fen Farm Hintlesham. This is another of those little hidden gems we have in our programme.   Tucked away behind a commercial fishery this venue has matured over the years into something a little bit special. With well maintained grounds and a secluded area for our event, it makes for a great place to spend the weekend.   Views across the lake with geese, herons and multiple bird songs in the air, these are just a few of the sounds and sights of our wonderful local countryside. Our marshals this weekend, Dawn & Kevin have run this event for several years now and always provide a calm and welcoming atmosphere.   With plenty of room, everyone parked with ease and quickly settled into relaxation mode. Friday evening was warm, so everyone gathered with their chairs in the open air and chatted late into the evening. ...