Up to six to seven thousand Bermudians are expected to go camping this Cup Match holiday, a figure similar to last year's turn out, said the Parks department.

Parks officer Craig Burt yesterday told The Royal Gazette: "We would not know the exact numbers until camping begins, because on one plot campers may have as many as eight to 15 people, or a larger group of small children.

"All the plots but two are sold, and the two plots that are not sold are at Ferry Reach."

He said: "Ferry Reach was previously a favourite camp location, but last year we had one plot not sold."

There are several other camp grounds run by the Department of Youth and Sport, private groups on Islands and churches.

"The regular camp grounds are not as packed as they used to be and the location of Cup Match does effect some of the camping areas; for instance, Somerset Long Bay is completely packed this year," said Mr. Burt.

The tents of people who camp along Kindley Field Road are counted as well.

At Daniel's Head, there is no camping, but you can picnic and swim there and the Parks Office maintenance crews are taking care of the toilets and garbage collection over the holiday.

The Bermuda weather forecast is calling for light scattered showers with northwesterly winds on Thursday and Friday, but the rest of the weekend was expected to be sunny.

Mr. Burt reminded parents to mind their children on the beaches and said: "Lifeguards are there in the event of an incident but not as a babysitting service."

He said that the Parks office was still running the relaxed policy and campers can come to set up as early as this evening.

The gates leading to the camping areas will be closed at 10 p.m. and campers are being asked not to park in front of the gates overnight as maintenance crews will come early in the mornings and the emergency services may also need to gain access in the case of an emergency.