Green Holidays

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Have you ever imagined what it would be like to see wolves in the UK – following your every move?

Well, you can do it now, right here in the UK – you don’t need to fly off to the US or a scary forest in Europe!  And don’t worry, the wolves are totally tame!  But all the same – what an experience it would be.

So how do you get involved? 
Well, that’s simple – you just visit the Events page of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and check out the dates that suit you.

It really is that simple!

The wildlife encounters with the wolves are run by the UK Wolf Conservation Trust which is based near Reading in Berkshire, and you will get some really close contact with their tame wolves.

There are 2 different main encounters on offer, 2 for adults only and 2 for children (1 with an adult and 1 without).

Walking With Wolves – Adults:  2 hour walk - plus extras; Half Day Event.
This is probably the experience that most people will be interested in.  You basically go out for a nice long walk with a Wolf Expert and the wolves – just like walking your dog really (apart from chasing balls).

As you wander through the woodlands, the wolves run freely around you, maybe interacting with you, or just walking ahead or to the side of the group.

You will also get a tour of the centre, the opportunity to photograph the animals close up and get to view the animals in their larger enclosures as well.

Walking With Wolves – Kids (6-18):  2 Hour Event.
Here, the kids get to walk with the wolves with an accompanying adult.  It is a shorter event than the adult walk due to the shorter attention span of the kids I would imagine!

Be A Wolf Keeper For The Day – Adults: 6 Hour Event (10am-4pm).
Here, you get the full Monty!  Basically you are there all day feeding, cleaning, treating and working with the wolves all morning.  Working alongside permanent staff and experts to get an behind-the-scenes glimpse of what wolves need – and like!

In the afternoon you get to go on a walk with the wolves (as above) and interact with them.

Be A Wolf Keeper For The Day – Kids (10-14): 5 Hour Event (10am-3pm).
As above but for the younger generation – including watching the wolves get their dinner! 

Kids do not need an adult with them for this event, and infact no-one under or over the age limits can attend!

For more information on the wolves other events, or the Wolf Conservation Trust in general, then just visit their website – and if you would love to help protect these magnificent animals in the wild – but would rather not get too close, then consider a membership instead!

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Hello again, and what a lovely time of year it is to be traveling through familiar environments!

There is nothing better for me sometimes, than to just walk a short while from my home to the beach or the countryside with a good book and my binoculars!  Pure bliss on a sunny day like today!

I’ve been out along the beach, up in the countryside – as well as visiting the family now that we all live a lot closer together these days!  Although, I shouldn’t have gone on the trampoline for so long – my legs are aching today!

Well, let’s see what the rest of you have been up to…….

It is quite clear that some of you are also planning to stay home too by the looks of Ana Paula’s article – with the Top 100 Gardening Blogs - many of which are eco friendly green fingered tips – but not all, so make sure you modify the un-green gardening tips!

Try to lighten up or even ‘green’ over your commute to work using Maria Clara tips: 100 Excellent Lifehacks for Your Long Commute. There are quite a few in there that totally make eco sense…….. and best use of your time. I mean if you have to take a journey, why waste it just staring out of the window – learn something new, do something new – make every second count!

Here’s a nice little article on one thing that even I struggle with – Tips for Eating Healthy While on Vacation by Debbie Dragon – and it had a great Vitamin gadget on the site too!

Here’s a lovely sort tale of what wonders a walk in the countryside can have – especially if you happen to pass through a farm – so thanks to Richard with his A Visit to Fulking Hill! – with some great photo’s in there too.

Next, Mike Vogt gives us something very different to think about with his great article on 10 Great Mission Trip Ideas.  Not many people consider the role that religion and religious thinking can have in developing countries.

the beach

And one for the summer: Tara V presents Green Wedding Guide; Planning an Eco-Friendly Exchange of Vows.  A great way to enjoy the best day of your life – as well as making sure that it doesn’t have a negative impact on anyone else!

It’s still sunny, so get back out there!

If you think about how amazing trees can be – you will want to help plant them!

