Green Holidays

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The UK’s National Trust are offering 2 full days of free fun close to you!

This massive charity are hoping that they can offer everyone a great day out in one of their properties - and help everyone experience some goo old natural fun!

There are 100’s of properties available for you to explore, and they are all quite different.  Some take up whole valleys, others have a secret garden, yet more have aviaries, lakes, streams, caves and orchards! 

There is absolutely no shortage of habitats, architecture, famous faces and great history - so take a browse on their website and see what would suit your family day out.

Closest To You:
Obviously the most ‘green’ adventure would be to visit the properties closest to your home. 

Whether it a a huge world famous property or a tiny chapel, you can always make a great day out.  Many smaller properties still have nice gardens and landscapes and wildlife too.

And the smaller properties could take only an hour or two to investigate, so you could possibly fit 2 properties into the same day out.

The larger properties, of course, can entertain you for the whole day.  I have visited properties myself that I didn’t get all the way around as I was having so much fun on the way around!

Lawned areas are perfect for a picnic - so don’t forget to take some tasty morsels and a refreshing drink!

Getting Your Moneys Worth:
Of course, if you want to really take advantage of the National Trust’s generous offer, then you may well want to find the most expensive property and save even more money for the family.

Obviously, that’s what quite a lot of other people are probably thinking too, so you may well find yourself surrounded by 100’s of other people and children.

In terms of a green adventure - this might not be so rewarding.  A walk through the woods in these places won’t really be as fun as a quieter location as there will just be too many other people having a great day out and probably screaming, shouting and laughing!

Wildlife in the woods and around the lakes might be a bit harder to find too as they will just go elsewhere for some peace and quiet themselves!  However, the trees, plants and rivers aren’t going anywhere - so there is still some fun to be had!

A Specific Favourite:
There are plenty of properties that have a particular theme, from a photography museum, tame deer, huge portrait collections or even the home of a famous historical figure.

And many people have ‘been meaning to get to….’ somewhere for as long as they can remember.

Others have seen a property used as a film set for a recent movie or documentary and want to walk through the film sets and see all the related literature on site.

Possibly, your children are studying a particular topic at school or college and it would just be great to get them some ‘hand’s on’ experience of: how they lived, what they wore and ancient crafts of whatever period is on the curriculum!

Anyway, whatever reason you use to take advantage of this great weekend - go to the National Trust website, choose your favourite property and get your voucher printed out!

Fancy a short volunteer vacation that isn’t like everything else?

African Impact have been working in the volunteer sector since 2004 and are based in South Africa.  This year they were among the 2009 World Travel Awards Finalists for their volunteer placements in this vast continent and have plenty to offer the enthusiastic volunteer!

They offer a huge range of exciting projects from teaching to wildlife conservation - but they also offer quite a few programs that stand out from the rest and I will be describing 2 of these below.

What Are African Impact About?
For the past 5 years they have been working tirelessly to make sure that the programs they run across the continent promote and sustain ongoing support and resources for communities and conservation across Africa.

Their ethical guidelines are very strong and they strive to be an ambassador of responsible tourism in their locations.  They work hard to make sure that their volunteers have a positive and long lasting impact on their projects and the physical environment in which they contribute their time and skills.

What Have They Got That Is Different?
If you would rather spend your time out in the field but aren’t too good with catching large carnivores or monitoring underwater reptiles - then why not help monitor the habitats they live in instead.

Project 1:
The following project in St Lucia, South Africa might be just what you are looking for.

Photography & Conservation Education Project:
This project takes place in St Lucia, within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.  This is a beautiful area that was declared as South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and which is called by many “Africa’s premier bush-and-beach destination”.

Encompassing almost half a million acres, it is a stunning and ecologically diverse area, where five different eco-systems join  Here is where you will find savannahs, wetlands, swamps, beaches, and a great wealth of wildlife.

And it is within this impressive setting that volunteers are offered the unique opportunity to photograph the phenomenal wildlife in the area, and help to raise awareness in the local community about the importance of conservation.
 
In addition to this; African Impact, in association with Green Vision Foundation, aims to create a photographic database which will be used for educational purposes in order to preserve indigenous plant life and wildlife through community education.

After an exciting 3 day intensive course with a professional wildlife photographer, volunteers will photograph large animals such as elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard as they go about their daily business!  You will also get to see and photograph smaller creatures such as chameleons, insects and some of the 521 bird species that call this World Heritage Site home. 

And all the best pictures will be included in the database!

The project is a unique opportunity to encounter some of Africa’s most beautiful animals on a daily basis, to improve photography skills, as well as to contribute to conservation efforts.
 
Project 2:
This program is a chance to really make a difference to the people who struggle in these harsh climates.  Human health is the issue here and you will be living with individuals who need your help and support.

Kenya: Medical Project:
Kenya’s population is hugely affected by the struggles of HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment and it is known to be one of the poorest countries in Africa.  There are countless possibilities here for you to impact upon the lives of those that are affected by these problems, such as those living in Nairobi’s slums, surrounding orphanages, schools, and hospitals.
 
