For many people, one of the appealing aspects of living on a residential park is being part of a welcoming and sociable community.
In a place like Gateforth Park, homeowners are friendly while also respecting each other’s privacy.
Whether you’re a social butterfly or a happy homebody, a residential park offers a peaceful and safe environment in which to enjoy life.
At Gateforth Park, there are opportunities on site as well as in the nearby villages and towns for those who like to socialise and take part in activities. At the same time our homes are well spaced out to create sense of privacy and tranquillity.
One of our homeowners enjoying the social and leisure opportunities at our residential park is Diane Barber. From organising coffee clubs and a New Year’s Eve party, to keeping fit at the nearby Selby Leisure Centre, Diane is thoroughly embracing the lifestyle here.
“The park had a nice feel”
Diane and her husband Keith moved to Gateforth Park from a small village of about a dozen houses in Norfolk. Although there was a nice community of residents, they felt “quite isolated” because the lack of amenities meant they had to drive everywhere. This was put into sharp focus when Keith became ill and couldn’t drive anymore. It made them realise how difficult it would be to live in the village as they got older.
A friend had been looking at residential parks and recommended the lifestyle on offer, so Diane began researching sites in Yorkshire, where their two sons live. They came across Gateforth Park but Diane admits she didn’t think they would be able to afford it as it looked so nice. However, they decided to drop by. They’d already looked at two other residential parks in West and North Yorkshire but, with both places requiring the use of a car, they preferred Gateforth for its ease of accessibility to amenities and leisure opportunities.
Diane and Keith were immediately impressed with the layout of the site and the fact that the homes aren’t just in regimented rows. They also like the abundance of greenery, and the use of bushes and hedges rather than fencing.
Diane said: “When we viewed the park I thought it was beautiful. We were surprised that we could afford to move here! It helped that we were lucky to find a pre-ordered home that had been cancelled. It was good because our house had sold in two days, so we needed to find somewhere quickly. We couldn’t bespoke it like you can otherwise but we didn’t mind, and we got a good price too.
“Everything about the park and the home had a nice feel. We went away to talk about it and just decided there and then.”
A close-knit community
They moved to Gateforth just over two years ago and have found the park easily accessible for nearby shops and amenities. Their home is bigger than Diane had imagined and she loves having her four young grandsons to stay, taking them swimming at Selby Leisure Centre or for walks around the park.
Both retired, Diane and Keith go to Selby often. Diane usually drives, although they like the fact that there’s a minibus from the park to Selby should they need it. Diane visits the leisure centre three times a week to use the gym or take part in classes such as Aquafit, while Keith is a member of Selby Bowling Club and goes to sessions with another Gateforth resident. Diane and Keith go out to lunch once or twice a week too.
They like the security of Gateforth Park, and Diane enjoys taking their Chihuahua pug cross, Alfie, for walks. She undertook a sponsored walk in February for a dementia charity and spent a lot of time walking around the park for practice.
She said: “You meet a lot of people and get to know them while you’re out walking. It’s a very close-knit community here, without being in each other’s pockets.
“It’s very different to our old place where you could go days without seeing anybody. I didn’t mind at the time because we like our own company, but it’s also nice to be at Gateforth and be part of the community. We are really settled here.”
Community events
Diane became involved in organising social events at the Gateforth Park on-site Community Centre after inviting a few people to join herself and a friend there for coffee one morning. It led to her setting up a coffee club and she’s even held a New Year’s Eve party. Other residents have followed her lead and started their own events, such as a craft afternoon and dominoes sessions, and the centre is now a vibrant community hub.
Diane said: “There are quite a few people here at Gateforth who come to the centre, but some people don’t want to – and that’s fine. I never thought I would be so involved, but I’ve always been a bit of an organiser. I like that side of it; this is why we came, to be with people.”
Find out about our residential park homes
To find out more about the lifestyle and community on offer here at Gateforth Park contact Dawn, Helen or Carol on 01757 616 646 to arrange a tour of the park and our show homes.