10.06.04
Cornish Woodland Lodges Launched with Help from South West Business Groups

A Cornish business that is planning to take the luxury garden buildings world by storm has received vital start up investment from two regional business support groups.

Cornish Woodland Lodges has launched its unique range of beautifully hand crafted garden lodges, inspired by and made in Cornwall, thanks to essential support from Truro-based South West Investment Group and Working Woodlands, both of which have received investment from the Objective One Programme.

Both groups provided Cornish Woodland Lodges with essential start up investment and support to help the business, which has based its eye catching garden lodges on the historic communal roundhouse courtyard settlements found at Cornish sites such as Chysauster.

According to Cornish Woodland Lodges' owner Colin Campbell-Charters, the financial and general support received from both groups was an essential element in launching the business.

"There were a great deal of start up costs involved in designing and manufacturing the lodges. As a new business with no track record of trading, you are seen as a risk by traditional financial institutions. But thanks to the support of SWIG and Working Woodlands, we were able to secure in excess of £24,000 to manufacture and market Cornish Woodland Lodges," said Colin.

The unique and eye-catching lodges have been designed to provide a year round garden retreat for socialising, working or just extending the time people can spend in their garden in comfort.
Hand built using time served shipbuilding skills, the luxurious Lodges are insulated and come equipped with everything from cocktail cabinet to a central cooking unit and flue that can be removed in the summer for outdoor BBQ's.

The Cawsand and Whitsand Lodges have been launched to great acclaim in three leading South West garden centres, Trelawney Garden Leisure near Wadebridge, Cadleigh Conservatories at Endsleigh Garden Centre near Plymouth and Otter Nurseries near Exeter, and are already creating a great deal of interest.

John Peters of South West Investment Group said a new Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) backed fund was used to provide the funding for Cornish Woodland Lodges.

"When we first met Colin we felt the plans he had for Cornish Woodland Lodges were really exciting. Not only are the lodges inspired by Cornwall and built using local timber, but they are retaining and diversifying traditional Cornish high quality shipbuilding skills.

As Colin is over 50, we were able to support him through the Phoenix Business Development Fund which we recently launched to provide finance in the region for entrepreneurs in groups that are often marginalised such as the over 50's, single parents, ethnic minorities, people returning to work and disabled people," said Mr Peters.

For Caroline Harrison of Working Woodlands, the benefits of supporting Cornish Woodland Lodges were clear.

"As an organisation our aim is to support and grow the woodland and forestry sectors in the South West. As Cornish Woodland Lodges uses locally sourced timber the benefits to the woodland sector as a whole by supporting a company with nationwide aspirations and using that timber were there for us to see," she said.

Although the lodges are being launched initially across the South West, it is planned to develop the business through a network of high quality garden centres across the UK.

Built using the finest natural materials, Cornish Woodland Lodges come fully equipped and ready to use. Installation, which is included in the price, takes approximately one to two days and is undertaken by the Cornish Woodland Lodges team.

More information on Cornish Woodland Lodges can be obtained by calling 01752 829335.

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Editor's notes:

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Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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