1. Give Up or Quit

   Smoking, drinking and chocolate are bad for you. Stop now! Well, perhaps you want to give up something that you think is bad for you. This will hopefully make you feel better about yourself. Giving up smoking or binge drinking is definitely a good New Year Resolution to make, but get all the support you can if you want to succeed. Get yourself a buddy who can share the experience of giving up with you. You can give each other support and talk about how it is going.

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2. Fitness

   Stop spending so much time on your backside and improve your fitness. There are many who choose to join a gym. This is a costly business, and by the end of February, you may well have given up as it is becoming a chore. What you need is to use the outdoor gym. If you love being social, outdoor bootcamps will provide you with friends, fun and fitness. Go for a walk outdoors for half an hour every day. Start going for a run, slowly at first, and then build up. Go cycling. It is free, and being outside will lift your mood. The changing scenery will also keep your interest. There are also more and more outdoor gyms appearing in parks across the country.

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3. Diets and Losing Weight

   Food glorious food. After the festive food feast, you may think it is time to shift some weight. Don’t just starve yourself. Find out about a balanced diet, and get your metabolism going. Begin to do more exercise to use up more of the calories you take in.

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4. Do something unforgettable

   This is the year that you should go out and do something that makes you feel great about yourself. Have a go at one of the amazing activities that the outdoors has to offer, from high speed driving, skydiving, or experiencing the rush of white water rafting.
   Awesome Outdoor Adventures

5. Complete a personal Challenge

   Set yourself a personal challenge for your New Year’s Resolution. It could be to run a marathon, get that promotion, or even do something you have been thinking about for a while.

   Great Challenge Ideas

6. Learn how to do something new

   There are always new things to learn, and you should learn how to do something new or different as one of your New Year’s Resolutions. Get inspiration on taking up a new hobby.

7. Travel and Visit Somewhere Amazing

   Why not travel and visit somewhere new for your New Year resolution? Travel companies are desperate to get you off travelling around the world, and January is one of the best times of the year to grab a bargain. There is an adventure out there waiting for you. These are the top 40 dream adventure trips everyone else has done.

8. Be social

   Make this year the year that you go out and make new friends. Don’t just use Twitter or Facebook, join a club, or get in touch with old friends. Spend more time with your family, or get to know people in your neighbourhood.

9. Charity and Community

   Think about others as well as yourself. You have a lot to offer others who would really appreciate your time and effort. There are lots of charities that are always seeking help, and community projects that you will get to see the results of.

10. Earn More Money

    This year is going to be a year of opportunity, so look for ways to get your cash flow into a more positive position. Get yourself out of debt and into financial stability by getting that promotion, or getting a new job. If you don’t like the desk job, there are plenty of outdoor jobs that pay well.

Good Luck With your New Year Resolutions

Whatever you endeavour to achieve this year, get all the support you can and stick at it. Things may be easy or they may be tough, but keep going. It will be worth it.

The post 10 Top New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Active Outdoors.

But what role models do today’s teenagers have? Pop stars, footballers, and er, well, I can’t think of anyone else? You don’t get to see any of them doing outdoor activities in the wilderness.

So, perhaps you should be getting your inspiration and encouragement from a source a bit closer to home – your dad. Does your dad encourage you to spend time outdoors? Do you enjoy spending time with your dad outdoors? What makes a great outdoor dad?

I have been pondering this question lately as I watch other dads ignoring their children in the park while they lounge around looking fed up at being dragged out with the family, or shouting at them to stop mucking about when they create their own disruptive fun. There does seem to be a big disconnect between dads and their kids. Is this because they spend all of their time at work and not enough time playing with their children? Do they actually know the best way to interact?

I love the great outdoors, and as a dad I try my best to introduce my children to as wide a variety of outdoor experiences as I can . This doesn’t mean taking them on 10 mile hikes over mountains because it will do them good. I encourage them to try new activities and experiences, but it has to be fun. I provide guidance and knowledge from my years of experience as an outdoor adventurer, but also give them the freedom to learn and discover things for themselves.

This led me to thinking, “What makes a great outdoor dad?” With a lot of input from my children, here is my list of 20 things on how to be a great outdoor dad.

1. Fun – Make every outdoor experience fun.
2. Get a dog – The family will love the furry creature to bits, but it is you that has to go out in all weathers to walk the beast. Not forgetting those times when everyone else is tucked up in bed while you are out there in the driving rain and cold waiting for the little darling to do a poo. Or to come back when called, not.
3. Camping genius – Be able to put up the family tent on your own in the pouring rain while everyone else watches from the safety of the car.
4. Be adventurous
5. Be safe – Test out trees and rope swings before they do. You do have to then let them have a go though.
6. Cook an amazing meal over an open fire or on the smallest of gas stoves.
7. Stand on the touch line of the football or netball match and shout encouragement without getting yourself banned.
8. Be able to demonstrate every outdoor sport and activity to your kids and try to be better at it than them. This won’t last as they will soon learn how to be better and faster than you. No fear those kids, especially teenagers or those low to the ground. As a dad you feel the weight of responsibility for making sure you don’t break anything as you have to look after them and get and drive them all home after the holiday.
9. Come up with amazing facts. Did you know that …?
10. Do stuff with them. Don’t send them off on their own while you stay in and watch tv.
11. Be able to run or walk great distances back to the car so that you can go and pick everyone else up on the so called circular route where they are too tired to walk the rest of the way.
12. Bicycle repair man. Have a tool for every occasion and be able to fix everything, usually where over enthusiasm has led to a favourite toy breaking. Fixing bent derailleurs and twisted handlebars from unexpected dismounts. Still, at least it was the toy and not them.
13. Lifeguard on the river rapids. Keeping up with the kids at water parks.
14. Find your way anywhere. Even in the dark. Usually for finding holiday places late in the night whey of arrive down a narrow country lane. Also useful for finding your way to and from the pub when staying in new places.
15. Give their inexperienced friends important advice when descending steep mountain bike trails, such as “keep it slow and use your brakes,” only to be ignored as they know better. Good job young bodies bounce better than older ones.
16. Don’t be afraid of the dark (or anything, especially wild animals).
17. Help to develop self confidence by showing them that they can do things – assault courses and mtb single track
18. Develop independence
19. Guide yet give freedom to learn and discover
20. Enjoy spending time together. You never know how much you will have.

Have I missed anything? What is your dad like? Is your dad great outdoors? Let me know what you think makes a great outdoor dad on the Active Outdoors facebook page.

The post The Joys of Being an Outdoor Dad on Fathers Day appeared first on Active Outdoors.

I have learned from personal experience that the best way to support your mental health and wellbeing is to do any outdoor activity that involves focussing on any form of physical movement in the real world.  It doesn’t have to be physically demanding, so long as the activity uses your mind to move your body and interact with the physical world.  It could be physical exercise, gardening, making something, photography, camping, or spending time sharing outdoor experiences with people you love being with.

The different types of outdoor activities in the list below help to break that cycle of spending too much time thinking and dwelling on things without moving your body or interacting with the physical world.  The best outdoor activities I have found for boosting your mental health and releasing the tension from living in the modern world are making or repairing things, dancing, gardening, mountain biking, or learning any new skills that requires moving your body in a specific way to interact with reality.  These outdoor activities force your mind to focus on the here and now, and free your mind from those freewheeling thoughts that just lock you into a state of perpetual anxiety.  Before you know it you will find yourself totally absorbed in the outdoor activities you are doing and find that sense of calm and wellbeing you have been seeking.  But you need to find the right activity for you.

