With our unpredictable British summer, there's always a chance that our fabulous array of family musical festivals can turn into something of a wash-out. Never fear, however, as we all have the Great British spirit and the motto to Keep Calm and Carry On Rocking.
We do, however, believe in making life as comfortable and stress-free as possible, so when it comes to sleeping under the stars, we are all in favour of glam camping – or glamping. And having sampled their delightful hospitality at Just So Festival, we can firmly recommend Karma Canvas, whose four- and five-metre tents come fully furnished with coir flooring, beds, and wooden tables, as well as fairy lights and bunting to promote that magical festival vibe. You'll find Karma Canvas at the following festivals this summer: Lounge On The Farm; Lubstock; 2000 Trees; The Magic Loungeabout; Y Not Festival; Strawberry Fields and Just So Festival
Owner of Karma Canvas and glamping aficionado Andrea Spence offers these timely tips for happy campers:
1. Make a canvas bell tent your camp base for elegant, cool and practical camping. A bell tent is also a great space for families and both easy and quick to pitch up and take down!
2. Take some pretty things to decorate and personalise your temporary dwelling, like LED fairy lights, colourful throws and rugs - it's time to play house!
3. Sheepskins or wool blankets tucked under sheets make a lovely warm and cosy bed, along with familiar duvet on top to help children settle in their home from home from home. Oh, and don't forget the soother/favourite toy, most important for settling purposes!
4.Make sure you pre-book a family-friendly campsite, with lots of room for children to run around; sites on a farm or with woodland to explore are always winners.
5. All-in-one rainsuits and wellies are always a must on any camping trip!
6. Take marshmallows to toast by the campfire! Bring along some chocolate and Dove's Farm Organic Wholewheat Digestives to squish either side of your hot toasted marshmallows to make the perfect S'Mores!
7. Fancy-dress in camp adds an exciting adventure element so don't forget to pack your children's favourite outfits and a miscellany of feather headbands, fairy wing, tutus, pirate paraphernalia and masks so everyone can join in.
8. Flexible plastic buckets are handy to use as a baby or toddler bath (and doubles up as a washing-up bowl, log basket or handy storage for bits and pieces).
9. A couple of torches – invaluable for obvious reasons and there's lots of fun to be had shining it around the tent at night making patterns on the walls. Children also love the torches you can wear on your head!
10. Leave the pushchair at home and use baby/toddler carriers/slings, which are easier across rough terrain. Or invest in a pull-along wagon which is so much more fun and you can customise to compete as the funkiest wagon on site!
11. Take a nature book – we like Nature Adventures by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom – so you can go on a Nature Treasure Trail to spot trees, birds, and flowers. Have little baskets for the kids to collect interesting stones, leaves, acorns, twigs, feathers, then make an al fresco collage on the grass outside the tent.12. Don't forget your basic first-aid kit: plasters, anti-histamine cream and tablets, insect repellent, sun cream and pain relief.
13. Make sure to take a potty for the tent – campsite facilities may be a bit of a trek for little legs first thing in the morning, or in the middle of the night!
14. Relax about baths and bedtimes – it never quite goes to plan when camping but that's all part of the wilder experience and the wonderful adventure!
