A woodsman with a heart of gold is looking forward to expanding his off-grid campsite despite having his toughest trading year ever. James Lankester set up The Copper Pot Campsite near Callington with his now ex-wife seven years ago as a way to help the young and old enjoy something truly unique and reconnect with nature.
The three-acre site, home to six bell tents and two shepherd huts, has been welcoming families for years, but the economic downturn and having to pay off a loan to buy his ex-wife out of the business have taken such a toll on the proud Scotsman that he feared he might not make it through the winter.
“It’s been a very difficult year for me as it has been for many other businesses,” the 44-year-old said. ” It’s been compounded by my divorce and having to take out a loan to buy my ex-wife out. It is a good business. We’re full every summer and many families have been coming back every year so I have seen their children grow up over the years.
“The cost of living is crazy, petrol costs, plus high food prices, have made it cheaper for a lot of families to go overseas for cheap all-inclusive holidays. The weather hasn’t been great either.”
James Lankester runs the off-grid Copper Pot Campsite near Callington
(Image: James Lankester)
He added: “I do make a huge effort to make my guests use local pubs, eateries, shops of all sorts and I spend all of my money locally at small builders merchants and shops, to support the local area. I do need to find a cheaper loan which would allow me to flourish as a business.”
James, who was born on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles of Scotland left home at 19 to go travelling. After some time in Australia he returned to the UK and spent the next 15 years in the Brighton area where his sister lived working as a gardener as well as in garden centres, always in outdoor jobs.
It was there that he met his now ex-wife and they looked for land to buy to create an off-grid campsite and hopefully have a family. They found the site in South East Cornwall and that’s where James has been running spoon carving, basket weaving, foraging and deer processing workshops and is now hoping to do more.
James, who has been cooking special free Christmas feasts for many years for anyone in the area who would otherwise be alone, decided to launch a fundraising campaign on the Newquay-based Crowdfunder platform to get through winter so he can continue to help others.
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On Crowdfunder, where he recently reached his funding target of £10,000, James said: “Last year was extremely difficult, this year has been ten times worse. I’ve diversified massively, I now offer far more courses, I have many more bee hives. So next year will be a lot better with both courses and honey for sale. I just need a bit of help to make the winter easier.”
He added: “Copper Pot has helped people in the past and I desperately want it to be able to help people in the future. It’s a true haven for wildlife and people, and I want to see that continue and grow.”
James told CornwallLive that thanks to his amazing supporters, he has the breathing space he needs to continue Copper Pot Campsite and expand. “It’s definitely not your average campsite,” he added. “It’s very nature based. Children play among the trees and build dens. There is a communal campfire. It’s more affordable than other campsites too. It’s definitely not a sterile campsite with pristine lawns and the perfect club house with nighttime entertainment. But it’s a place where you can enjoy your breakfast while watching the birds or deer walk through the campsite.”
The Copper Pot Campsite near Callington which is run by James Lankester
(Image: James Lankester)
Looking forward to the year ahead, James is now planning to set aside part of the site for people suffering from PTSD so they can come and stay a while, put up their own tent or hammock and just have the space to relax and be in nature, find peace and safety.
James added: “My other project this year is to run spoon carving and leather working workshops for people struggling with loneliness regardless of their age.”
To help James and his vision for Copper Pot Campsite further, visit his page on Facebook or Instagram. You can also help with his Crowdfunder campaign at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/copper-pot-campsite-crowdfunder
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