A North Yorkshire caravan park that had to be evacuated when wildfires came dangerously close to it last summer is to receive funding from the local council to help it recover.

Grouse Hill Caravan Park, which lies between Whitby and Scarborough in the North York Moors, and which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is one of a number of affected businesses North Yorkshire Council has said it will support in the absence of there being any direct funding to affected businesses from central government.

The 15-acre motorhome site had to be evacuated on 26 August last year when flames came close to the site perimeter.

Andrew Butterfield, who owns the park with his wife Caroline, said, “The funding the council has provided is extremely welcome, as the effects of the wildfire are still very much evident a year on. Everyone who was affected by the fire has in the back of their minds that this could happen again, especially when we experience the extremely warm weather conditions we have seen this summer.”

The council is working with the Two Ridings Community Foundation to provide one-off funding targeted to local businesses affected by the fire. Grants of up to £2500 are available, together with additional hardship support of up to £12,000.

Council leader Carl Les said the funding had been made available because of “unprecedented circumstances” and added that the council would not be able to step in “repeatedly”. He said central government needed to look again at how it could support such businesses.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is providing £3.2m to the North York Moors Park Authority to help restore moorlands that were affected by the fire. But ministers have already said that individual businesses affected by the event would not be supported.

In other recent news, Carado has announced it is releasing an off-road VW Crafter-based campervan for 2027. The off-road campervan will come on the Crafter’s 4×4 chassis and is a four-berth with a transverse bed.

A survey conducted by Goboony has also revealed the restorative benefits of road trips, as it was found that 83% of respondents would think about setting off on one to help them process a major life event.

Lead image: Paul Edwards

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