The outdoor recreational activities list will provide you with inspiration for things to do outdoors whether you are on your own, in a group, with your teens, friends or family.  If I have missed anything out, get in touch on the Active Outdoors Facebook page.

The post Outdoor Activities For Your Physical and Mental Health appeared first on Active Outdoors.

One of the first questions that will always ring in your mind at the mention of camping is where you will spend the night when you have finished your day of adventure. Hammock camping is just the thing to have if you plan to have an activity that will last for days.

Camping hammocks are designed to offer the comfort you could have enjoyed while at home. Apart from the comfort, the ease with which they are set up or taken down is amazing. If you are not familiar with camping hammocks, you will be eager to know how to choose the most suitable one for you and how to use your camping hammock.

Types of camping hammocks

There are mainly two types of camping hammocks. They are:

1. Gathered-end camping hammocks – These type of camping hammocks are asymmetrical with the ends gathering together to form a single bunch. It is suspended between two points forming a flatter position while sleeping.
2. Bridge camping hammocks – These camping hammocks have non-gathered ends. It is reinforced with a gather bar to form a flat design.

How to choose camping hammocks

A camping hammock is not something that you can just walk into a store and pick. There are features that you must consider before making a purchase. Which season have you planned your camping to take place? This is a very important question that must be answered.
Remember that winter camping hammocks have different features as compared to the summer camping hammock. These form the basis of making a good choice. Are you planning to use bug nets? How do you plan to use the hammock? These are important questions that must be answered before choosing a particular camping hammock.

Below are some of the things you should look for in a camping hammock.

Weight

The best hammock should be light enough to minimize the stress of carrying heavy backpacks. The lightweight hammocks are mainly made of polyester, canvas or cotton. Lighter hammocks are easy to suspend.

The best hammock straps become useful when it comes to the suspension of the camping hammocks. Take note that the lightest models will not be very durable. The size of the hammock is also a contributing factor when it comes to the weight.

Comfort

Your comfort at the campsite is very essential. The hammock should be large enough to accommodate you without straining. The hammock should be able to provide the warmth that is within preferred standards.

Most light models are known to be less warm since a lot of effort has been put on the material at the expense of comfort. There are however some isolated cases where lightweight and comfort have been combined to give the best camping hammock.

The water-repellent features are very important especially on extremely cold or rainy seasons. You cannot afford to spend your money on a product that will have your body completely covered with water when you wake up. This will be probably one of the worst camping experiences ever.

To enjoy a bug-free sleep, you can add a net as an accessory. There are however hammock models that have been designed with bug prevention mechanisms for maximum comfort if the camping area is known for bugs.

Ease of setting up

Hammocks are easy to set up if you have the straps or the best carabiner for a hammock. Without any of these, you will find it difficult to suspend the hammock. The carabiners and straps are known to hold the hammock firmly to the trees or rocks so that incidences of you falling are eliminated in totality.

Once you have these materials with you, the hammock will be easy to suspend in any location so long as the distance between the two anchors, be it trees or rocks, is convenient.

Protection

The hammock should have protective features to keep you safe from natural conditions such as wind and rain. Nylon hammocks are known to be the best when it comes to protection against windy conditions. Some camping hammocks have also been specially designed with underquilts to protect against the winds flowing on the downward side of the hammock.

Protection against any falling bugs from the tree and light rains is very essential as well. Some are even fitted with extra pockets that you can use to store some of your gear that you won’t be using at night.

Benefits of Camping Hammocks

You might be asking yourself why you should go for a hammock instead of a tent. There are lots of reasons why hammocks are preferred when it comes to camping. Some of the benefits you are likely to enjoy are:

1. Having your hammock suspended at least 18 inches off the ground helps keep you away from dangerous creeping animals such as snakes and spiders. They will crawl below the hammock, therefore, leaving you safe.
2. You will be comfortable as you will be away from the uneven grounds, rocks and roots that are often associated with most fields. Having the hammock is the best way to keep from such discomfort. Your body will enjoy comfort in its entirety.
3. Muck-free and dry sleep all night. The raising keeps you from floods and debris. You will not need to do any cleaning when you wake up making it even more convenient.
4. The hammocks are easy and quick to set up. Once you have proper straps and carabiners, you will be done with the setup in a few minutes and have enough time to concentrate on other activities.
5. Hammocks are known to endure all kinds of weather making them durable. You will, therefore, use them for many camping activities more than you have thought. The carabiners and straps alike are also made from long-lasting materials.

Conclusion

Camping is a perfect way to get to relax and enjoy yourself away from the busy daily lives. Your comfort and safety throughout the entire period are very essential. That is why you need to choose the best hammock available as this will be your bed for the entire period. This is the reason why I had to stress on the need for the best and how you can find one.

I hope that you enjoyed reading this article and above all, you managed to learn something new so that the next time you go camping you get the best experience.

If you are thinking of going camping with your boyfriend or girlfriend, you might want to buy a double camping hammock and read these top tips for going camping with your boyfriend.
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The post Choosing and Using Camping Hammocks appeared first on Active Outdoors.

My aim was to become more physically and mentally resilient so that I can be there for my wife and children as long as possible and live my later years with a good quality of life.  Just like the advice to take out a pension plan early on in life, most of us leave it until things become a problem.

Always take medical advice from your doctor before embarking on any changes that may impact your health.

It is never too late to make a difference in your life.  Doing something is better than doing nothing.  You have to look after yourself because when it comes down to it, no one else will.

Chronic Lyme Disease, ME and Long Covid all seem to have a common set of symptoms;

• pain,
• exhaustion,
• headaches
• heart palpitations when at rest,
• food intolerance
• anxiety, and a sense of unease or agitation
• brain fog, memory problems, difficulty to focus,
• extreme physical tension.

I think that one of the key differences though may be in relation to respiratory problems from Covid.  The UK government is funding research to find out how Long Covid can be addressed.

This year more and more people who have long Covid are saying that they have discovered the techniques detailed below to relieve their symptoms.  My belief is that the situation is initially caused by an immune system response that is lingering and perpetually exhausting the patient.  On top of that, uncertainty about their condition  causes anxiety, which leads to unconscious learned physical responses to the mental and physical stress their bodies are suffering.  There is a way to break this cycle though.  I hope it works for you as it has for many others.

Here is what I have learned.

1. REST!  SLEEP!

You are feeling absolutely exhausted, but not necessarily every day.  Some days you will feel fine, but others feel really crap.  You need to be kind to yourself.  Treat yourself as your best friend.

One of the best pieces of advice I came across was to treat each day as you feel.  If you are feeling exhausted, then take it easy.  If you are feeling OK, do a bit more, but be gentle!  You have to very gradually build up to things.  It is so easy to over do it.

Getting good quality rest and sleep is vital.  If you aren’t feeling refreshed after sleeping at night, try to avoid some of the daytime naps so that you do most of your sleeping at night.  But, if you need to nap in the day, then do so.

As you settle yourself down to sleep, think about how you would like to feel.  Imagine that what it would be like if it were possible.  You will get negative thoughts about not ever feeling well again, and that is to be expected, but you need to give yourself permission to relax and visualise the feelings associated with feeling great.  What would you love to be able to do?  Where would you like to go?  What new experience or skill would you like to have?

