About Us

Sandgreen Caravan Park raise £10,945.33 for Fleet Bay Inshore Rescue Service

We are absolutely delighted to share some rather special news.

Earlier this year, Sandgreen Caravan Park made a £10,000 donation to Fleet Bay Inshore Rescue Service, and we have now been able to send a further £945.33, raised through fundraising carried out by our team and customers throughout the season.

That brings the total donated to an incredible £10,945.33.

A very special mention must go to Jules, who has been the driving force behind our fundraising events this year. From organising activities to encouraging everyone to get involved, she put an enormous amount of time and energy into helping us raise this money.

And, of course, none of it would have been possible without you – our customers and visitors who joined in, donated, bought raffle tickets, took part in events and generally got behind the cause.

So, from all of us at Sandgreen – thank you!

At Sandgreen Caravan Park, we are proud to support and collaborate with a number of local initiatives that mean a great deal to us, such as Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, Play It Green, and now Gatehouse of Fleet Primary School.

We were delighted to recently sponsor a brand-new sports kit for Gatehouse of Fleet Primary School.

Jan Hawthorn, our Park Manager, took the opportunity to spend some time with the budding football stars, proudly wearing their new kit and showcasing all their tactical moves. While it will be predominantly worn by the school football team, it will also support wider sporting activities across the school, encouraging participation, teamwork and confidence.

We’re very much looking forward to continuing our support in the years ahead!

Join us at Sandgreen Caravan Park for our Summer Sales Open Day!

The perfect opportunity to explore our Park and view our stunning brand new and preloved Holiday Caravans and Lodges!
No Pressure, view our full range of stock in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere!

We are proud to say that we have adopted Fleet Bay Inshore Rescue Service (FBIRS) as our Charity of the Year, and we would love to invite our wonderful community of guests to please support them, in any way they can.

The FBIRS has been operating in the waters around Fleet Bay since 1974, and is a local service very close to our hearts here at Sandgreen. It is a completely volunteer-led service, run by local people, whose sole purpose is to save lives. Over the years they have carried out hundreds of rescues in the waters directly around our park.

This is a service that none of us ever hope to need — but we are all incredibly grateful that it’s there when it matters most, having a local rescue boat that can reach an incident in minutes, rather than waiting up to an hour or more for assistance from further afield.

Due to changes in national regulations, the FBIRS require urgent support to continue operating; their current rescue boat can no longer be tasked by HM Coastguard and in order to get back on the water in 2026, they must replace their boat and upgrade essential equipment – a significant fundraising challenge for a voluntary service.

For further information on the fundraising for FBIRS, please feel free to visit their JustGiving page at https://tinyurl.com/yebydc8v

Welcoming Pollinators around your Holiday Caravan or Lodge

These brilliant little workers are essential to our ecosystem. Without them, so much of what we enjoy – from fruit and veg to flowers and even our beloved trees – simply wouldn’t thrive. They’re the quiet, constant background hum of Sandgreen.

Over the last few years, Sandgreen has worked hard to make our Park more bee-friendly. We are proud supporters of the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge and have more recently completed the “Home Sweet Home” and “Pollinator Patch” challenges. But you don’t need acres of land or a wildflower meadow to do your bit. Even with a small decking space, a few well-chosen pots can make a real difference – and they look lovely, too.

Bees are responsible for pollinating around one-third of the food we eat, and they play a vital role in supporting biodiversity.

Sadly, many bees these days are under threat due to habitat loss, pesticide use and changing climate conditions. That’s why every pot, planter, or patch counts. You may just be planting a bit of lavender, but to a bee, you’re creating a lifeline.

Top Bee-Friendly Plants

So, if you’re thinking of helping our local pollinators by having a couple of plant pots inside your decking area, here are some easy, low-maintenance plants that thrive in containers and are loved by bees:

Lavender – bees adore it. It’s hardy, smells amazing and looks great all summer long.

Thyme & Rosemary – Great for cooking and great for bees. These herbs thrive in pots and produce delicate flowers.

Echinacea (Cornflower) – Bright, bold and a magnet for pollinators.

