The secret Skelmersdale glampsite that took dad-of-two from the dole to Dragon's Den

It's difficult to comprehend parting with your hard-earned cash to book a stay at a place you haven't even seen.

It may be even more difficult to comprehend booking a holiday to Skelmersdale.

But that's how much blind faith Derry Green's customers have in him, knowing that they'll have an amazing time - no matter what.

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It's a unique business model that only the successful entrepreneur can get away with after his life took an unexpected u-turn during the coronavirus pandemic.

What started as a lockdown project for the single dad to enjoy with his two kids in their back garden, inadvertently spawned into the creation of The Secret Garden glamping site.

Now the Instagrammable Love Island-style woodland site in Skelmersdale, Lancashire is the UK's "most viewed, most followed and most booked" and has remained so a staggering 18 months in advance.

Next on the 41-year-old's agenda is a Grade II-listed stately home with renovated servants quarters known as The Belfry set to open later this month.

Pre-bookings were filled within 45 minuites of going live - despite not so much as a picture being shared...until now.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, Derry, who recently appeared on Dragon's Den and landed himself a £100k investment from Debra Meaden in exchange for 5% of his business, said people don't need to see it to know they're in for a good time.

"They don't know anything about The Belfry or what it looks like until they get here," Derry said.

"That's down to the trust that people have got with us - a lot of them have been on this journey with us since the start and they know that every time we do something new, it's going to be at least as good as what we've done before - but without exception, it's always better.

"If they wait until the photos are released, they know all the dates will be gone and they won't have a chance of getting in any time soon."

Derry admitted every day he has "pinch me" moments when he looks back on his whirlwind last few years that have also seen him find love and become a father for the third time.

"I keep expecting to wake up from this dream thinking I've got to go to work now. If you'd have told me four years ago that this is where I'd be, I'd call you a liar."

It all started when covid put the brakes on Derry's European transport business in 2020. He was forced to sign up for Universal Credit but he decided to keep busy, distracting his kids from the "doom and gloom" by building a glamping pod that they could camp in.

But as the ideas began to flow, they ended up creating an impressive site complete with a fire pit, hot tub and sauna. It was only when Derry shared his efforts on Facebook that everything exploded.

"It just went ballistic," he said. "People started contacting me from everywhere asking if they could book it for a holiday. At the time it felt crazy, why would anyone want to stay in my back garden?

"But then I listed it on Airbnb and within days it was fully booked two years in advance. From that I could see there was a gap in the market."

The Secret Garden Glamping now boasts 13 luxury units spanning four acres of woodland - each with their own five-star look ranging from pods, lodges, yurts and even a treehouse.

Now a full-time multi-award winning enterprise, Derry from Standish has a team of people working for him, including his partner Chelsea Rogers. He puts his success down to their presence on social media and their firm stance on not charging more during school holidays.

Next on his grand plan is the Belfry - a three bedroomed house that sleeps eight - set in 15 acres of the "phenomenal" grounds of a stately home near Ormskirk where Derry and his family eventually hope to live.

The "massive project" will involve transforming many of the outbuildings and creating a new woodland glamping experience as well as potentially offering yoga and wellness retreats.

"I think back to when this all started, when I was on Universal Credit - I'd never have got to see places like this, it's just something you see on a postcard and now we're at the point where we can acquire a site like this and share it," Derry said.

"In general, people don't get to experience something like this and although we're currently a glamping site in the woods, what we are is an experience provider that also happens to have accomodation and this is just another level of experience."

Derry is also looking at expanding The Secret Garden Glamping across the country and is opening a new site in Cornwall in August.

He said: "Since covid, people's habits have changed, especially with glamping and we're seeing larger family and friend groups going away together.

"They also would rather spend their money with a business or a person that actually appreciates it."

He added: "People realise I'm not doing this to make money - it's a really great consequence of what we're doing - but that's not the reason we're doing it - I'd do it for free.

"As long as I can put some food on the table and sit down and chill out at night then I'm happy, I don't need the new iPhone or a fancy car or whatever.

"I just genuinely enjoy being outside in my shorts and t-shirt building things that people love."