I recently read a leaflet from a charity called Tree Aid - who fund, train and support communities in Africa to give them the skills to use their trees to the best advantage – and saw an amazing list of the ‘Gift of Trees’ which made me stop and think for a while.

I had always been amazed by the growth, resilience, uses and beauty of trees – but had never really thought of them as holding the key to a community’s survival.

So take a look at the list below of all the things that a tree, or group of trees could achieve. 

Some are more obvious – but others seem totally unrelated.  So maybe you too could see trees in a whole new light too!

As Wood To Build Homes.
Also schools, hopitals, warehouses and much more – including furniture and farming tools.

As Fuel For Cooking.
This also includes wood used for making cooking utensils and storage pots for food and water.

As Food Suppliers.
By farming tree-grown crops – a community is self-sufficient through the year.

As Food Attractors.
Trees are the perfect home for bees – and bees means honey!

As Animal Attractors.
Woodlands and even single trees attract benificial wildlife to an area, for the ecosystem and for food.

As Habitat Protectors.
Trees help to create the perfect environment for other plants to thrive and grow.

As Shade Makers.
Trees create the perfect place for people and animals to escape from the heat of the sun!

As Rain Makers.
Trees and their roots can help create micro-climates and generate rainfall – and prevent run-off.

As Soil Makers.
Trees products can help improve the fertility of soil and well placed trees can prevent it blowing away!

As Outdoor Chemists.
Many plants and trees contain ‘medicines’ that communites depend on for their health.

As Pet Stores.
Many trees can be grown specifically to feed livestock, or to build fencing and housing.

As Bank Loans.
Sales of produce and/or wood can be used to reduce poverty and buy new seeds or equipment.

As Education Givers.
Profits earned can put children through schooling – and will allow them the time to attend!

As Freedom Givers.
A productive livelihood can empower women and change the lives of the whole community.

So, next time you get the opportunity to fund or partake in charity events that help communities learn more about trees and farming – think of what you will be helping to support – and continue.

And we all know that young trees are a great way to ‘trap’ CO2 from the atmosphere – so think about the effect you could have by helping to plant just a dozen or so each year.

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If you haven’t got your own kids – then grab someones else’s for some great green adventures.

This May and June you can get involved with some national or local events celebrating the great outdoors and family life!  Or why not make your own adventures…….

National Family Week starts on the 31st May and runs until the 6th of June across the UK (although you can run your own events in any country you want!).  It is a celebration of all things family – so your nieces and cousins will do if you want to make a bigger day of it if you want.

Planning is the key here, as you will need to make sure that transport and lunch is all taken care of before the big day – and of course the theme!

There are specific ‘days’ on the national schedule which might help you make a group decision – or their are things being planned across the country that you can just turn up to with your hoard!

Monday: Family Picnic Day
Maybe you can head of to a local park with a great big hamper of yummy food and some sports equipment – a bat and ball and maybe a bike or 2 should do the trick!  A nice couple of blankets and a chair for granny and you are well on your way to a whole day of outdoor fun.  Don’t forget the camera!

Tuesday: Family Film Day
How about getting everyone to score some films of your choice from 1 to 10 – with 1 being the one they are most likely to watch and then tot up everyone scores to get the best 3.  Order the pizza and microwave the popcorn – and make sure all the sleeping bags are out for everyone to stay over!

Wednesday: Family Story Time
For this one you have the choice of 3 things really.  Either all get together at your home and read some short stories (maybe scary stories on a sleepover), or find a lovely patch of woodland with a tasty lunch box of goodies and all just read in the sunshine.  Or maybe, get together around a table with scraps of magazines, scissors and coloured pens and make your own stories or scrapbooks!

Thursday: Family Road Trip
Think of all the places you want to go and see a bit further away than usual, and then plan your route – making sure that you remember all your outdoor gear incase you see a great footpath you want to follow, a park to play in or a castle to explore!  Camera and waterproofs are essential for this one.  Even more fun if there is more than 1 car of you, so you can meet up in certain places or pull silly faces at each other!