The key message is to take things gently.  Now is not a time to be competitive.  If you don’t do well today, that is just today.  Tomorrow is another unique day that may well be a good one for you.  Imagine good fortune finding you and following you wherever you go.  Every thing you do, however small is another little step in the right direction, as long as you keep focused on your intention of being kind to yourself.

2. Distract Your Mind from Destructive Thoughts

The most important thing I found was that however mentally strong you think you are, your mind will identify what you focus on wherever you go.  If you are not feeling 100% and that is a concern for you, your mind will just keep dwelling on it over and over and over.  Although you should seek medical advice for any ailment you think you may have, I found that giving your mind a break and stopping the perpetual destructive cycle of going over and over your problems is a hugely powerful thing.

I was advised that mindfulness is brilliant for getting away from the day to day stresses and relaxing.  Oh boy does it cause problems if you are one of those people whose minds are always going full tilt.  Sitting still and being aware of how I felt and what was happening around me was a hugely stressful experience.   Not relaxing at all.  In fact, more and more research is showing that mindfulness causes anxiety and can be detrimental to some people’s mental health.

What you need is a way to distract your mind.

Counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with the process of getting you head in the right space. Make sure any therapy is right for you though.  Ask lots of questions.

Mindful Movement

What I eventually worked out after trying meditation and other relaxation techniques was that mindful movement worked wonders in disengaging the mind from negative thoughts and stress.  Any activity that forces you to physically interact with the real world in a focussed manner stops the negative mental cycle of thoughts.  This is because the activity requires your full attention.

Going for a walk does not help.  However, walking in a particular way does, such as walking barefoot and paying attention to everything your feet feel.  The textures of the ground, the difference in temperature of grass as you walk from sunshine into the shade, or even lovely warm sand beneath your feet.

Mountain biking is another brilliant activity for mindful movement.  Going downhill on a rooty and uneven trail forces you to focus on what you are doing or risk falling off.  Your mind doesn’t have the opportunity to dwell on any of your worries.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is also great for focussing on reality.  It also is a great way to develop your sense of balance in the great outdoors.

Another activity that people are finding works wonders is Chi Kung; in particular the Ba Duan Jin exercises.  These exercises help your mind and body, calming the mind, stretching and relaxing the body, and helping with the circulation of you blood and lymphatic system.

3. Balance

In your later years, balance becomes a vital skill to have to prevent trips and falls.  Developing your sense of balance while you are young and maintaining it is absolutely essential for later life.  There are plenty of ways you can have fun becoming more balanced.

• Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Learn to ride a Unicycle
• Slacklines
• Skateboarding, snowboarding or surfing
• Balance boards
• Hover Boards
• Tai Chi

4. Stretching

Most of us find ourselves sitting still for a long time, either at work or watching TV.  Research has recently proven that dynamic sitting is a great way to avoid heart disease and other diseases of the more industrialised world.

Stretching is a must for getting rid of those knotted and stiff muscles, tendons and joints.

Have you lost your flexibility? When you are young you think it will last forever, but slowly and surely your flexibility and mobility creep away right under your nose.  It is all too easy when you feel stiff to decide to give the gym a miss because that would just aggravate the problem.  Perhaps you just need to sit down put on Netflix and rest up.

Like so many of us, we tend not to stretch regularly or don’t know how to stretch in a way that will maintain or improve key movement.

Do not worry though; it is not gone forever, but you need to go about stretching properly.  Too many stretches are assumed to work when they are in fact straining your muscles or making your flexibility worse.

Proper physiotherapist designed stretches that target the problem area can more than double the effectiveness of a stretch when you know how.  If you don’t have access to a physiotherapist who can advise you, I highly recommend Milo Kemp’s book Use it or Lose It.

This was an awesome and comprehensive read, with fantastic images illustrating the stretches and clear, concise descriptions on how to do them properly. It makes the case for how important it is for people to keep their mobility and flexibility, especially as you get older.  It covers:

• Stretches to manage mobility limiting diseases such as arthritis
• A routine to make the most musclebound gym-goer as flexible as a gymnast
• You will discover the reasons stretching is important you may not have known
• How to unlock your mind-body balance and the inner peace that provides
• Discover how to build on newfound mobility to live a healthier happier life.

5. Gradually Building Up Aerobic Exercises

Building up your heart and lung capacity for exercise is a good long term investment, but you must do this gradually.  Always consult your doctor before embarking on any new significant exercise regime.

The lymphatic system is part of your immune system that gets rid of the waste.  Unlike your blood, it doesn’t have anything to pump it around the body.  This is done whenever you physically move.  So you need to move enough to make sure your lymphatic system works well.

Running, Cycling, Swimming and Outdoor Bootcamps are all great for being accessible ways to improve your aerobic fitness.  I know how hard it is to motivate yourself to go running on your own and found that joining a running club really helps.  I love the social aspect of my running club.  Everyone is friendly and will chat or leave you be as you wish.  Choose a club that suits your running ability.  There are many clubs that help you to go from Couch to 5K.  At 5 kilometres you will be able to complete a Parkrun.

It is VERY important that you very gradually build up your physical ability.  It took me 3 months as a reasonably fit person who sat at a desk all day and never exercised to go from couch to 5K.  I felt I could do it quicker, but knew that I would regret progressing too quickly.  Run how you feel on the day.  Don’t run to keep up with your goals.  It is good to have something to aim for, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get there just yet.  You will eventually with determination.

Exercising with someone is great for distracting your mind from the physical challenge.  Having a chat on a parkrun always gives me better times.  I am not an elite athlete, but I am investing in my long term health.  That is what is important.

Hill Sprints are the next level up, and are perfect for building up your VO2 Max.  This is where you find a short suitable hill and spend 5 minutes sprinting up it and jogging down it.  You should run so that you are just beginning to get out of breath.  If you find you are hauling your lungs trying to breath you need to stop and get your breath back.  Workout with how you are feeling on the day.  Some days you will be awesome, others you will be disappointed.  It doesn’t matter as long as you do something.

You can find out the science behind hill sprints and the 5 minute high intensity training approach in the BBC documentary Michael Moseley The Truth About Getting Fit

The Royal Canadian Airforce 5BX and XBX exercises are another way of improving your fitness in a controlled manner.  To ensure that their aircrews were fit, they asked doctors to devise a series of exercises that could be done daily to maintain physical fitness and health.  In 12 minutes per day, you can improve your general wellbeing without any equipment.

Aerobic exercise has been shown to support T cell response, which is a key part of the immune system.  T cells are generated in the Thymus.  Research shows that physical exercise induces a substantial re-distribution of T-cells within lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs,  which has a positive effect on lymphocyte trafficking and enhances your body’s immune surveillance and vigilance.

6. Strength Exercises

Strength exercises that use your body weight are all you need to keep yourself in pretty good shape.  Lifting irregular objects helps your mind and body by having to adjust each time to work out how to use your muscles to lift.  Gym weights are too repetitive and don’t allow your body to cope with unusual or unexpectedly unbalanced objects.

You don’t need to use weights for strength exercises.  Press ups, sit ups, chin ups and hand stands are pretty effective.  Hand stands also help with developing balance.  For hardcore strength, see if you can build up to the ultimate inverted handstand pressup!

