Biblins Youth Campsite Terms and Conditions
Biblins Youth Campsite is owned by Forestry England and managed by The Woodcraft Folk.
To benefit children and young people, The Woodcraft Folk aims to:
- Support more children and young people to enjoy residential experiences at Biblins
- Provide appropriate information to group leaders, to ensure children and young people have a safe stay at Biblins
Who can stay on-site?
Due to the effect of Coronavirus restrictions, Forestry England have granted a temporary change of lease to allow Family and Household Camping alongside Youth and Community Groups for the 2021 season.
How to book?
All bookings will be made via the dedicated on-line Booking System, available via the following link to the Biblins website:-
https://www.biblins.org.uk/bookings-search/
On-screen prompts will guide you through the booking process. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact us directly by email at biblins@woodcraft.org.uk
Your booking will remain provisional until a 25% deposit is paid. This is due 30 days after making the initial booking.
The Final Balance payment is due 14 days before the actual event.
If any details of the booking are subject to change before the actual event, then the Final Balance Invoice will reflect these amendments.
The on-line booking system will send automatic reminders when payments are due, plus receipts and confirmations for payments received.
Whilst we will always try to respect the requested pitch allocation, this remains subject to change, in response to conditions on-site. If it does become necessary to amend the allocated pitch, we will inform affected groups as soon as possible.
Due to certain restrictions with the on-line booking system, any groups wishing to make bookings for large camps – more than 60 campers – are requested to contact us directly, by email, at biblins@woodcraft.org.uk to discuss their requirements further.
All information provided to the Woodcraft, to make a booking at Biblins, will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy. This can be accessed via the following link:
Charges
The Woodcraft Folk aims to keep all prices as low as financially viable, to ensure that Biblins remains an affordable location for all groups.
For 2021, charges are as follows:-
- Camping Guests – £5 per person, per night
- The Burrow – £150 per night, for up to 19 guests
- Herf’s Barn – £25 per day (24 hours)
- Toilets and Showers – Free of charge
- Firewood – £10 per night or £40 for 4 to 7 nights – please use responsibly
- Canoe launch – £2 per boat (see below for more info)*
- Parking – £2 per vehicle per 24 hours
- Camp Koodoo (Semi-Permanent Camp) – £8.50 per person, per night, subject to a minimum fee of £200 per night.
- Day-Visitors – £2 per person per day
*Canoe Launch Charges – For Campers with their own boats, the charge will be £2.00 per boat, for unlimited launches during residency.
For non-campers, or campers using an external canoe company, the charge will be £2.00 per boat for each activity session.
Activity Providers may also buy an Annual Launch Permit, to cover all launch fees for the season – please enquire by email at biblins@woodcraft.org.uk for further details.
Arrivals and Departures
All groups are requested to adhere to the following arrival and departure times, to ensure a smooth change-over of occupancy on-site – especially during busy periods.
- Normal arrival time = After 2:00pm
- Normal departure times = Before noon
Alternative arrival and departure times can be agreed, especially to support larger groups, for set up / removal of camping equipment – please enquire by email at biblins@woodcraft.org.uk for further details.
Please note that there may be additional fees if extended timings prevent us from hiring pitches to other customers.
Day visitors
To help maintain Social Distancing and Group “Bubbles” we are not allowing extra day visitors during 2021.
A “group day charge” will be made for any group participating in day activities on-site. A price will be agreed upon application but will be based on the space used on site and any support required for the activity.
Exclusive use
Exclusive use of the entire site can be arranged, for a minimum fee of £1,500 per night.
Payment
Invoices will be issued for a Deposit; a Final Balance, and any additional fees.
We would prefer invoices to be paid either via the on-line payment link provided within the booking system, or by BACS transfer to the account as detailed on all invoices.
The deposit will be calculated as 25% of the Total Value of the booking.
Deposit invoices must be paid within 30 days of booking, to secure your reservation.
Final Balance Invoices are due for payment 14 days before the actual camp.
Groups who incur additional costs (increased numbers, car parking, canoe launch, firewood, etc.) will be issued with additional invoices, as necessary, following the visit.
Cancellations and Refunds
If a group requests a cancellation and an alternative date is not booked, their Deposit payment will be forfeit.
