We are thinking of buying a canvas bell tent possibly from Belltent UK
or Soulpad, both of whom are mentioned in your 2010 review of camping
equipment, but who despite scoring well, you say do not have supply
chain policies or policies on cotton.

Both these companies have made token statements on their websites
referring to suppliers:
(see: http://www.belltent.co.uk/index.php...page&id=75 and
http://soulpad.co.uk/sanctuary/content/view/30/25/). Would it be
possible to check the validity of these? They seem very weak to me.

I have now discovered that their products appear to be made in China,
and have found links to discussion forums advising that identical tents
can be bought for £70 cheaper from a Dutch website:
http://www.obelink.nl/tenten/groepstenten/sahara-400-superluxe.html?category_params=category_id%3D1194
- although the website now says they won't ship to the UK which I
thought was illegal under EU trade laws! - is this after pressure from
UK suppliers??).

I have also found that although your article quotes Belltent UK and
Soulpad as 'upmarket' options, what seems to be the same "Sahara 400" 4m
bell tent is described by another supplier as an 'economy' bell tent:
http://www.bctdivisions.co.uk/page.php?id=292

And yet another supplier claims theirs are handmade in England, despite
looking to be the same tents:
http://www.tents-direct.co.uk/show_tents.php?productid=147

While another sells even more expensive bell tents:
http://www.belltent.biz/docs/18/our_bell_tents/

Given that I suspect canvas bell tents would be a popular choice for
your readers, could you do a follow up more detailed look at the growing
popularity of 'glamping' and canvas tents, which probes whether they are
truly ethical options?