The only equipment you really need is a yoga mat and some resistance bands.

Once again, the 5BX and XBX exercises can be used for developing functional fitness and strength.

7. Cold Water Showers or Swimming

Wild swimming is the age old practise of swimming in natural waters.

The effects of cold water on improving the immune system have been studied widely. Cold water helps to boost the white blood cell count because the body is forced to react to changing conditions. Over time, your body becomes better at activating the immune system defences.  Cold water swimming activates endorphins, which is the chemical that the brain produces to make us feel good during activities.  When endorphins are released when we’re in pain, it helps us to cope with it.

Cold water immersion (yes you can also do it by having a cold shower) causes a stress response.  If you do it on a regular basis, over time you learn to calm yourself and your breathing to cope with being in the cold water.  This has a natural effect of also triggering your responses to anxiety and stress by your mind and body being able to calm itself more readily.  Cold water immersion has also been shown to help cope with peripheral neuropathy and pain that medicines can’t always treat.

This has been experimentally proven on the BBC health series by the Van Tulleken doctor twins.  In the TV series “The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs” they tried to get people with chronic pain to reduce the amount of prescription drugs they were on by using some lifestyle changes.  The most successful techniques were from cold water swimming with a friend (on your own didn’t distract the mind enough) or tai chi type exercises.

You can find out lots more about how it all works from the book Way of the Iceman by Wim Hof .

Science has now proved that the legendary Wim Hof Method of breath control and cold-training can dramatically enhance energy levels, improve circulation, reduce stress, boost the immune system, strengthen the body and successfully combat many diseases. While Wim Hof himself has run marathons in -30oC in shorts, swum hundreds of meters under the ice, sat in a tank of ice for 90 minutes without his core temperature changing and boosted his metabolism by over 300%, this book documents how anyone can use Wim’s methods to transform their health and strength, quickly and safely.

8. Nutrition and Fasting

Long Covid and Chronic Lyme Diesease both cause food intolerance.  Histamine is apparently involved.  Once you have got over the initial infection you find that after certain meals you feel really crap.  It took me ages to work out that I needed to limit cheese, potatoes, sugar, chocolate and yeast.  A food diary will help you log what you eat and how you feel in the next 24 hours afterwards.  You soon see the pattern.  After a month or so, I was able to reintroduce them into my diet.

Eating the right nutrition for you can be a challenge at times.  Mood, money and health can impact on what you choose to eat.  Your gut is astonishingly clever. It contains millions of neurons – as many as you would find in the head of a cat. By eating the right combination of food and feeding the trillions of microbes in your microbiome, you can influence our mood, weight and immune system via the vagus nerve.

The growing consensus from research into what diet maximises longevity, the verdict seems to be a vegan core, with fish.  If you don’t want to go all in straightaway, minimise red meat, and increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.  You should make the food on your plate as varied in colour as possible.  Dark green leafy veg is high in iron.  Purple fruits and vegetables are rich in anthocyanins, which are natural plant pigments that provide foods with their unique colour.  Studies have shown that anthocyanins may benefit brain health, help to lower inflammation, and fight cancer and heart disease.

Gradually increase the right foods rather than focusing on cutting out the wrong foods.  Over time you will begin to want to eat more of the right things and reduce your indulgent intake.

There is growing evidence that intermittent fasting extends life span and ameliorates aging-related diseases.  This is because it switches your genes from reproduction mode into repair/survival mode.  There are several ways to do this from only eating between 10 am and 8pm, or limiting calorie intake on one day of the week.  Take medical advice before undertaking any form of dramatic change in dietary intake.

9. Experience Awesome Beauty

Being outdoors somewhere with a spectacular view is really good for the mind, body and soul.  During the year of Covid-19, more people have been getting out to explore the countryside.  Some though don’t seem to get the idea of being outdoors just for the pleasure of it.  Fights have broken out queuing to get to the top of Snowdon in Wales as people just want to tick it off with a selfie.

Part of the pleasure and restorative quality of nature is that you can take on that physical challenge to get to the top of a summit, and then just sit there and enjoy the view.  Find your own summit rather than go for the popular ones.  Even the view of London from Greenwich Park is most satisfying to just sit and look at.

Get Out More for Your Vitamin D

We need vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.  Research shows that more Vitamin D supports T Cell production, which is a key part of your immune system.

Our body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin when we’re outdoors. From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D we need from sunlight.

We also get some vitamin D from a small number of foods, including oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, as well as red meat and eggs.  Since the winter months tend not to provide enough sunlight to produce the amount of Vitamin D we need, sounds like a good excuse to spend the evenings indoors somewhere nice and cosy with some great food to share with friends and family.

10. Shared Social Experiences

Science has shown that those who have a healthy social life live longer.  That social connection helps your mind to stop dwelling on your own issues.  One of the best ways to improve any social relationship is to share an experience together.  Doing an outdoor activity with your partner will bring you closer together and strengthen your love.

Learning something new together is a great way to get to know other people better.  A great outdoor activity for teams is sailing.

11. Learn a new Skill

Learning a new skill has been shown to rewire your brain and improve your mental abilities.  If that skill involves some form of physical activity, then you are developing your entire mind and body connection.  This pays dividends in the long run.

Top outdoor skills to learn include:

1. Bushcraft
2. Navigation
3. Board sports
4. Sailing
5. Target sports such as archery, golf or shooting
6. Flying
7. Circus skills
8. Slacklining
9. Scuba diving
10. Outdoor arts and crafts

12. Gratitude

There are a variety of things that can conjure positive feelings of appreciation or gratitude that may guide you towards meaning and better health.

The Harvard Medical School provides more detail, writing that gratitude is:

“a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals–whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”

You will come across lots of websites saying that gratitude journals are great for improving your mental health and attracting more positive things into your life.  As an engineer, I queried how that might work.  I couldn’t get used to saying “thankyou for X that happened today.”  Who or what was I saying thankyou to?  What I did find that worked was to rephrase it by saying it as ” I am glad that X happened today.” Using this framing allowed me to connect with the sentiment and led me to being able to focus on all of the positive experiences I was having.  Over time, I could see more and more of the great things that I experienced.  What a mood booster.

If you want some inspiration on things to do outdoors that will help you on your journey, the complete outdoor activities list is the best place to start.  May good fortune find you and follow you wherever you go, whatever you do.

The post Ways to Recover From Long Covid And Chronic Lyme Disease appeared first on Active Outdoors.

The campaign has been extended to run from the 14^th August to the 4^th October

Following the success of the Take a Friend Fishing initiative which saw hundreds of anglers register across the first two weeks of July, the Environment Agency, Angling Trust and Angling Trades Association have combined to extend the campaign. This will give Environment Agency rod fishing licence holding anglers the opportunity to register to take a friend fishing throughout the eight-week period running from 14th August to 4th October 2020.

Going fishing is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family and friends and has proven mental health and wellbeing benefits. Fishing licence holding anglers will be able to register for a free one-day Environment Agency fishing licence worth £6 to take someone they know fishing. To take advantage of this offer, all that licence holding anglers need to do is to visit www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk.

