FOREST HOLIDAYS - KEY FACTS - About Forest Holidays

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

Who are Forest Holidays?
Forest Holidays offer naturally inspired short breaks and holidays in
luxury cabins and treehouses, situated in beautiful forests in nine
locations across the UK, operating entirely and exclusively within the
Public Forest Estate.

Forest Holidays is a joint venture – a Public/Private Partnership. It is
co-owned by the Forestry Commission and private equity firm Lloyds
Development Capital (LDC).

What is Forest Holidays’ relationship with the Forestry
Commission?
Forest Holidays and the Forestry Commission have worked together
since the 1970s and share goals of protecting and enhancing the forest
environment and wildlife for the long term.

Forest Holidays operates exclusively on the Public Forest Estate, with
a 125 year lease on the land on which the cabins are based.

Significant rental income is returned by Forest Holidays to the
Forestry Commission to sustain the UK’s forests. This arrangement of
public and private co-operation allows the Forestry Commission to
generate funds without being diverted from its core focus.

We create £2m per year for the Forestry Commission. The rent we pay
is per cabin and the figure is index-linked so will rise in line with
inflation. This arrangement gives the Forestry Commission security
over the long term.
Forest Holidays has a long term vision, supporting the goals of the
Forestry Commission by opening up recreational opportunities,
generating substantial economic benefits for local communities and
providing the resources to look after the environment and wildlife.

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

Where are Forest Holidays’ cabin locations?
Forest Holidays’ has nine cabin locations in England and Scotland.

In England:
• Deerpark, Cornwall – 45 cabins
• Keldy, North Yorkshire – 59 cabins
• Cropton, North Yorkshire – 57 cabins
• The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire –120 cabins
• Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire – 82 cabins
• Blackwood Forest, Hampshire – 60 cabins
• Thorpe Forest, Norfolk – 63 cabins

In Scotland
• Ardgartan Argyll, Argyll & Bute – 40 cabins
• Strathyre, Stirlingshire – 45 cabins

What activities are on offer?
Guests can participate in a range of outdoor activities, both on-site
and in the surrounding areas.

All Forest Holidays locations have a dedicated Forest Ranger who will
deliver a unique programme of Forest Ranger activities, from Night
Vision to Bush Skills. Forest Ranger activities provide guests of all ages
with fun and informative activities based around the forest
environment.

Third party activities such as pony trekking, canoeing and archery can
be booked at reception. Plus, there are plenty of forest trails to cycle
and woodland walks to follow. Forest Holidays’ friendly team members
have lots of local knowledge and can point guests in the right
direction.

What about more relaxing options?
A Forest Holiday has something for everyone, if you’ve come to relax

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

we have some great options for you.
The majority of Forest Holidays’ cabins have private hot tubs, perfect
for relaxing, whatever the weather! Pampering in-cabin spa
treatments can be arranged for the ultimate in relaxation and some
locations even offer the luxury of a private chef service!
All cabins are equipped with traditional board games for those not-so-
sunny days, as well as TVs in every cabin, which, when coupled with
our entertainment package, mean access to wi-fi and lots of films and
TV shows.

Is it easy to purchase food and drinks?
The central hub of each location is the Forest Retreat. Hosting a store,
eatery, bar and reception, the Forest Retreat serves high quality
locally-sourced produce, hot snacks and meals and is a great place to
stop for a coffee or bite to eat.
We reflect the individuality of the region in our Forest Retreat shop
because it is what our guests expect and enjoy. Local supply also fits
with our endeavours to support the local communities around our
locations and we also encourage visitors to go out and about to
explore the surrounding area and experience local restaurants, pubs,
cafes and attractions.

Are there plans to introduce more cabin locations?
Absolutely. We are always on the lookout for new opportunities,
although we’re currently not building any new locations.

What types of accommodation does Forest Holidays offer?
Forest Holidays provides cabins at four different levels – from one bed
cabins to luxurious Treehouses, sleeping up to 10 people.

Golden Oak cabins, Treehouses and Hideaways:

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

•   Our luxurious Golden Oak is our top of the range cabin complete
    with luxury robes and slippers in the master en-suite, towels for all
    guests, log burner and hot tub.
•   The highly sought-after Golden Oak Treehouse extension is
    available at six of the English locations sleeping up to 10 people
    (available at Sherwood Forest, Thorpe Forest, Blackwood Forest,
    Forest of Dean, Deerpark and Keldy).
•   Built exclusively for couples, the Golden Oak Hideaway is a cosy
    love-nest, complete with hot tub, log burning stove, a hammock on
    the decking and – for a touch of sheer decadence – a large, sunken
    bath, big enough for two with a panoramic night-sky window!