Salvia – Long-flowering and easy to grow. Perfect for adding colour to your outdoor decking space.

Buddleia (Dwarf varieties) – Also known as the ‘butterfly bush’, smaller versions are great in containers and are just as popular with bees.

Cosmos & Calendula – Fast growing annuals that bring a splash of cheer and plenty of nectar.

The key is to choose a variety of plants that flower across the seasons, so there’s always something in bloom. Bees are especially active from early spring through to autumn, so the longer you can provide food, the better.

Don’t forget to add a shallow dish of water, ideally with pebbles for them to land on, and you’ve got a perfect little bee haven!

So next time you’re sitting outside your holiday home, keep an eye out for these tiny visitors. You’ll be surprised just how quickly your pots come to life – and how satisfying it is to be part of the buzz!

Having a holiday caravan or lodge at Sandgreen is a great opportunity to try new sporting hobbies to make the most of leisure time that can be so hard to find at home.

Through sports we can not only improve our health and fitness, but meet new friends and create lots of memories.

With so much on our doorstep, here are some sporting hobbies to try while staying at your holiday home. These are all easy to begin and suitable for all abilities.

Golf

With so many great golf courses to play in Dumfries & Galloway, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Golf has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past 10 years, especially during the pandemic as people looked for socially distanced ways to socialise and exercise, and it still continues to grow.

With a selection of local 9 hole and 18 hole courses, you will be able to start with a few lessons with the club pro before taking to the greens.

Golf has so many benefits. It can be played from childhood to old age and helps with accuracy, focus, concentration and fitness. As it’s also a very sociable sport, it ticks all the boxes!

Local courses include; Gatehouse of Fleet (9 hole), Kirkcudbright (18 holes), Castle Douglas (9 hole), Newton Stewart (18 holes), Wigtownshire County (18 holes), Stranraer (18 holes) and Dumfries & County (18 holes).

Hiking

Not to be confused with ‘going for a walk’, if you rebrand it as a ‘hike’ the whole family will want to get involved!

Sandgreen is surrounded with some breathtaking hikes, with the walk to Gatehouse of Fleet being a popular choice. To find more hiking routes, a good app to use is “AllTrails”, giving access to new things to see like waterfalls, beaches, views and the best swimming spots.

Hiking can be as gentle or strenuous as you like and it’s a great way to slowly improve your fitness. There’s also minimal equipment needed and it’s a great way to discover more of our stunning surroundings.

Visit https://stunningoutdoors.com/walks-dumfries-galloway-scotland/ for 10 stunning walks in Dumfries & Galloway. One of the best things about the area is that Dumfries & Galloway still feels undiscovered, with plenty of spaces awaiting to be explored.

Paddleboarding

One of Sandgreen’s stunning features is our gentle sloping beach, and one of the main reasons we love paddleboarding so much is that it’s a great outdoor activity and one that the whole family can get involved in.

Paddleboarding has become a much more accessible sport with the rise of inflatable boards. They are so easy to inflate and deflate, transport and store away so you don’t need to worry about roof racks or storage sheds. ‘Aquaplanet’ are one of the biggest paddle board manufacturers in the UK with a great range of boards for all abilities.

It’s a sport the whole family can enjoy, from small children simply jumping off the board into the sea or sporty family members paddling for miles along our coastline.

For more information and safety tips check out our publications ‘Hints & Tips for Safe Paddleboarding’, ‘A Few Thoughts’ and our annual ‘Boat Rules’. Copies available from Reception.

Wild Swimming

Wild swimming is another sport that took off during the pandemic as we all searched for an outdoor activity.

Swimming in cold water is not for everyone, but investing in a good swimming wetsuit can be a game changer and make the experience so much more enjoyable.

Known to boost our immune system, improve circulation, and reduce pain and inflammation, cold water swimming releases endorphins and is great way of reducing stress and anxiety.

You may have noticed mobile saunas popping up around many beaches and lakes this Summer. This new trend is thanks to lots of research proving saunas have great health benefits and it’s great to combine a sauna session with a wild swim!