Jamie Cook CEO of the Angling Trust said “We are thrilled to be able to drive the Take a Friend Fishing initiative forward and I applaud the Environment Agency for taking this proactive step to build on the work the Angling Trust have done to get fishing back and then to grow angling participation. We need to seize this opportunity which allows both experienced and new anglers, as well as those returning to the sport, the opportunity to share the experience, sew the seed and help their friends and families take that first step to establishing a fishing habit.”

With licence sales booming following angling restrictions being lifted, now is the ideal time for the angling community to come together and help to increase participation in the sport. Andrew Race who recently took over as Chairman of the Angling Trades Association (ATA) said “The decision by the Environment Agency to extend the Take a Friend Fishing initiative cannot be underestimated. It reflects the cooperative potential and commitment to angling that now exists between the major stakeholders. I feel privileged to be ATA chair at this exciting time and would urge the trade as a whole to look at what we are achieving and support this initiative”.

Kevin Austin, Deputy Director for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at the Environment Agency said “Angling is a great way to spend time outdoors whilst remaining a safe distance, has known wellbeing benefits and what’s more, anyone can participate. The Environment Agency, Angling Trust and the Angling Trades Association fully support the Take a Friend Fishing initiative which invites newcomers to discover the positives around this sport for themselves. The success of the recent relaunch and increase in licence sales since the lockdown period has shown the enthusiasm that exists and so we are extending the free one day licence offer again so that we can grow our angling community even more!”

Members of the angling trade have responded positively, welcoming the initiative, and adding their support.

Ali Hamidi of Korda/Guru said “We are extremely excited to launch the #takeafriendfishing campaign in conjunction with the Angling Trades Association, Environment Agency and The Angling Trust! The surge that fishing has seen during these difficult months has been remarkable. It is our responsibility as anglers across the UK to show the splendour of our beloved pastime to friends and family who have never been lucky enough to enjoy this amazing hobby. The sport deserves to thrive, the mental and physical benefits are phenomenal, and we should all carry the torch of angling proudly and help others get involved. This scheme will really make a difference to people’s lives so every major brand and all anglers should do their bit from August the 14th. Go make someone’s dreams come true.”

Mat Woods, Brand Manager at Korum has welcomed the extension “I think everyone involved in the angling industry realises the magnitude of the current situation. Anglers are fishing more often, lapsed anglers are returning, and the wave of new anglers is exciting and momentous. These remarkable times are providing a unique insight into how many anglers there could be. We have all dreamed of these numbers and our focus must now shift to retaining them. The extension of Take A Friend Fishing is superb news as it breaks down one of the barriers to engaging with the sport. Taking someone fishing gives you an opportunity to take an active part in angling and its future. Let’s head in the right direction whilst we’ve got the wind in our sails and let’s do it together.”

The extension will benefit all areas of the sport with September a great month to catch fish on the fly. Brian Campbell-Kearsey, Orvis UK commented: “Orvis are excited to be involved with this year’s Take a Friend Fishing initiative. Now it has been extended to run from 14^th August to 4^th October, it means for the first time, people will be able to invite a friend to enjoy fly fishing in September, one of the best times of year to fly fish. Orvis are committed to making fly fishing more inclusive and accessible and this worthwhile initiative fits perfectly with our ethos. We are planning some events to encourage people to introduce their friends to this fantastic sport and engage in nature and the outdoors.” Cook added “Some of my best fishing has come through September, it’s a brilliant time to be on the bank and I will certainly be taking advantage of this opportunity to introduce friends…I hope many anglers will do the same.”

For more information and to get a free one-day fishing licence to Take a Friend Fishing, fishing licence holding anglers just need to go to www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk and provide some simple contact details including their fishing licence number and the date of the fishing trip. This will notify their friend who, after checking their details are correct, will be able to go fishing with the fishing licence holder, on the selected day using their own free one-day fishing licence

Angling can still be practiced safely and has seen a boom in participation numbers after being one of the first sports to return on 13^th May after lockdown guidelines were relaxed. The Angling Trust – the national representative and governing body for angling in England regularly updates its guidelines to anglers, clubs, fisheries, coaches, and other angling organisations to ensure fishing can comply with the latest Government guidance during the Covid-19 epidemic

Key Dates:
The extended Take a Friend Fishing runs from August 14^th to the October 4^th. That means that during the extended period there are eight weekends that you can encourage your audience to take a friend fishing.

Hashtags:
#takeafriendfishing #getfishing

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anglingtrust
Twitter: @AnglingTrust
Instagram: @getintofishing

Get a free Take a Friend Fishing one-day fishing licence:
www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk

The post Take a Friend Fishing 2020 appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Spending a Saturday afternoon, sitting on the shore of a small secluded pond, like the one shown below, with your line in the water and a comfortable lawn chair for your relaxation, is like no other way to blend yourself with the wonders of nature while spending quality time breathing fresh air.

Most experienced fishermen are also conservationists in their own way. They care about the condition of the waters that they fish and also the health of the fish that they seek. The vast majority of freshwater fishermen take care to protect the fish by practicing catch-and-release, keeping only those fish that they intend to eat. Freshwater fishing has grown as a family sport, because it is easy to learn, and relatively inexpensive. All that is needed is a spinning rod and reel combination that can be purchased in most sporting goods stores for less than $50. Add to this a few hooks and bobbers for less than $5 and you are ready to go.

Sporting good stores have so many artificial lures on their shelves that it would tend to scare away a beginner fisherperson. I do not subscribe to artificial lures for beginners, because I feel that the most effective bait that has been used since fishing was first discovered is the earth worm. Worms or night crawlers are available at most stores that sell fishing bait. A small hook tied to the end of your line with a bobber about three feet from the hook, will catch you a nice fish, like the one shown below.

This young mother watched her son bring in this largemouth bass off of a lakeside dock. Both of them enjoyed the experience and then returned the fish to the lake and watched it gracefully swim away. The true enjoyment of this experience was the memory and the photo that hangs on the child’s wall.
The beauty of freshwater fishing is that it can be enjoyed by an individual, in the solitude of a secluded lake or pond, or it can be a family activity, where everyone can participate, not only in the actual fishing, but by watching the mysteries of nature unfold before your eyes. A blue Herron, walking along the shoreline, stalking its next meal, demonstrates the cycle of life where nature provides all of its creatures, the means for survival. A female deer slowly and silently walking to the water for a drink, stops and looks around before she signals to her two small fawns to follow her, again a lesson in survival.
Another great way to enjoy a day in the outdoors is to take your basic fishing equipment to a local lake and rent a small boat for a day on the water. Most lakes have at least one marina where boats can be rented at a reasonable cost and these boats usually come equipped with all of the safety equipment that you will need. This is a great way to get a day out of the house, away from the computers, ipads and cell phones. I do however recommend that at least one cell phone be taken as a safety precaution.

We all are born with an element of competitiveness inside us. Fishing tends to bring that spirit out in several ways. First, there is the element of challenge between the fish and the fisherman. This may not seem like a fair competition but I assure you, nature has taught fish every trick that there is to avoid being caught. As we fishermen always say, fish did not get large by being stupid. The second challenge is to always try to improve on your personal best catch. Like a runner, you always want to improve on your last best fish. The third element of challenge is within and between other fishermen. Fishing in groups always introduces the challenge of a small wager on the biggest fish of the day. Not the least of all of these challenges is the opportunity to put a fine meal on the table. Fish are high in protein and are always mentioned in published diets as a recommended food.

