Meet the owner: Flaxton Meadows, North Yorkshire

Flaxton Meadows adult-only eco-campsite is located in North Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside renowned for its wildlife and scenery. Guests have a range of accommodation to choose from including handcrafted luxury log cabins, built using the site's own experienced joiners, touring pitches (hardstanding or grass) with natural screening and electric, and camping pitches with electric. Flaxton Meadows provides a peaceful retreat for those wishing to enjoy nature, yet within easy reach of a wide range of amenities.

We caught up with owner, Jon Charters-Reid, to find out more about the site...

How long have you been running your campsite?
Flaxton Meadows welcomed its first guests in 2020, it has been an interesting four years running an eco-campsite.

Tell us a little about your site and how it first began.
I have always been passionate about camping and love the outdoors. As a York Minster trained cabinet maker and joiner, the entire site has been built by myself. My father was a coal miner, and he encouraged hard work and ideas. My grandad was a carpenter and I followed in his footsteps. I wanted to build a campsite that provides excellent access to York and the Yorkshire surrounding attractions, but which also provides a low carbon footprint for eco-conscious guests to stay and enjoy. My aim was to try and keep camping costs low because of our eco measures.

What did you do before becoming the owner of this site? As well as running a campsite I am also a Building Surveying, MRICS, Chartered Building Surveyor, MCIOB Chartered Building Surveying, CABE, Chartered Building Engineer and RICS Registered Valuer and a published author.

What made you want to own and run a campsite?
It was important to me to provide quality camping at a reasonable price.

What do you like most about being a campsite owner?
Talking to guests, and seeing happy campers.

What are the challenges?
The biggest challenge is the Government increasing energy and National Insurance costs.

What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day is firstly ensuring the staff are happy, which in turn equals happy campers, constant marketing, maintenance and improving the site.

What do you feel makes your site special and appealing to the guests who return every year?
Flaxton Meadows has a sense of place; our down to earth warm welcome makes campers feel right at home.

What do you love about the region your site is based in?
I particularly like York city centre and York Minster as this is where I was an apprentice joiner for four years of my life.

What do you like to do on a rare day off?
On my rare days off Whitby is one of my favourite places to visit.