We are delighted to share that we are now proud supporters of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, and fully support the principles of the Biosphere Charter.

The Biosphere Charter signifies that Sandgreen Caravan Park pledges to support the following six principles:

• Help to conserve the natural resources of the Biosphere
• Support the economy to benefit people and nature
• Promote cultural heritage and local products
• Contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community
• Develop knowledge, understanding and promote research
• Raise awareness of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere

As a Proud Supporter, we recognise the value that the UNESCO Biosphere designation brings to people and nature, and we work hard to make southwest Scotland a great place to holiday, live, work and play.  We hope our commitment and energy inspires others to explore the Biosphere – to try new activities, visit places they haven’t seen before, and to learn more about our natural and cultural heritage.

A little more about Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GSA) and what they do:

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is a non-profit organisation working across the UNESCO region, creating and facilitating projects that support conservation, education, climate resilience, and a sustainable local economy. They collaborate with multi-sector partners in initiatives that benefit people and nature alike.

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere covers more than 9,700km² of southwest Scotland, is home to more than 100,000 people, and includes outstanding and rare habitats which are home to some of Scotland’s most iconic wildlife. These landscapes stretch from coast to mountain, meeting woodland, grassland, farmland and more in between. Its geographical boundary was defined in 2012 based on catchments of the rivers flowing out of the Galloway Hills, and extended to include the marine environment in 2023.  Every UNESCO Biosphere is a centre for learning and research, and for testing solutions to some of the most critical challenges of our time.

The Core Area of any UNESCO Biosphere is the region of highest conservation value; in Galloway and Southern Ayrshire, these are the wetlands at Silver Flowe, and the National Nature Reserve (NNR) at Cairnsmore of Fleet. The GSA Biosphere’s work in the Core Areas is focused on research and the protection of species, habitats, landscapes and ecosystems.

The UNESCO Biosphere is part of Scotland’s rural southwest, where the land and its uses remain integral to everyday life. The Biosphere is home to historic industries such as farming, fishing and forestry; a variety of micro-businesses and SMEs; and communities that range in size from tiny hamlets to small towns.

Right across Galloway and Southern Ayrshire the GSA Biosphere Partnership celebrates positive cultural values and identity, helping people learn more about where they live and better understand the heritage we share.

The GSA Biosphere Partnership share knowledge, experience and ideas in pursuit of a better future for all.

Since partnering with Play It Green in the summer of 2022; they have helped us lower our carbon footprint, helped make our workforce Climate Positive, and supported Sandgreen’s sustainability; we are delighted to share our achievements for 2024.

In 2024, we have planted 600 trees, helped reduce CO2 emissions by 60 tonnes, and have donated £30.00 to our chosen charity, Sea Shepherd UK.

This means, since partnering with Play it Green in the summer of 2022, we have in total: planted a whopping 2,297 trees, helped reduce CO2 emissions by 184.4 tonnes, and donated a total of £97.00 to Sea Shepherd UK.

For reference, this impact is equal to either removing 135 cars from the road; 1,536 short haul aeroplane seats; or 57 homes annual energy use!

To keep up to date with our progress through Play it Green, you can check out our Forest Garden on this link at any time: Sandgreen Caravan Park Forest Garden

We are delighted to share some fantastic news with you—Sandgreen Caravan Park has been named “Caravan Park of the Year” by the Prestige Awards!

This is a significant achievement for us, and we couldn’t be prouder to receive this accolade.

The Prestige Awards celebrate the very best in business, shining a spotlight on those who consistently deliver exceptional products and services to both locals and visitors. Each year, readers of Prestige are invited to nominate businesses that they believe have gone above and beyond, demonstrating excellence in their field. These nominations are then carefully reviewed, and the most deserving businesses are shortlisted for the award.

When we were nominated, we were asked to showcase what makes Sandgreen so special, from our outstanding customer feedback to our dedication to providing an unforgettable experience for everyone who visits. The judges examined key factors such as service excellence, innovation, value for money, ethical practices, and most importantly, consistency in delivering quality experiences.