Friday: Family House Party
Start by checking with mum!  This one gives you a whole host of options; it could include lunch, family board games, dinner, films, cheese and biscuits, night time walk in the countryside(!), scary stories and even a sleepover – but make sure there is plenty of yummy fruit for breakfast! 

Saturday: Family Sports Day
Set up an event of all the silly things that get the family together.  Maybe a few beanbag-on-the-head races, 3-legged races and sack racing, as well as bats and balls, skipping ropes and egg-and-spoons!  Maybe have a red and a blue team and someone keep scores! 

Sunday: Family Roast Dinner! ( I added this last one myself – as I love a family roast!)

But if none of these appeal, then make your own up – maybe Family Horse Riding Day on the Tuesday, or Family Woodland Walk on the Wednesday. Or even Family Photography Day on the Friday!

Swimming, Reading, Bicycling or just Garden Tea Party – all valid family events – so take your pick and get planning!

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It’s not just your home that can be green this spring – your pony can too!

In case you were wanting to spend every sunny day this month at your local yard – here are some eco friendly tips to share with your friends there – and maybe they can let you know some of theirs!

So, here are 10 simple tips for a greener stable. Some will save you money (and resources) on replacement items and other handy tips for making green products:

1) Don’t Lose It- Tie some brightly colored fibres or an old pink shoelace to your hoof-pick to avoid losing it in your bedding or long grass!  And this will save you valuable time.

2) Reuse It – Make yourself a replacement food scoop out of an old drinks bottle, by diagonally cutting off the bottom and using the ‘neck’ as the handle.  Taking the lid off will allow you to use it as a funnel as well.

3) Replace It – Use your old washing up bowl for handy things around the yard; food bowl, saddle soap dish or even pony toy for the field!  The same obviously goes for a few other household items and it saves throwing unwanted plastic out.

4) Keep It’s Shape – Use the lid of your old saddle soap tins as bridle hooks – to help them keep their shape while hanging on the stable wall waiting for the next ride!

5) But Before That – Save up all the leftover bits of saddle soap you can’t use properly in the past few tins, then gently heat them into a joint splodge – and they are saved!  Much easier to use as one great big lump!

6) Bags Of Poo – Bag up your old horse droppings after they have been on the muck heap for a while and sell them to local gardeners or allotments.  Keep it low on straw and other bedding though for the best price.

7) Bags Of Hay- Rather than buy new haynets – why not make your own out of baler twine from the hay bales. A net of about 24 twines is enough – and the smaller the holes, the slower the horse can eat from it.

8.) Spare Twine – If you need a new lead rope for the yard, why waste the clip? Just plait up some baler twine and just tie it to the old clip.  Valuable metal will be saved!

9) Save Washing- If you use black or brown jodhpurs for everyday use, you won’t need to wash them so often – therefore saving water, suds and no doubt extending the life of the trousers.

10) A New Rug – If that old sleeping bag of yours is no longer needed – why not make it into a horse rug with just a bit of your handiwork! Cut out the neck section and tie on some chest straps!

Hope these have been of some help – and maybe they have made you think of something else too!

Let us know if you have a great tip for the yard – and if your friends don’t want to save their old saddle soap or lead rope clips – then make sure you let them know you will find them a new home!

It sounds like it’s just saving money – but it really is saving resources and reducing waste.

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If you are thinking of replacing or upgrading your windows – make sure you do it before you go away!

With new technologies and strict guidelines governing manufacture – you couldn’t be more green and more secure at the same time!  Great if you are away for a month or 2.

Triple glazing units can reduce the amount of heat lost from your home (or reduce the amount of cold air escaping if you have the air con on!) and the secure ‘bolt’ system of new glazing units can deter burgulars. 

New UV coatings can also protect the goods in your home and reduce noise pollution if you live in the city or close to a railway, etc.

However – look closely at the ‘eco friendly’ labelling on some company websites – it can mean one of 2 things:

Eco Friendly 1 – 100%:
It is energy efficient and can save energy in the home as well as being made of eco friendly products from sustainable sources.

