WOOD-BURNING STOVES

Our own Knepp sustainable wood, locally sourced charcoal and kindling, plus eco-friendly firelighters are available to buy from the shop.

We ask specifically that you do not collect firewood or sticks from the woods or anywhere else.

Woody debris is a vital aspect of our ecology and sustains a number of important species like rare saproxylic (deadwood) invertebrates and fungi. There are stacks of logs in the wood by the campsite that are left here specifically to attract them.

Safety

  • Be super-careful with fires, keep them small and controllable
  • Be super-careful with candles and please do not move from their location
  • No smoking inside accommodation, bathrooms and communal areas
  • No cooking on wood-burning stoves inside accommodation
  • Do not put ANYTHING on or near the stoves except the kettles provided
  • Do not leave fires unattended and ensure they have burned down before you go to bed. 

How to light your wood-burning stove

  1. To avoid smoking the place out when starting, keep the fire really small (with the door closed and vent open) until the flue has had a chance to warm. Only when the flue is properly warm will the smoke start to draw up the chimney.
  2. Once the fire is drawing well, you can add more wood. The speed of burning can then be controlled by rotating the air vent. It’s best to close the air vents completely when retiring at night so the fire burns down slowly.
  3. When laying the fire, focus on creating a good heart. First add a layer of kindling in the base of the stove. Second, scrunch up individual pages of newspaper and pile them together in the grate with some eco-friendly firelighters.

  4. Now, light the firelighter and/or newspaper balls and add kindling.

    The easiest way to add the kindling is in a pyramid or tipi shape over the top of the scrunched-up newspaper or firelighter. Start with small bits of kindling and put larger pieces on top, with a few small, judiciously chosen logs on the outside.

  5.  Don’t put too much wood on at this stage or you might smother the fire – you can add more as necessary once the kindling is well alight. Once your fire is blazing away you can be less picky about the logs that go in.

Caution: the wood-burner gets very hot. Please use the poker provided when opening the door and adding more wood.

In case of fire

There are fire extinguishers in every glamping unit, plus five Fire Points on the campsite equipped with fire extinguishers, water buckets, fire beaters and a fire bell.

There are also fire extinguishers clearly marked in the Go Down, Cow Barn, Glamping Kitchen and Pitch Up.

We have a no-smoking policy in all of our accommodation, as well as the Glamping Kitchen, Pitch Up, Bathenon, the Cow Barn and the Go Down. You’re welcome to smoke elsewhere in the campsite, but please be respectful of non-smokers.

Our 12+ Policy

Knepp Wildland Safaris, our gardens and campsite are all about the quiet and patient observation of nature.

Some of the species we are likely to encounter are shy or can be frightened by loud noises or sudden movements. Our campsite with open-air fire-pits, wood-burning stoves and an on-site pond is unsuitable for small children.

For this reason, our safaris, garden visits, holiday cottages and campsite are suitable only for children of 12 and over.