SUBSCRIBE (To Receive New Blog Alerts)
Enjoy my writing? CLICK TO DONATE

Tag

recycle

Environment, Travel

Why Did I Want to Wild Water Swim in Scotland?

Three good reasons, it’s an exhilarating experience that combines adventure, natural beauty, and health benefits. With its vast array of lochs, rivers, and rugged coastlines, Scotland offers some of the most stunning and diverse wild swimming spots in the world.

Whether you’re plunging into the crystal-clear waters of Loch Lomond, navigating the bracing waves of the North Sea, or dipping into a secluded river pool in the Highlands, wild swimming in Scotland connects you directly with nature in a way that few other activities can.

Wet suit packed and ready, here’s what I tried…

Read more
October 25, 2024
3723
Environment, Travel

Chef, Can You Please Make Some Jam?

Focusing on Nature at Glenapp Castle

Charming Glenapp Castle, all turrets and towers. Tucked away on the West Coast of Scotland, within walking distance of the little coastal town of Ballantrae, this ‘lesser-travelled’ part of the Scottish lowlands is where we kicked off a three week tour.

A somewhat ‘fairytale’ of a place, nestled in the trees, scarcely visible until you are on it, with tantalisingly long and windy gated drives as the only access. How would this first few days of our three week trip unfold…

Read more
October 18, 2024
3779
Environment

Bringing Oceans Back to Life… One SeaHive at a Time

It’s interesting where and when some of the best ideas can spring to mind. Of course, the difference is whether those ideas are acted on or not. Bringing this story of the SeaHives to you as it’s another excellent example of how an individual or two are making a positive impact on the planet, one step at a time.

What’s unique about this story is materials that potentially cause lasting damage in our oceans, instead of being discarded, are recycled into something new that is restoring life… but I am getting ahead of myself!

Read more
September 5, 2024
3669
Environment, Travel

So Pleased! Another International ‘Short Film’ Festival Selection

Very excited to hear that our film ‘It’s time to act. NOW’ has been nominated for another short film festival – Germany this time.

All you need to know follows and if you haven’t seen the film yet, then you can watch it here – it’s only 2 minutes!

We hope it’s a film that will keep giving – to those organisations that are already working on protecting the Antarctica and all that is in our Southern Ocean.

Read more
June 26, 2024
3754
Environment, Travel

It’s All About the Bees – The Iconic Chewton Glen Hotel (Part 1)

Inspiring the Next Generation

Chewton Glen is a glorious and luxurious place to stay, set in 135 acres of beautiful rolling grounds.

Would it surprise you that what excited me most was a tour around their waste management area by their very informed Deputy General Manager, Raymond de Toulouse Lautrec? Probably not by now…. just to prepare you for my ‘bin’ conversation!

But what’s this about the bees? My Dad was an avid gardener and I have fond memories of helping him tend our good sized garden of vegetables and flowers as a little girl. Everything was grown from seed, kept from the previous year. Plant cuttings and vegetable gluts were shared with neighbours as were gardening tips on what to grow with what to keep the bugs in check. Everything that could be was composted. He taught me all I know and his presence is always with me when I garden – not surprising, so many of my plants are from him!

My conversation with the Estate Manager, Darren Venables stirred those memories and really got me thinking about all that Darren told me he was trying achieve….

Read more
May 27, 2024
4322
Environment

Shining a light on South Wonston Sustainability

‘Just ordinary folk, doing what they do to try to make the world a better place.’

Think you can’t make a difference on a personal scale? Think again.

There’s this group in a relative small community of approximately 800 households, on the outskirts of the city of Winchester, Hampshire that is quietly getting on with something that is producing what I would describe as significant results.

I want to shine a light on the changes they are effecting , see if it can be replicated throughout the country…

Read more
May 23, 2024
4590
Environment, Travel

Standing Next to History

… with a group of like-minded, inspirational people who get together to preserve its memory

Hands up who knows the remarkable story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s voyage to Antarctica on the ship Endurance? It’s the one that took place in 1914 on his endeavour to attempt the first land crossing of the Antarctic, from the Weddell Sea through the South Pole to the Ross Sea.

Remember the part where Shackleton and his men are stranded on Elephant Island? He takes a lifeboat with Frank Worsley, Tom Crean and three others battling treacherous seas and ice for 16 days and 800 miles before reaching the ‘wrong’ side of South Georgia, with mountains between them and the whaling station that could provide the help to rescue his men…

Read more
May 17, 2024
4207
Environment

Have You Heard About the Sargasso Sea?

Sargasso Sea Ecosystem and Why It’s So Important

I’m beginning to think I really should have tried harder in Geography at school! Why? Well, when a colleague mentioned the Sargasso Sea, I had absolutely no idea where it was or why I should be so interested in it. Let me tell you, since last week that has certainly changed. Whilst not claiming to have got anything close to being an authority on its importance, a chance invitation to an expert meeting, had me rubbing shoulders with some pretty key people that definitely are! Here’s what I learnt…

Read more
May 10, 2024
4344
Environment, Travel

How the ‘Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute’ Amplify Antarctica’s Challenges Through Art!

When we think about Antarctica, what tends to come to mind are penguins, whales, seals and of course, snow and ice but unless you have been able to see it for yourself, the vastness and brutality of its stunning scenery are hard to convey in photographs and indeed through paintings.

But that’s exactly what the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute (FoSPRI) annual ‘Artist In Residence’ scheme looks to achieve. Each artist, will have their own unique style capturing Antarctica or the Artic in ways we would not necessarily think about and opening our eyes to new perceptions.

As an FoSPRI member, we joined a preview evening in London of the most recent work and got to speak to the artist, Polly Townsend, first hand about how she transferred her experiences to canvas…

Read more
May 4, 2024
4156
Environment, Travel

There is Life in the Treehouse – and I Don’t Mean Birds or Squirrels!

Do you remember that Woody Allen film, Stardust Memories, where he is sitting on a train waiting for it to depart the station? His coach is full of boring lifeless people who don’t know how to enjoy themselves and are going nowhere.  He is wondering why his life is so dull and where there could be a place he craves for fulfilment.  Just then a second train pulls into the platform.  He can see directly into a carriage which is full of people enjoying themselves in a happy party environment….

Read more
April 28, 2024
3872
Close