Many people have a desire to do some freshwater fishing but do not know how to get started. Nearly every major sports store holds fishing seminars for beginners or they can point you to a local fishing club that sponsors such programs. Some Community colleges have added fishing to their evening program due to its growing popularity. Most serious fishermen will always take the time to spend a few hours with you going over the basics of fishing. If you want to spend some money, there are many fishing guides on major waterways that will take you out fishing for a few hours for a fee. They supply all of the fishing gear and bait you need so it is a good investment before you start buying equipment.

There are also many books available that cover the entire range of fishing procedures. The author of this article has published four books about freshwater fishing. They can be reviewed on his web site, www.jakestakeonfishing.com. This site also links to his blog which provides timely tips about local fishing activities.

The post Freshwater Fishing appeared first on Active Outdoors.

The Most Popular Outdoor Recreational Activities

Every year the Outdoor Foundation in the US and Sport England in the UK publish a list of the most popular outdoor activities.
According to the Outdoor Foundation, about half the U.S. population participated in outdoor recreation at least once in 2018, including hunting, hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing among many more outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the report highlights an alarming trend that just under half the U.S. population does not participate in outdoor recreation at all.

The most popular outdoor activities are:

1. Running, jogging and trail running;
2. Hiking and walking for fitness;
3. Camping and RV Camping;
4. Road biking, mountain biking and BMX;
5. Freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing;
6. Golf;
7. Wildlife watching;
8. Netball and basketball;
9. Tennis and Table Tennis;
10. Soccer;

Most participants preferred to find adventure less than one mile from their homes.

The top 10 list remains fairly consistent year on year.  There are however a few variations as new sports and activities develop and become popular for a while. Follow the blog to find out new trends and more great ways to try out new activities and get active outdoors.

Outdoor Activities Environment Picker

Use the images below to jump to the section in the outdoor activities list with the environment for you.

Outdoor Recreational Activities and Hobbies for Adults

Outdoor recreational activities are ways in which you can spend your leisure time outdoors being physically active, creative, relaxing, having fun or being social.  Explore the huge range of exciting outdoor activities and some of the best adventure sports in the list below.

The most popular ideas for outdoor summer activities include:

• outdoor activities to do on the weekend with friends,
• outdoor activities for couples,
• bucket list of summer activities for boyfriend and girlfriend.

What are the Different Types of Outdoor Activities?

To help you choose which outdoor recreational activities and hobbies suit your needs right now, I have rated them under five categories:

• Relaxing outdoor activities to just unwind and take things easy or to improve your sense of well being.
• Fun outdoor activities that are a perfect for shared experiences where it’s all about fun and friends.
• Outdoor physical challenges that provide adventure and challenge for an adrenaline buzz or for personal development.
• Extreme outdoor activities for thrill seekers that give a serious adrenaline rush and require great skill
• Outdoor sports activities that need a few friends to join in and are competitive

Land Activities

This vast list of outdoor land activities provides inspiration for fitness, downhill fun, relaxing creative hobbies, personal challenges, new skills to learn and outdoor recreational activities that will leave you with a huge smile.

•  4×4 driving experience
•  Activity Holidays for adults and families
•  Adventure Races
•  Air rifle and air pistol shooting
•  Airsoft
•  American Football
•  Animal Parks, Wildlife Parks and Zoos
•  Archery
•  Assault courses and Obstacle course races
•  Athletics
•  Backyard Sleepovers
•  Badminton
•  Baseball and Softball
•  Basketball
•  Baton Twirling
•  Battle Reenactments
•  Beach Activities
•  Beachcombing
•  Bicycle Polo
•  Bird watching holidays
•  BMX biking
•  Boccia
•  Bootcamps for fitness
•  Bouldering
•  Bowls
•  Brushboarding
•  Bubble Football
•  Bushcraft and survival courses
•  Camel trekking holidays
•  Camogie
•  Camping
•  Canyoning and Canyoneering
•  Capoeira
•  Carnivals
•  Carriage driving
•  Cave biking underground
•  Caving and potholing
•  Cheerleading
•  Chinese Martial Arts
•  Circus Skills
•  Clay Pigeon Shooting
•  Climbing courses and climbing holidays
•  Concerts, Festivals and Gigs
•  Conkers
•  Cookout
•  Crazy Golf and Mini Golf, Pitch and Putt
•  Cricket
•  Croquet
•  Cycling fitness training
•  Dance, Street Dance
•  Den Building and Bivouacs
•  Digger and JCB driving
•  Dodgeball
•  Dog Scootering
•  Drag Racing
•  Driving Experience Days
•  Duathlon
•  Eclipse Sphering and Eclipse Zorbing
•  Equestrian (horse Riding, eventing, racing, dressage, cross country)
•  Exercise and fitness
•  Exploring holidays
•  Fencing
•  Fives (rugby)
•  Floorball
•  Folk Dancing
•  Footbags
•  Football and Soccer
•  Free Running and Parkour
•  Fruit Picking
•  Fun fairs
•  Futsal
•  Gaelic Football
•  Gap Year Travelling
•  Gardening
•  Geocaching
•  Gladiator Training
•  Goalball
•  Go Ape forest high wire adventures ropes courses
•  Go Karting
•  Golf Holidays
•  Grass skiing
•  Grass sledging
•  Grass karting
•  Greyhound Racing
•  Grow Your Own Vegetables
•  Grouse Shooting
•  Gymnastics
•  Handball
•  Harness Racing
•  Hiking holidays
•  Hockey
•  Horse Boarding
•  Horse Racing
•  Horse Riding
•  Hurling
•  Jogging and running
•  Jousting
•  Kite Boarding
•  Kite Buggying
•  Korfball
•  Lacrosse
•  Landboarding
•  Land Sailing and Land Yachting
•  Landscape painting holidays and art holidays
•  Laser Clay Shooting
•  Laser Tag
•  Lawn Mower Racing
•  Live Action Role Playing Games
•  Llama trekking
•  Marathon Running
•  Minimoto
•  Modern Pentathlon
•  Monster Truck Driving Experience
•  Motorcycling, Motocross and dirt biking
•  Motor Sports
•  Mountain Bikes
•  Mountain Boarding
•  Mountaineering
•  Mud Racing
•  Multi Use Games Areas and playgrounds for adults
•  Nascar
•  Netball
•  Open Air Theatre
•  Orienteering
•  Outdoor Movie theatres and cinemas
•  Outdoor Photography
•  Paintballing
•  Parks – Chess, Ping Pong, picnics, football, sunbathing…
•  Pentathlon
•  Petanque
•  Picnics
•  Piggy Back Fights
•  Pogo, extreme pogo and pogopalooza
•  Pony Trekking Holidays
•  Polo
•  Polocrosse
•  Quad Biking
•  Rally Driving Experience
•  Rambling
•  Remote Control Cars
•  Rock Climbing
•  Roller Coasters and Theme Parks
•  Roller Skating and Roller Blading
•  Roller Hockey, Puck Hockey
•  Rope Swings
•  Rounders
•  Rugby and Tag Rugby
•  Quoits
•  Safari Holidays
•  Sandboarding
•  Scavenger Hunts
•  Scooter Freestyle
•  Segway Offroading
•  Shinty
•  Shooting (air, clay, crossbow, pistol, rifle, longbow, compound bow)
•  Show Jumping
•  Skateboarding
•  Skeet Shooting
•  Skid Pan Experience Days
•  Skipping
•  Sightseeing
•  Slacklining
•  Soap Box Kart racing or Extreme Gravity Racing
•  Softball
•  Soft Martial Arts – Tai Chi, Chi Kung
•  Speedway
•  Sphering
•  Steam Train driving experience
•  Stock Car Racing and Demolition Derby
•  Stoolball
•  Street Hockey
•  Street Improvisation and Drama
•  Street Luge and Downhill Skateboarding and Downhill Skating
•  Table Tennis
•  Tag Rugby
•  Tank Driving Experience
•  Team Building Outdoor Activities
•  Tennis Holidays
•  Throw and Catch an American mini football, frisbee or frisbee golf
•  Tractor Pulling
•  Trail Running
•  Trampolining
•  Treasure Hunting and Metal Detectors
•  Tree Climbing
•  Treehouses
•  Triathlon Events
•  Tug of War
•  Ultimate Frisbee
•  Unicycling
•  Via Ferrata
•  Volleyball
•  Walking Holidays
•  Walk the dog
•  Wash the car
•  Watch the sunrise or sunset
•  Water Fights
•  Wildlife Conservation
•  Wildlife watching holidays
•  Yoga
•  Young Drivers – Car racing for teenagers, and driving experiences for 11 year olds and over
•  Zorbing