For cancellations made by a group within 2 weeks of the camping event, a charge of 50% of the total fee will be levied.
Where a cancellation is made, by Biblins Campsite, due to site closure for safety reasons, or other unforeseen circumstances, or by the imposition of Government restrictions, then groups will be offered the opportunity to re-book on alternative dates. If the alternative dates are not acceptable then a full refund of ALL payments will be made.
If a group is prevented from camping by an order from any of:
Their National Ruling Body;
The National Youth Agency;
The Department for Education,
we will offer the opportunity to re-book on alternative dates. If the alternative dates are not acceptable then a full refund of ALL payments will be made.
In the unlikely event that a group is required to leave the site, due to unacceptable behaviour, no refunds will be made.
Internet connection
There is no internet connection on site.
Telephone and mobile signal
An emergency land-line telephone is located on the exterior wall of the Warden’s cabin, for use by groups, to call the Emergency Services. Please note that there is no reliable mobile phone signal on site. Network signal is available at the King Arthur’s Cave car park, at the top of the access track.
Litter and waste
All groups are responsible for their own waste and we ask all guests to leave the site as they found it.
Bins are provided for recycling and general waste.
At Biblins you can recycle – paper; cardboard; plastics; metal and glass.
Cleaning during your stay
Woodcraft Folk believes in co-operation and expects all guests to look after the site during their stay.
This includes:
- Keeping the toilet and shower block clean and tidy.
- Picking up your litter
- Placing waste in the bins provided (this should be done regularly to prevent animals being attracted to food waste)
- Placing tools in secure boxes
On departure
- Leave no trace
- Return all unused firewood to the wood store
- Ensure the toilet and shower block is left clean and tidy
- Make sure all waste is placed in the bins provided
Groups should leave the site as they found it, ensuring they take all their equipment home with them.
Damages
Biblins and Woodcraft Folk are not responsible for injuries to individuals or damage to their property whilst on site. Please take precautions to ensure that you and your equipment are safe and secure.
We are aware that accidents do happen and, inevitably, Biblins campsite fixtures, fittings and equipment will suffer unintentional damage at the hands of campers. All damages should be reported to the on-site warden, so that they may be rectified as soon as possible.
Whilst we will not normally charge for accidental damage, we reserve the right to levy a charge to any groups found responsible for damage caused by misuse or deliberate intent.
Firewood
Groups are welcome to have open fires in the pits and stoves provided. Firewood is available alongside the warden’s cabin. Please only take what you need and return any wood that you do not burn. A fee of £10 per night will be levied for firewood, up to a maximum of £40 per week (7 nights on-site).
Please do not forage for wood in the surrounding forest and DO NOT attempt to light any fires within the woods. The forest is an SSSI and needs to be protected.
There is a designated area within the woods, where fires and Bushcraft activities may be carried out – please enquire for further details.
Quiet times
For the benefit of other campers and our neighbours on-site, we require that all groups observe the site quiet-time, between 10pm and 7am. We also do not permit amplified music at any time. The duty warden will remind any groups, who are being discourteous, of this requirement
Canoe launch
The Biblins canoe launch is available for use by prior arrangement. All groups using the canoe launch should be under the supervision of a qualified instructor. If you need local recommendations for activity providers, please see the Biblins Web Site.
To help us maintain the track and launch point, we charge £2 per boat to use this facility. See the charges section on page 2 for more information on launch fees.
River Access
The only permissible access to the River Wye, from Biblins Camp Site, is via the Canoe Launch facility. This is for access to the river in boats only and is NOT to be used for swimming. At all other locations, the bank and shore of the River are in private ownership and access is NOT permitted.
These restrictions have been applied by the owners of the river-bed and banks and neither the Staff nor the duty Wardens at Biblins Campsite have any authority to overrule them.
Climbing Crag
The climbing crag, behind the eastern toilet block, may be booked by any groups camping at Biblins. It is a first-come, first-served facility. All groups must be accompanied by a qualified instructor, who must make their own assessment as to the safety of the crag and suitability for the group using it.
Individuals are not permitted to access the crag without a qualified instructor and access will remain locked and gated. If you require guidance on acceptable climbing qualifications, please enquire by email at biblins@woodcraft.org.uk for further details.