What the Judges Had to Say:

“Tucked behind a sweeping curve of private sandy beach, we were particularly impressed by the idyllic, peaceful and secure location for relaxation and recreation.  Their ethos revolves around spacious pitches, natural surroundings and a relaxed atmosphere, ensuring Sandgreen remains a special place for all its guests.  Furthermore, Sandgreen’s commitment to preserving its natural and unspoiled environment allows guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of Scotland’s National Scenic Areas, surrounded by wildlife and serene landscapes.”

Their kind words are a testament to the hard work and dedication that our entire team puts in every single day at Sandgreen, our goal has always been to create a place where guests can truly unwind, reconnect with nature, and make lasting memories. This award reaffirms that commitment, and we are beyond thrilled that our efforts have been recognised.

A Huge Thank You!

Of course, none of this would have been possible without you, our wonderful guests. Whether you’ve been visiting Sandgreen for years or are a first-time guest, your support and feedback are what helps us continually improve and grow. We’re also incredibly grateful to our amazing team, whose passion and dedication are the heartbeat of Sandgreen. Together, we’ve built a special community, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.  We are so proud to have been recognised with this prestigious award, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Sandgreen Caravan Park—your award-winning getaway—in the near future.

Once again, thank you for being part of the Sandgreen family and helping us become “Caravan Park of the Year”!

At Sandgreen Caravan Park, we are committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our initiatives reflect our dedication to creating a green, efficient, and enjoyable environment for our guests while protecting the natural beauty of our surroundings. By embracing these practices, we aim to set a standard for sustainable tourism and inspire others to join us in preserving the planet for future generations.

Go Green

• Energy Efficient Lighting: Implemented LED lighting throughout the park wherever possible to reduce energy consumption.
• Play It Green – We have partnered with Play it Green to make our workforce Climate Positive, lower our carbon footprint, and give back to a good cause.  Play it Green is an organisation who employ a 3 Step Solution to Climate Change: REDUCE carbon footprints; REPAIR the planet and rebalance carbon footprints by planting trees; and REGIVE 10% of all revenues to a good cause.  Enough trees are planted every month to more than rebalance the carbon footprint of our staff’s personal lives and all their work-related travel. Through Play it Green’s unique three-step solution to climate change, a tenth of all revenues also go to a good cause. We have chosen to support Sea Shepherd UK; a non-profit marine wildlife conservation organisation working to protect marine life and ecosystems around the world’s coasts.

Paperless Operation

• WE HAVE REDUCED OUR PAPER USAGE BY 65% IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
• E-Receipts: All transactions and communications are handled electronically to minimise paper use.
• Online Documentation: All park rules, maps, and guides are available online, reducing the need for printed materials.

Recycling

• Recycling Stations: Multiple recycling points are located on the park, encouraging guests to sort their waste.
• Composting: Organic waste from park operations and guests is composted to enrich the local soil.
• Partnership with Local Recyclers: Collaborating with local recycling facilities to ensure proper disposal and recycling of materials.

Car Charging Ports

• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Installed an EV charging point to support guests with electric cars.

Electric Golf Buggies

• Eco-Friendly Transport: Replaced traditional diesel vans with electric buggies to use around the park to reduce carbon emissions.
• Charging Infrastructure: Installed necessary charging infrastructure to support the electric buggies throughout the park.

Bellamy Initiatives

• Wildlife Conservation: Working with the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme to protect and enhance the park’s natural habitats.
• Native Planting: Planting native species to support local biodiversity and create a natural, sustainable environment.

Collaborations

• Local Suppliers: Partnering with local businesses and farmers to reduce transportation emissions and support the local economy.
• Environmental Organisations: Collaborating with environmental groups to stay updated on best practices and implement new sustainability initiatives.

Long-Term Vision

• Carbon Neutral Goal: Aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 through continued investment in renewable energy and efficiency improvements.
• Sustainable Development: Develop new facilities and refurbish existing ones with sustainability as a core principle.
• Community Engagement: Foster a culture of sustainability among guests and staff through ongoing education and involvement.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess and update our sustainability practices to ensure they meet the highest standards and reflect the latest innovations.