Water Activities

These outdoor water activities provide wet and wild inspiration in, on or under water.

•  Argo Cats
•  Banana rides
•  Blackwater rafting
•  Boating, Pedalos and Punts
•  Body Boarding
•  Bore Surfing
•  Bridge Jumping
•  Canoeing
•  Cave Diving
•  Coasteering
•  Crabbing
•  Diving (swimming)
•  Dragon Boat Racing
•  Exploring Rock Pools
•  Fishing Trips
•  Flyboard, waterjet powered hover board
•  Free Diving
•  Hovercraft Experience
•  Hydrospeeding and Riverboarding
•  Jet Skiing
•  Kayaking
•  Kitesurfing
•  Kneeboarding
•  Model Boats
•  Motor Cruising Holidays
•  Narrow boat holidays
•  Octopush Underwater hockey
•  Pond Dipping
•  Pooh Sticks, paper boats, duck races and dam building
•  Powerboating Courses
•  Raft Building
•  Rib Riding
•  River Bugging
•  Rowing
•  Sailing
•  Scuba Diving
•  Sea Kayaking
•  Skim Boarding
•  Snorkeling
•  Stand up paddle boarding
•  Surfing
•  Surf Life Saving
•  Swimming
•  Swimming with dolphins
•  Tall Ship Holidays
•  Tombstoning
• Waboba
•  Wakeboarding
•  Water Jet Pack Flying
•  Water Parks and flumes
•  Water Polo
•  Water Skiing
•  WaterWalkerz water sphering
•  Waveskiing
•  Whale Watching Holidays
•  Whitewater Rafting Trips
•  Wild Swimming
•  Windsurfing
•  Yacht Charters
•  Yachting
•  Zap Cat Racing

 Air Activities

This list of outdoor air activities includes birds, planes, flying toys and some seriously exhilarating aerial experiences.

•  Aeroplane flying and aerobatics experiences
•  Air Sphering
•  Astronomy
•  BASE Jumping
•  Bungee Jumping
•  Falconry experience days
•  Gliding lessons
•  Gyrocopter flying
•  Hang Gliding experience
•  Helicopter Flights
•  Hot Air Balloon Rides
•  Indoor Skydiving
•  Kites and Power Kites
•  Microlights
•  Model airplanes, helicopters and multirotors (drones)
•  Model Rockets
•  Paragliding and Paramotoring
•  Parascending
•  SCAD – Suspended Catch Air Device
•  Skydiving
•  Wing Walking

Winter Activities

This list of outdoor winter activities is all about being cool on the on snow and ice.  Most are adrenaline sports.

•  Airboarding
•  Biathlon
•  Bob Rafting
•  Bobsleigh
•  Curling
•  Dog Sledding Holidays
•  Heliskiing and Heliboarding
•  Ice Climbing
•  Ice Diving
•  Ice Hockey
•  Ice Karting
•  Ice Racing and Ice Driving
•  Ice Skating
•  Luge
•  Skeleton Bob
•  Skiing
•  Skiing Holidays
•  Skijoring with dogs, horses or a 4×4
•  Sledges and toboggans
•  Snowball fights, snowmen and free fun winter activities for teenagers
•  Snowblading
•  Snowboarding
•  Snowbombing
•  Snowcat Piste Basher Driving
•  Snow Kiting
•  Snowmobiling
•  Snow Rafting
•  Snow Shoeing
•  Snow Tubing and Doughnutting
•  Winter Olympics

Follow the blog to find out new trends and great ways to try out more outdoor activities examples and get Active Outdoors.

The post Outdoor Recreational Activities List appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Skills – Strength: 3, Balance: 1, Flexibility: 1, Agility: 4, Coordination: 3
Time needed: 30mins + depending on where you watch and what you see, Cost to try: £free + cost of binoculars.

Having a wild time on your doorstep

Love being outside? Always out playing football, skateboarding or cycling? Or perhaps you like to enjoy it in a more tranquil way with a book in your garden? Whatever you are doing take a look upwards and you’ll realise you are NEVER alone. The UK has some of the most amazing wildlife in the world and you don’t have to be any kind of expert to appreciate and enjoy it. The RSPB will teach you about what you are seeing and what you can do to look after it for generations to come and most importantly, how to have fun with it!

Birds and wildlife provide a 24/7 soap opera wherever you are, be it in the countryside, park, city centre or even in the comfort of your living room looking out the window! Who can’t fail to crack a smile at blue tits vying for space on a feeder or a rabbit leaving the floor as it bounds through a field?

Over 160,000 young people are now ‘Wildlife Explorers’ – young members of the RSPB. This is the biggest wildlife club for young people in the world and covers all aspects – from teaching you what creatures you are seeing to simple activities you can do in your garden, wider afield, on your own or with family and friends…

Courtesy of the RSPB

RSPB PHOENIX

RSPB Phoenix is for teenage members of the RSPB. By joining, you will be able to share information and advice with other like-minded teenagers. As an RSPB Phoenix member you will receive BirdLife magazine every two months, and also get Wingbeat – the only environmental magazine written by teenagers for teenagers – four times a year. As well as articles about wildlife, the environment and conservation, Wingbeat runs many special offers and competitions.

Most importantly, you will be adding your name to the list of teenage voices shouting loudly for nature!

Climate Action Awards

You can’t have failed to hear about the current issue of climate change. Barely a day passes without coverage on the news and in the papers and we really can all do our bit to make a difference. The earth’s climate is changing much quicker than it ever used to and scientists agree that people are the cause of this. It may seem like one of those huge global issues where one person is insignificant but you and your friends could focus on some simple changes to your lifestyle and know that you are contributing to vital progress. That’s what the RSPB’s Climate Action Awards are all about.

If you send off for your free copy of the Climate Action Award Booklet you can get started straight away on all sorts of fun ideas to help to save the planet. You need to do six out of 11 activities and tell the RSPB which ones you did by filling in one of the entry forms and sending it in.