Access to the site
The local road access to Biblins campsite is narrow and winding, so please drive with care. The local roads are suitable for minibuses, with frequent passing places. The final descent into Biblins is along a Forestry Commission access road – please drive here with extreme caution, looking out for walkers, wildlife and forestry vehicles. Please close the two barrier gates behind you as you proceed.
The lower barrier will be locked between 10pm and 7.30am. There is to be no vehicular movement on site between these hours. The upper barrier is normally left unlocked but must be closed after use.
Coach access to the site can be arranged from the Monmouthshire side of the river. See the Biblins Website for full details.
Parking on-site
Biblins encourages lift sharing to reduce traffic on site.
A parking charge of £2 per 24 hours will be levied for each vehicle parked on-site during your stay.
Groups are encouraged to park alongside the campsite track, close to their pitch. For the safety of all campers, a 10MPH speed Limit applies whilst driving on site. Please be vigilant for walkers and wildlife.
There is an overflow car park, at the entrance of the site, near the Bunkhouse, and at busy times we may ask guests to use this instead of parking cars on site.
When a yellow weather warning is in place, for snow and ice, we ask that all vehicles are parked at the King Arthur’s Cave car park, at the top of the access track, to prevent vehicles becoming stranded on site.
BBQs and cooking on site
Groups are welcome to BBQ on-site and should take appropriate fire safety precautions. All BBQs should be raised off the ground. Several bricks are available at the warden’s cabin to support you to do this.
Fire pits may also be used for open fire cooking.
Smoking
SMOKING IS PROHIBITED on site. This includes all cigarettes; cigars; pipes and e-cigarettes.
A designated smoking area can be found just off-site, in the overflow car park near the Bunkhouse.
Drugs, alcohol and other intoxicating substances
Biblins Campsite has adopted and will adhere to, the Woodcraft Folk Drug and Alcohol Policy. For further details, please see:-
http://woodcraft.org.uk/resources/drugs-alcohol-tobacco-and-intoxicating-substances-policy
Dogs
Dogs are NOT PERMITTED at Biblins Camp Site. Only registered assistance dogs will be allowed to camp, or stay in any of the buildings at Biblins.
Members of the public are permitted to walk their dogs along the public footpath, through the centre of the site. All such dogs are required to be kept on a lead and their owners are required to pick up after their dogs. Please report any irresponsible dog owners to the duty warden.
Essential equipment
All campers should bring everything they need for an enjoyable stay – except when staying in Camp Koodoo, where only sleeping and other personal equipment will be required.
Please be aware that there is very limited lighting on-site, so a Torch is essential.
Please also note that we DO NOT provide Toilet Rolls or Soap in the showers and toilets – so please make sure to bring your own!
Covid-19 safety requirements
To prevent the spread of Covid-19 all guests must abide by the following instructions:
- Do Not attend if they have symptoms linked to Covid-19
- Do Not attend if they have had contact with someone who has developed symptoms in the last 10 days
- Inform a warden or staff member if you, or any of your party, develop symptoms linked to Covid-19
- Leave site if you, or any of your party, develops symptoms whilst on site
- Use the Track and Trace QR Code upon your arrival
- Only use the bathroom stalls allocated to them
- Social distancing must be adhered to – you must remain 2m away from all other site guests
- Use a face covering in shared areas
- Use hand-washing facilities provided immediate adjacent to shared areas
- Follow cleaning and usage instructions for shared areas
- Follow the instructions of on-site staff and wardens
We have developed a detailed risk assessment to manage Covid-19 risks, which includes:
- Increased cleaning
- Leaving properties vacant between guests
- Greeting guests outside
- Reducing the number of site users
- Avoiding shared equipment
- Allocating guests to different bathrooms, or stalls within shared bathrooms
- Providing hand washing facilities
Safety on site
All group leaders are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in their care whilst on site.
Group leaders are encouraged to make their own risk assessments of all aspects of their stay and ensure you have appropriate measures in place to deal with an accident or emergency.
Significant aspects to consider in any Risk Assessment:
- Proximity of the River Wye
- Weather conditions
- Public footpath through the campsite
- Cliffs along the campsite edge and throughout the forest