Fire & Stars director Matt Cropp describes how campsite visitors can be seen taking a deep breath and visibly relaxing when they first walk into the woodland for a break that offers a whole lot more for the body and soul

A man in black shirt and trousers peers through binoculars while his son points into the distance. — Fire and Stars director Matt Cropp with his son at the woodland campsite.

How many times have you heard the phrase: ‘I just need a break to get away from it all’ this year?

Especially in these challenging times of a pandemic, we all could do with a bit of time away relaxing and doing something different.

I consider myself very lucky to work somewhere that many people in 2021 have considered as their ‘ideal get away from it all’ place.

That’s just what we wanted to achieve at Fire & Stars Woodland and we have been thrilled by feedback from visitors this year who have enjoyed our 48-acre site.

Enjoy the outdoors

Because we are situated right in the middle of the country, we have had visitors from cities all over England who want to enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh oxygen through their lungs.

They have bought their families with them and told us that they have really enjoyed the peace and quiet too.

When people arrive at Fire & Stars, you can physically see their bodies relax.

They may arrive feeling tense and pent-up but we always take them for a walk through the woodland to get them acquainted with their surrounding and they visibly exhale and begin to loosen up.

We are surrounded by motorway networks in Leicestershire and we are easy to reach but when visitors get to the site, they really are in the middle of nature and people can tell that when they arrive.

National Forest

We are also lucky enough to be so well positioned for local tourism too. We are part of the National Forest and they do a great job of promoting tourism in the area.

There are some fantastic pubs and places to eat, there are great walking and cycling routes and our area is situated right on the national cycle path across the country.

There are zoos and farms within a short drive and other places of interest for adults and children too so there is plenty on our doorstep if people want to venture off the site during their stay. Of course, they are free to come and go as they please.

Of course, we like to think there is plenty to do on-site too and one of the parts of our site which attracted some of the best feedback during 2021 was the fire pit that we have in the middle of every single pitch.

There is a pub across the road from our site but the majority of people cook at least one meal on their fire during their stay. It’s something that families love doing together, especially the children who rarely get the chance to start, stoke and cook on a live fire in the woods.

What’s cooking?

One of my favourite questions to ask guests when they arrive is to see what there are planning to cook. I think burgers and a chilli are probably the two most popular creations.

It has been a fantastic year for us and it has been lovely to open up after restrictions were lifted and show people what we have to offer. As always, your support in supporting us has been invaluable.

Owning Fire & Stars Woodland is very rewarding. There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into converting it and managing it and there is nothing better than hearing people enjoying themselves and being happy in our wood.

It’s such a lovely feeling that we have created a space for people to enjoy and I have a feeling that 2022 is going to be even better.

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