What is The Camp Space?
The Camp Space
A rural community space providing outdoor camp and riding facilities for the Cornish equestrian community, but which can also be used by other local groups and visitors to the county.
Our vision
Is to create a safe, sustainable and enriching camp and riding facility to replace and surpass several such centres that have closed in Cornwall over the past decade. Most recently we’ve lost Chyverton Equestrian Centre at Zelah which for many years was the recognised base for local pony club, riding club and other group camps including those organised by Equestrian Camps South West. It is very much missed by the thousands of equestrians in the county who frequently benefited from this space.
Managed and developed by a Community Interest Company, The Camp Space will not just be created but our vision is for it to be left in trust and sustained for use by generations to come, so that the local equestrian community doesn’t end up losing its base again. 100% of profits will be reinvested back into The Camp Space, to develop and maintain camping and riding facilities that can be used primarily by horse riders of all ages and abilities but also other groups who require safe outdoor space to support their activities. A facility that could encompass formal training through to wild camping, creative workshops, bushcraft and confidence building activities.
Our aim is to promote positivity, inclusivity and connectivity, making every visit memorable. Encouraging visitors to The Camp Space to learn about themselves, connect with others and create lasting friendships, learning whilst doing and fostering a deep appreciation and understanding of the countryside.
Who we are
Director and riding instructor Lorraine Barnfield has been riding, teaching, working with horses and running successful equestrian and other enterprises in Cornwall for more than twenty five years. Her philosophy is to create the perfect values-based environment for others to connect and achieve in a non-judgemental and safe space. Independently of The Camp Space, she generates her own income stream through The Silkwood Workshops and Kitchens, a non-equine related business in Falmouth, connecting people through a love of crafting, connecting and good food, enabling them to avoid isolation and giving them a sense of belonging.
Equestrian Camps South West was founded by Lorraine back in 2014 to achieve precisely that for Cornish equestrians of all ages and she went on to hold 11 profitable camps each year at Chyverton, helping over 3,500 horse riders of all ages and abilities have great fun, connect, learn and grow. Many clients achieved more in partnership with their horse or pony than they ever dreamed would be possible and returned to camp year on year, often attending more than once a year.
Lorraine has an unrivalled track record in creating a safe and enriching immersive camp environment that enables campers, instructors and their equines to connect and achieve, whilst having great fun, being fed, and creating memories together in the great outdoors!
She is further supported by a voluntary team of passionate and knowledgeable equestrians and other professionals who have been on this equestrian camp journey with her from the outset and understand what is needed here in Cornwall, especially since losing the venue at Chyverton.
Why we need The Camp Space
We have seen a significant shift in how equestrians spend time with their horses and ponies. New health and safety rules have made competitions more expensive, and venue and transport hire costs have also increased. As evidenced by Equestrian Camps South West, camps and training days are popular as they prove more cost effective.
Our research shows that more people want to participate in fitness, strength and endurance challenges, and interest in things like survival training, forest schools, rural experiences and craft courses is at an all-time high. We could feasibly accommodate these and more at The Camp Space all year round, thus generating further income and profit than just from the equestrian camps.
What we need to do
Acquire between 8 and 20 acres of land for The Camp Space – a physical space that can ideally be purchased and therefore put in trust and secured for future generations (with Lorraine’s own financial investment preserved plus interest, should she exit the project – she currently has a property to sell, the proceeds of which will help to secure this land holding/required initial investment for The Camp Space). If an appropriate long-term lease for a suitable landholding could be negotiated, then this option would also be explored.
Set up our CIC as a legal entity with a Board of Directors/Trustees to protect The Camp Space and ensure that any funds raised in support of its acquisition, development and growth are administered in the most appropriate way.
Start promoting The Camp Space across multiple channels to build awareness and confidence in the value of proactively supporting us, attract new clients, partners and supporters, and transparently record our progress, successes and challenges.
How we intend achieving all this
Yes, this is ambitious and yes, we’ll explore investment, grants and other funding sources including philanthropic donations. We recognise that we can’t achieve this by ourselves so, in line with Lorraine’s philosophy of creating perfect environments for others to connect, we intend to continue bringing the equestrian community together (not necessarily with their trusty steeds) – to have fun, learn and develop, whilst collectively creating revenue to fund The Camp Space. As well as bigger events such as open days, riding talks/demonstrations and a ‘Celebration of the Horse’ experience, more regular events will include tack sales, quizzes, casino royale, beetle drives, bingo and craft fairs etc, depending what our supporters are willing to organise and get behind. Our events will be accessible to non-equestrians too, further building our advocacy network.
Fundraising has already begun with a Go Fund Me campaign in 2023 successfully raising £1082.00 to buy a mobile catering van to support any camps that we are able to deliver in the short term* and itself generate an income. Lorraine is currently equipping the van suitable for use in 2024. An open day event hosted by a valued Camp Space supporter in the Autumn of 2023 included a hosted stud facility demo day and raised a further £918.00 which has been earmarked to help fund events, purchase the land and build the required facilities we need to create a new camp space. We also have genuine offers of help towards planning applications and physically building facilities and installing services once land has been acquired for The Camp Space.
Whilst seeking to acquire a physical location for The Camp Space, we need to be raising funds for:
- Permanent stabling for up to 20 horses/ponies - 48k
- Two enclosed sand schools - 60k
- Cross country and show jumps 10k
- Toilet and shower facilities 10k
*If we can find somewhere to temporarily run equestrian camps in 2024 then this will further generate income towards The Camp Space whilst guaranteeing the host an income stream too. We have already approached many current Cornish equestrian facilities who have been hugely supportive but unfortunately no location has yet proved entirely suitable for overall equestrian camp requirements alongside their existing business activities – hence the need to secure The Camp Space.
The Camp Space will provide a much needed, sustainable facility for equestrian and other local groups and individuals seeking to safely enjoy outdoor activities and
enhance overall health and wellbeing here in beautiful Cornwall. Demand is high but facilities of this nature are in short supply and we are therefore confident in the feasibility of our business plan which presents social and economic benefits, with real opportunities for business growth and development.
So much can be achieved through partnership and collaboration and we need to bring our equestrian community together to support The Camp Space, as well as others who could equally benefit from this facility.
Thank you
We are hugely grateful for the support we have received so far and will achieve even greater success with your help. If you would like to be involved in any way in making The Camp Space a reality, please do get in touch with Lorraine in the first instance:
07761 574793
Email: [email protected]
Website: equestriancamps.co.uk
cardoniatees.co.uk to purchase merchandise in support of The Camp Space
Please see the blog page for current updates
