LEADER Coast and Lowlands News

INDIAN SUMMER ON CARDS FOR WIGWAM VILLAGE

June 2010

A POPULAR Northumbrian wigwam village is teeing up for expansion plans to cope with demand in a boost to tourism and the local economy.
The Pot-a-Doodle Do Wigwam Village on Borewell Farm, Scremerston, Berwick upon Tweed, has received £40,500 funding through the Coast and Lowlands Local Action Group, which delivers money through the LEADER approach, funded by One North East’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

The existing site has 12 wigwams with funding helping to pay for another eight plus a new toilet block and construction of roads and landscaping.

The business has been struggling to cope with group accommodation in high season so the development will address the needs of larger groups at all times of the year, creating one new staff member and also bringing job security for existing staff.

Christine Whiteford, business manager of Pot-a-Doodle Do, said: “Increasing the number of affordable accommodation will allow more groups to come and stay here ranging from those who need access to rural accommodation for training, exercising social skills and short stays for disabled groups to those from non-rural areas who want to have easy access to the area’s natural heritage and beautiful coastline.
“Other businesses will also gain from this project as research shows that groups who need to hire canoes, kayaks, bicycles or horses can rarely afford to take part due to travel, activity and accommodation costs but by offering discounted accommodation we hope there will be a knock on effect of increased group activity expenditure in the surrounding area.”

The wigwam site first opened in 2004 and there is also a restaurant, art centre and play area.  Each wigwam sleeps five so when the project is complete there is the potential to sleep 100 people. 

RDPE Manager Adrian Sherwood, said: “The Pot-a-Doodle Do Wigwam Village has been running successfully for several years and this funding will help the business further expand to attract more tourists from non-rural areas who can also find out more about sustainable living while bringing benefits for the local supply chain and community.”

It is the only one of its kind in the region and offers a fun and different alternative to traditional camping holidays taking advantage of some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.

Ivan Hewitt, Local Action Group Coordinator, added: “This funding will help strengthen a successful local business while boosting the supply chain through increased usage of the shop, café and bistro which stores local produce so also supporting local jobs.”

For more information visit www.northumbrianwigwams.com

The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and communities. It is managed in North East England by One North East, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. The RDPE

investment being managed by One North East combines larger projects to help many businesses in different sectors of the rural economy - including bioenergy and land-based skills, and projects adding value to agricultural and forestry products - with smaller investments to help individual businesses to start-up, grow or diversify, and support to develop more sustainable rural communities. 

RDPE Business Support is part of Solutions for Business, the Government’s package of publicly funded support products offering help to companies to start, grow and succeed. Solutions for Business makes it easier for businesses to get the advice and assistance that they need.

For further information on the full package of support, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast or Tel: 0845 600 9006.  For more information on RDPE in North East England, visit: www.rdpenortheast.co.ukFor more information on RDPE, visit: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm  or http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/index.htm