Couple's caravan site is best in UK

By Sarah Chambers

THE nation's caravanners have chosen a bloom-filled garden in East Anglia as their favourite haven in Britain.

Members of the Caravan Club voted Stoneyways in Bredfield, near Woodbridge, as their top destination in a national competition.

Stoneyways owners Roy and Hilda Griggs, both 72, said they were "over the moon" about the accolade.

Mrs Griggs added: "Really and truly, it's just a hobby, but we enjoy it. We talk to everyone and are on first-name terms."

Caravanners enjoy their stay so much that many return year after year, and the couple have made many friends among them.

Mr Griggs said they would get something like 100 Christmas cards every year from their visitors.

"We treat everybody the same," he added.

Stoneyways is a certificated location, which means up to five caravans, motor caravans or trailer tents belonging to Caravan Club members are allowed to use the site at any one time.

There are around 2,600 certified locations throughout the UK visited by the Caravan Club's 850,000 membership.

The Griggs have thrown open part of their two-acre garden to their fellow caravanners for about the past 17 years and in that time have notched up several awards. They have been regional winners in the award and came second nationally last year.

Their garden includes a duck pond with a Monet-style bridge and a goldfish pond, and the site attracts a wide variety of birds and wildlife.

The couple are keen gardeners and Mr Griggs enjoys woodturning, with visitors often gathering to watch him at work.

They travelled to the House of Commons in London for the awards ceremony and were presented with a trophy and a cheque for £500 by Tim Yeo, South Suffolk MP and shadow environment and transport secretary.

The awards have traditionally been held at Westminster in recognition of the fact that it was Parliament that opened the doors to certified locations through the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

sarah.chambers@eadt.co.uk