You’ll get some cool stickers and a certificate but the best thing is you’ll find yourself doing really worthwhile things for the planet without even realising it over time. Hopefully you’re brother, sister, mum or dad might find themselves following suit and suddenly you’re making a huge contribution!

It’s true – just one little action makes a world of difference.

Big Garden Birdwatch

Each January, almost half a million people press their faces up against their windows and stare into their gardens, taking part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. This is an activity that is now firmly planted in diaries up and down the country for two reasons; it’s a great way to learn about what you are sharing your garden with and it helps the RSPB gather vital information about which birds are thriving and which might need help.

It doesn’t matter if you have a huge garden or a small balcony area – simply watch your wildlife for one hour and tell the RSPB what you see. You will be surprised at how many of the common garden birds you recognise and for those you are unsure of there are plenty of pointers on the RSPB website. Sadly, many of the birds we think of as common are actually declining in massive number – the house sparrow for example, has dropped by over 60% in recent years.

This is an activity you can do from the comfort of your armchair with a bacon sandwich if you like!

Courtesy of the RSPB

Aren’t Birds Brilliant?!

Did you know that while you’re out trying to get your hands on a Wii or checking out the spring collection in Topshop you could have some of the most amazing creatures on the planet circling above your head? The RSPB will show you some of these sights through their Aren’t Birds Brilliant! scheme and introduce you to a range of spectacles on your doorstep.

The fascinating starling roost over Brighton pier where thousands of birds swoop and circle in the air making wonderful shapes before they all land together, puffin cruises on the coast of Scotland with unrivalled views of these funny little birds and red kites feeding in the heart of wales showing their power and majestic flying ability are just some of the wonders you can see through this scheme.

And excitingly for 2008, there are also nine peregrine in cities Abbs! this year. This proves that the fastest creature on the planet is increasingly opting for city living and with speeds of over 100 mph and an unrivalled hunting ability they are guaranteed to take your breath away. They have made their home in iconic city locations such as the Tate Modern in London’s Southbank, The BT Tower in Birmingham, Wrexham police station and even Lincoln cathedral. This bring a whole new meaning to the term ‘bird of prey’!

Wherever you live you can guarantee there will be a site near you, and you’ll see where we got our ‘Aren’t birds brilliant! title from!

Whether you put some food and water out for your garden birds, pick up a pair of binoculars and find out what you can see or get really actively involved in some of the activities above you are doing you bit to safeguard our wildlife and its habitat.

Come on, go wild! Don’t just watch from your window. Go on a bird watching holiday!

Details about the RSPB, how to join and all of these activities and events can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/youth

Buy binoculars for Birdwatching from Amazon

The post Birdwatching appeared first on Active Outdoors.

I spoke to Rosemary Ward from the Royal Horticultural Society to find out more about how gardening can be beneficial to everyone.

Current bestsellers in Gardening on Amazon

Here’s some reasons to get into gardening that show you can be active outdoors and achieve something worthwhile at the same time. And don’t worry if you haven’t got a garden, we’ve got a few ideas for getting round that too.

Reasons to get into gardening

Impress your mum by growing her bouquet for Mothers’ Day. Daffodils are easy; just plant the bulbs in autumn, and they’ll flower the next spring. Choose two or three varieties to cope with changes in the date and the vagaries of the weather.

Challenge your friends and see who can grow the tallest sunflower, the longest runner bean or the biggest pumpkin. You can grow all these from seed; try your local supermarket for the cheapest packets. Start the seeds on a sunny windowsill in April or May, then plant them out in a sunny position, keep them watered and give them some liquid fertiliser now and again.

Picture by Johnny Boylan

Improve the neighbourhood with colourful flowers. Brighten up your street with bedding plants in tubs and window-boxes; fuchsias are good for shade, and geraniums for hot, sunny spots. Just buy, or scrounge, one plant and you can take cuttings to produce lots more. If you get really inspired, you could get involved in Britain in Bloom (www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom)

Win prizes by competing at horticultural shows. The real money is in giant vegetables, such as leeks and onions, where prizes can run to hundreds of pounds. Start with your local show where the competition is less fierce and you may end up with a nice trophy. Local libraries should know what’s on in your area.

Help save the planet by growing your own fruit and veg, and cutting out some energy-guzzling, greenhouse-gas-generating food miles. You can save yourself a lot of money too, especially if you grow more expensive crops such as baby spinach, mangetout peas, fancy salad leaves or gourmet potatoes. For more on growing your own vegetables go to rhs.org.uk/vegetables

Do your bit for wildlife. Grow plants such as holly, cotoneaster, crab apple and berberis to provide berries for birds. Buddleia produces large, scented flowers that are a magnet for butterflies, and bumblebees love lavender. Ivy provides nectar-rich flowers, berries and shelter for birds to nest in. For more on wildlife gardening go to www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk

Get fit: gardening doesn’t have to involve a lot of effort, but if you want to build your strength and stamina, a bout of digging is a good way to do it; and you’ll have something to show for your efforts, not just aching muscles.

Spice up your diet with home-grown herbs. Top off a pizza with thyme or marjoram, grow mint or lemon verbena for a refreshing tea, and get authentic with fresh coriander on your take-away curry. Most herbs are easy to grow and generally do well in pots and window-boxes. You can even try them indoors on a sunny windowsill.

Chill out: it’s a proven fact that gardeners live longer than non-gardeners, and lots of people find being close to plants is a great way to de-stress. If you haven’t got a garden yet, visiting someone else’s can have the same effect. If you join the Royal Horticultural Society you can get into 140 of the best gardens in the country free. Membership is less than half price for under 25s, and you get all the same benefits as older members. Go to www.rhs.org.uk/membership to find out more.

Add a little romance: many plants have fascinating histories, intriguing folklore or gruesome medicinal uses associated with them, and growing them brings these stories to life. For something more practical, you could grow roses, pinks or lavender and strew the deliciously scented petals in your bath

Astonish your friends and family by growing weird vegetables you’ll never see in the supermarket. How about orange cauliflower, black tomatoes, red broad beans, blue potatoes or yellow raspberries? Then there’s beans with yin/yang markings, spotty lettuce and stripey radishes. Or you could try salsify, that’s supposed to taste of oysters, or ruby chard with stems so red and shiny they look as though they’ve been varnished.

Gardening without a garden

Even if you haven’t got a patch of earth to call your own, there are lots of ways to enjoy gardening.

If you’ve got any outdoor space at all, even if it’s just a balcony, flat roof or tiny yard, you can garden in containers. This doesn’t mean laying out for expensive pots or tubs, but using your imagination and looking at what you might recycle to grow plants in.

If you’re still at school, join the gardening club; or persuade your teachers to start one. You can get lots of help and ideas by going to the RHS School Gardening website.

Visit your local allotments to watch and learn and maybe help out a bit. If you get the bug, you may be able to rent your own allotment, or share one with a friend or member of the family.

See if any of your neighbours have gardens they are not using, or struggling to manage. In return for helping them out you can pick their brains, get lots of experience, and maybe a share in the produce.

Find out about local community gardens. These exist all over the country and often rely on volunteer labour. They’re also a great way to make friends to. Find out more at Farm Garden

Stately homes, public gardens, National Trust properties, local parks and many other gardens welcome volunteers to help out and most are really keen to encourage young people to join in.

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