Eco Friendly 2 – 50%:
It is energy efficient and can save energy in the home ONLY.  It can be made out of any materials at all - for example limited resource aluminum or certain high-petroleum plastics.

And of course, you want to make sure that the company you choose has a decent reputation, and is preferably affiliated with, or a member of, a certification or National scheme - This would include the Master Builders Association or the Guild Quality Surveys and include Penguin Windows in the US, or FENSA and the ‘BSI Kitemark’ in the UK with firms like Everest Windows.

Other Factors To Consider:
There are other things to look out for when choosing a supplier and your preferred products as well, as there are so many combinations you can choose from – some will age quickly, be less secure and possibly not that eco friendly after all! And the length of the warranty can be as little as 3 years up to a lifetime guarantee!

It’s certainly worth paying a few $100 more from the off, than have to pay the several $1000 in 3 years time when it breaks of ‘yellows’ in the sun!

• Make sure it is Pilkington K glass or equivalent
• Make sure it is ‘low e’ glass (high thermal insulation)
• Make sure the frame is made from sustainable resources where possible
• Make sure the windows and doors come with at least a 10 year guarantee (materials & workmanship). 
• Make sure it has a fully welded framework to make it more secure
• Make sure it has metal reinforcement in the frame chambers to make forced entry more difficult
• Make sure all ‘glazing beads’ are on the inside to prevent people removing the panes from the outside
• Make sure it has a locking Saracen shoot bolt (mortise) through the whole frame
• Make sure it has a Secure By Design logo for extra security on top if you want!

Go on your 6-month grand tour without having to worry about the security of your home – and come home knowing that you will be more energy-efficient from that point on!

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Why travel miles from home to stay in a half empty or overcrowded hotel – when you can mingle?

By staying in a local home, not only can you get to know a bit more about the country you are visiting and what the local people really eat and drink when at home – but you can get the real thing!

Popping out of your hotel for a day trip is all well and good if you are supporting local trade and communities – but what if you could live in that community without being a ‘group tour’.  Just you as an individual, experiencing what it’s like to live in the peaceful Chinese mountains or in a bustling European city.

There are 5 main ways that you can easily achieve this – and most of them will cost you a lot less than a package deal – and you will gain a whole lot more than a tan!

1) Homestays

Basically, you live in someones home for a small cost – basically like an exchange student.  They provide all your food and drink (by arrangement) and you usually get your own room and all the trimmings.

This is great if you are trying to learn a language or work in the community yourself as you will see family life and get to see how things really happen.  And even if you don’t understand everything said around the dinner table – you will know that they will go out of their way to make your stay the best they can.

2) On The Couch!

There is a growing industry at the minute for a slimmed down version of the Homestays – and that is where you arrange to sleep on someones couch for a night or more.  That’s it. 

The idea is that you join the ‘community’ first, so peopole can come and stay on your couch if you let them.  You can be as flexible as you want, so your can give them the couch and breakfast only, or you can take them on tours of the city and show them a good time!  So pick your ‘couch’ with care!

3) Farmstays:

Similar again to a homestay, but rather than just learning the language and some polite manners – you get to learn a skill or two as well.

Whether you are working on a cattle ranch in Australia, a vineyard in Argentina or a citrus farm in France, you get to work the land, hone your skills and possibly meet people from all around the world!

4) Foreign Language Stays:

Not many of these around, but you can book yourself into a hotel in most areas of Europe that is affiliated with a language school – and just talk to everyone all day.

To get people from Spain or Italy to actually meet and converse with English speakers is what these schools are hoping, so they literally put you up in a hotel for free as long as you sit in the sun and chat to their students!

5) House Swap:

Although you won’t get to meet the people who live in the house, you will be right in their community and fending for yourself with what they have left you there!

This option is one of the most ‘green’ if you like as both the houses would have been empty for the 2 weeks you and the homeowners were away, but you each filled them - so that is 2 less hotel rooms needed to be built in the whole scheme of things!

Or, you could just stay home……..