Silver Birch cabins:

•   The next level is Silver Birch cabins which also offer an outdoor hot
    tub and stylish furnishings.

Copper Beech cabins:

•   The Copper Beech is our entry level cabin and is great for an active
    family holiday, providing all the essentials and a great place to kick
    back and relax after a hard days exploring. We also have a
    wheelchair adapted cabin available at each location.

What is Forest Holidays’ target audience?
Forest Holidays customers come from all walks of life. They are those
that enjoy the peaceful, quiet environment and value the natural
experience that the forest has to offer.

Our customers range from families, wishing to spend quality time
together (pre-school, school age, multi-generational), to couples
wishing to escape the rat race and empty nesters who can have a
peaceful time out of the main holiday seasons. Dog owners and their
dogs love Forest Holidays and 40% of our cabins are pet-friendly.

Forest Holidays philosophy is about access for all – the diversity of our

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

offering results in a year round product.

How do you protect the forest?
The importance of protecting and respecting the forest and its wildlife
for the long term is enshrined in our company values.
We have a unique approach to building our cabins which ensures
minimal impact on the surrounding forest. Our experienced in-house
team supported by local and national external experts, plan, design
and build cabin locations in harmony with the forest.

The design of each site is dictated by the sensitivities and balance of
the forest ecosystem and the cabins are built to the highest
environmental standards. The aim is to gently blend the cabins and
infrastructure into the forest, retaining and enhancing the woodland,
its wildlife and their habitats.

Cabins arrive on location as architecturally designed and expertly
engineered modular timber units and are carefully assembled between
the trees.

They are not built on traditional and invasive concrete bases or strip
foundations; they are raised on steel piles placed vertically into the
ground. This protects the forest floor, ensures that nearby trees are
protected and minimises soil movement. It also means that rainwater
drains into the forest floor naturally.

We continually monitor the work on-site, throughout the build process,
to guide and assist our build team.

How eco-friendly is Forest Holidays?
The Forest lies at the heart of everything that Forest Holidays does.
Working with a light touch to create minimal disruption has created an
industry leading model which sets the standard for enterprise within
forests.

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

All new Forest Holidays cabins have strong green credentials and the
business is committed to a process of continuous improvement in this
area.

For example, we use green heating systems which are either wood
pellet boilers or air source heat pumps with associated internal under
floor heating. This is supported by insulation and double glazing to
specifications in excess of standard building regulations.

We also install low energy appliances, low energy lighting and passive
infra-red sensors in cabins. Externally, we have almost no night time
lighting at our locations. The few lights we have are low intensity
down-lighters, in order to keep light pollution to a minimum

Holder Mathias, the architects behind our most recent cabins, were
awarded the Green Apple Award’ in recognition of their pioneering
approach to designing sustainable cabins for Forest Holidays. The
company have created a unique concept, designing cabins to fit
sensitively into Forestry Commission woodlands around the country.
All of our cabins are built putting the environment first, retaining and
enhancing the woodland, its wildlife and their habitats.
The concept developed by Holder Mathias has been a huge success,
forming the basis of the identity of our holidays. Our cabins nestle
amongst the trees and allow our guests to enjoy a luxury experience in
the heart of nature, whilst retaining the peace and natural beauty of
the woodland environment.
The cabins have been built using FSC timber, which operate a
sustainable replanting policy and all blend in with the natural forest
environment.

What differentiates Forest Holidays from other outdoor
holiday companies?
Forest Holidays offer a more authentic holiday experience. By
holidaying in the middle of a real forest, you feel far more connected
with nature and can enjoy the forest itself as a natural playground. It’s

FOREST HOLIDAYS – KEY FACTS

a chance to disconnect and enjoy great family time. There is no jam-
packed schedule of activities, allowing our guests the freedom of
choice and the opportunity to tailor their holiday to their own lifestyle.

Awards
We are very proud of the awards we have received in recognition of
our high standards. Listed below are just a few of our recent awards
and accreditations:
Beautiful South Awards 2016 – Silver Award for Best Dog Friendly
Accommodation – Blackwood Forest, Hampshire

Beautiful South Awards 2016 – Silver Award for Best Self Catering
Provider – Blackwood Forest, Hampshire

Family Traveller Awards 2016 –Best Eco/Sustainable
Accommodation for Families

Scottish Thistle Awards 2015/16 – Best Holiday Accommodation-
Argyll

For more information, please visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

For further press information contact Yasmin Sethna on 020 8630 9487 or email
yasmin@voyagerpr.co.uk