Royal hatmaker accuses ‘NIMBY’ neighbours of ‘orchestrated marketing campaign’ towards her award-winning campsite – after complaints about guests feeding the native donkeys doughnuts

A Royal hatmaker has accused her ‘NIMBY’ neighbours of launching an ‘orchestrated campaign’ against her award-winning campsite following complaints that campers feed doughnuts to donkeys.

Vivien Sheriff, who creates headwear worn by the Princess of Wales, is the owner Harry’s Field in the New Forest, Hants, which has been voted in the Sunday Times top 40 campsites in the UK.

The Sheriff family has run the campsite in the New Forest for the last 12 years, claiming it is a site for ‘couples, families, and individuals who want a peaceful break and to enjoy the outdoors’.

The campsite is advertised as a ‘tranquil campsite surrounded by quiet country lanes and hedgerows teeming with wildlife’ and accommodates 50 pitches for tents, campervans, and motorhomes.

But, according to Ms Sheriff, the camping ground’s serenity has been disrupted by her neighbours who she has accused of orchestrating a campaign against her ‘nice little campsite’ to stop it from opening 52 days a year instead of 28.

Neighbours who object say screaming children ruin the peace, that their animals have been harassed, that campers put their kids on donkeys’ backs, and that donkeys are fed doughnuts and biscuits.

One of the objectors, Helen Taylor, who works as a vet and lives adjacent to the field, said she had been ‘plagued by problems’ from the campsite.

In her objection, she said: ‘Whilst we expect normal conversational levels of noise, screaming children, shouting adults, whistles and music are a feature from before 7am until after 11.30pm at night.

‘It is not possible for us to enjoy our garden with this level of disturbance in what is otherwise, a very tranquil setting.

‘During this time we suffered repeated incursions of campers into our gardens.’

She also accused guests of verballing abusing her, harassing the animals, and even urinating on her hedges. 

Stephen Havelock said the campsite has brought ‘misery, noise and nuisance to this quiet village’.

Mr Havelock spoke of the use of fire pits and said the campsite is ‘extremely close’ to open forest and gorse which is a ‘tinderbox in summer’.

Another objector said: ‘There have been many cases of inappropriate interaction with livestock.

‘I have asked campers to not put their children on the donkeys’ backs or feed the animals, and in one instance, to stop feeding them packets of biscuits.

‘They have not been made aware that this is not allowed or acceptable.

‘In fact, the owners’ social media encourages close interaction with the livestock, often filming at very close range with the ponies and donkeys, and encouraging close contact and petting.

‘I do not believe the owners operate with any regard for planning regulations or consideration for the sensitive nature of the area in which the campsite is situated.’

It is illegal to feed or pet the New Forest livestock.

Ms Sheriff has disputed these claims as an ‘orchestrated campaign’ against the campsite from a few neighbours.

She did not want to comment on the application, but she said that the objections constituted ‘nimbyism’.

In a statement on the appeal application, Ms Sheriff said: ‘ Many of the claims made in objection are simply not true, and some of the depictions are not recognisable.

‘This is particularly upsetting given that our family has lived here for over 50 years and we have very good relationships with nearly all of our neighbours.

‘We were not made aware of any recent complaints, and no planning enforcement action has ever been taken against us.

‘This strongly suggests that the concerns raised in the objections do not reflect an ongoing or verifiable problem.

‘Many objections come from properties that could not possibly be affected by the campsite, either because they are too far away or are located in another parish entirely.’

She continued: ‘The issue of smoke has been greatly exaggerated. The New Forest District Council Environmental Health Officer has contacted us only once, in 2020 during the national COVID lockdown, when tensions were heightened across the country.

‘We have never been notified of any smoke or noise complaints by Hyde Parish Council.

‘One objector, Mr King, submitted a near-identical objection to a previous planning application for Harry’s Meadow, a campsite over five miles away that could not possibly have affected him.

‘This demonstrates that the current objections are not site-specific, but form part of an organised and orchestrated campaign against camping and outdoor recreation, rather than being based on the actual operation of Harry’s Field.

‘The objections rely on exaggeration, incorrect assumptions, and seem to be part of an orchestrated campaign. In many cases, the individuals could not realistically be affected by the site.

‘We respectfully ask that the appeal be judged on the basis of evidence and how the site is actually run.’

Ms Sheriff said that they take precautions to ensure the site is not a nuisance to the neighbors, including refusing group bookings, having a 24-hour-a-day warden team, enforcing a curfew of 10.30pm, and not allowing any amplified music.

The site allows communal campfires for the guests but tightly limits individual fire pits.

Ms Sheriff said they take a ‘responsible and proactive approach to safety and environmental protection’ by only allowing the use of kiln-dried logs so that they produce very little smoke.

She added: ‘We rely on repeat custom, so it is entirely against our interests to tolerate nuisance or disturbance.

‘If a camper were to behave badly, they would be asked to leave. A camping code of conduct also operates between guests so that everyone can enjoy a quiet, respectful stay.’

She said the ability to open for 52 days a year would allow them to open during the week rather than purely at the weekend, like they are doing now.

She said the footfall during the week tends to be less than at the weekend, so the level of disruption should be reduced.

Alongside the campsite, Ms Sheriff has run Vivien Sheriff Ltd, a millinery business for the last 20 years.

Ms Sheriff creates ‘exceptionally original, undeniably British, luxury headwear’ which has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge – including for her first Royal engagement in 2011 – as well as her sister Pippa Middleton.

And at least 50 guests at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding were wearing her hats and fascinators, all of which are handmade from a converted farmhouses in Downton, Wiltshire.