The school summer holidays have begun and with tens of thousands of us about to take to canvas, a New Forest holiday park has released the ultimate campers’ list of essential things to pack for a UK break.

The five-star Sandy Balls Holiday Centre at Fordingbidge launched a Facebook campaign just a few weeks ago asking their expert ‘fans’ to add their packing essential to the list. 

The response was huge with the list of items ranging from a corkscrew and camera to a windbreak and wine as well as sponges, sun cream and even a hanging basket!

More than 150 items made their way to the list which can be seen in its entirety on Facebook and below.

“Camping has undergone a massive surge in popularity in recent years with an estimated 85 million nights now spent in caravans, tents, mobile homes, chalets and lodges every year,” says Sandy Balls MD Iain Brown. 

“Even celebrities like Jodie Kidd, Jamie Oliver and Kate Moss, have been seen on camping trips!  You do have to think about what you pack but it definitely isn’t a trial and our campers will tell you the bit of effort is well worth the reward for a break which takes you back to your childhood and keeps the kids both busy – and happy.”

 

A shopping bag

A sling or toddler carrier

A small inflatable paddling pool

After sun

Airbed pump

Airbed repair kit

Airbeds

Aluminium foil

Antibacterial wipes

Baked beans

Bath mat

Bats & balls

Batteries for torches

BBQ

BBQ grub

Beach towels

Beer

Bike locks

Bikes

Bin bags

Bottle opener

Boules 

Boxes of wine

Bug 'clicker'

Bungee hooks

Camera

Camp kettle

Carrier bags for rubbish and soggy things!

Cereal bowls

Citronella candle

Clothes pegs

Coax cable

Coffee

Colouring books

Cooking utensils

Coolbox

Crocs for wearing in the shower

Disinfectant spray

Disposable BBQ

Dog

Dry shampoo

Duct tape

DVDs

Ear plugs

Extra dishwasher tablets

Eye mask

Face paints

Fishing rod

Fishing tackle

Fleece blankets

Folding airer

Folding chairs

Frizbee

Frying pan and saucepan

Games

Gas for stove

Good friends

Hair strengtheners

Hairdryer

Hammer for the tent pegs

Head torches for children

Hot chocolate

Hot water bottle

Ipod

Ipod speakers

Ketchup           

Kid’s favourite teddy/blanket

Kids

Kitchen roll

Knives forks and spoons

Lantern

Laundry bag     

Lighter

Little tub of odd screws, nuts, bolts, insulation tape, etc

Mains lead                   

Map of the New Forest

Marshmallows

Matches

Mini first aid kit

Money

Oven glove

Pack-a-mac

Paper & pens

Paracetamol

Pegs

Peppa Pig DVDs

Phone charger

Pillows

Playing cards

Poo Bags for dogs

Pumps & puncture repair

Radio

Raincoats

Scissors

Screwdriver

Selection of good books

Sense of adventure

Sense of humour

Shower gel

Shampoo

Silver foil blanket

Sleeping bags

Slippers

Small dust-pan and brush

Small heater for the awning/tent

Small sponge

Socks

Solar lights for guy ropes

Solar lights/lanterns

Spam

Spare gas

Spare toilet rolls

Stove

Sun cream

Sunglasses

Sunshine!!!!

Sweets

Swimming gear

Table

Tea towel

Teabags and mugs a must

Tent

Tent building tool

Tent peg remover

Tent pegs

The carpet and hanging basket – for the height of decadence!

Tin opener

Tins of hot dogs, rolls, Nutri-grain bars, crisps

Toddlers dummy and comforter

Tomato sauce

Torch

Towels

Uno

Very large umbrella

Walkie talkies

Washing line

Washing up bowl

Washing-up liquid

Wasp/bug spray

Water containers

Watering can

Wee bucket for campers

Wellie boots

Wet wipes

Wind up lantern

Windbreaks

Wine

Written list of phone numbers

Zip ties