Both medically qualified and non-qualified volunteers can join this project for maximum effect. The medical background of those that apply will obviously determine their placement at the Hospital or Orphanages.

Suitably qualified volunteers will have the opportunity to gain further medical experience under the supervision of qualified doctors and nurses at Kikuyu General Hospital.  Un-qualified volunteers will still be an essential part of this project, and will join the Kikuyu Hospital on a more observatory basis - or could alternatively be placed at one of the orphanages.
 
All volunteers will be given work in various orphanages in Limuru and will be helping to improve and enhance the actual facilities as well as becoming involved in teaching and caring for the children.  It will also be an opportunity to get a glimpse of life in the slums of Nairobi and have the opportunity to make a difference in a poor and desperate community.

Sound interesting to you?  If so, click here for more information!

Set in the vast forests outside of Stockholm, near the Malingsbo-klotens Nature Reserve, is the amazing Kolarbyn natural eco resort.  This eco resort will truly take you back to nature - but you may actually pass it by!

What Makes It ‘Eco’?
It is so low impact it is virtually part of the forest!  All natural and local materials are used and accommodation was made by and run by local people.

All the food is produced by local farmers, and the huts belong to the entire community.  All the tours help to preserve the native wildlife and cultural traditions are preserved as a result.

They reduce, reuse and recycle almost everything at the location - and probably give more to the environment than take things away!

What Can You Do There?
The wildlife is the main draw here, and there is plenty of it.  Set in the heart of a woodland you will no doubt see a variety of birds and mammals here.  So take your best camera!

Many of the staff are avid wildlife watchers and will no doubt be able to answer all your questions about the creatures and the natural environment too.

Tours include horseback wolf-watching, beaver trails, moose safaris and much, much more.  There are even night-time wolf howling tours and ‘midnight sun’ evening safaris!

The Accommodation:
The resort is made up of 12 huts - most of which don’t even look like accommodation! They are covered in vegetation and surrounded by trees!  All you can see is the chimney and the doorway.

There are no perks in the rooms or mod cons - it is all very much back to basics - so don’t expect to plug in your hair dryer in your room!  However do expect a cosy sheep-skin rugs and blankets and a baking hot log-fire in your room - as well as nature on your doorstep and the sound of moose outside!

You fetch your own fresh water from the local spring, chop your own wood for your fire and cook fresh caught fish in the basic outdoor kitchen.

Anything Else?
Well, the wildlife!  You can walk through the woods here and see moose, wolves, lynx and even brown bears!  A nature-watchers dream.

You can volunteer to work here too.  Imagine all this beauty for free - well to help out here in this pristine environment and helping others to enjoy it too!

It also works in association with Naturens Basta (Nature’s Best) - a selection of Sweden’s best nature tours - AND the WWF of all people.  They are actively passing on a contribution from your fees and tours to the Skandulv Wolf conservation project working close by. 

Amazing.

How about an escorted trip to the mysterious Bhutan on your own personal photography course with a professional to help you out?

That’s just what you could get if you enter your amazing green holiday photos to National Geographic’s new competition.

Entitled the ‘Live Your Vision’ photography competition, it is asking you send in your best shots showing how they offer a glimpse of life in your eyes, and the beauty of the world we live in. 

There are 3 categories to choose from:

1) Nature
2) People & Culture
3) Life In Color

Where Have You Been Lately?
All of these categories should offer a chance for you to share your personal images of what you have seen and shared on your green holidays - whether it’s a campfire meal while travelling through a jungle, or a quiet spot in the mountains that feels like only you have been there, or maybe it’s just a shot of a local community hard at work.

Think of all the places you have been and how you could offer just a glimpse to others - people who are maybe planning a trip of their own, or have already got things booked!

You don’t have to be a winner to share either - all the entries are available on their site for all to see - with a little personal detail from you.  They can rate them online too, so you could watch your shots to see if they appeal to voters before the competition itself.

And If You Do Win? 
Well, the grand prize is a 13 day National Geographic Photographic Expedition to Bhutan.  The trip usually costs around $6790 double occupancy flying from the US - but you get to fly from your nearest airport in your country of residence and have single occupancy - taking estimated value nearer to $11,000.  The trip is accompanied by professional photographer Chris Rainier and includes a banquet with local government officials, all accommodation and food.

You will climb amazing high mountains, visit the ancient fortress of Punakha Dzong, visit local communities and farmers, travel through rain-forests and see rare species.  You will get great opportunities to photograph hillside temples and broad tree-covered valleys as well as misty mornings and snow-covered peaks.

In addition, the winners of each catagory and the photo with the highest overall number of votes all win digital SLR cameras

Anything Else?
Your images must be no more than 5 years old (you can enter 3 shots in total), and they must be the original image (they will want the original if you progress past Round 1).  It can be cropped down, but cannot be changed in any other way.

The images must of course, be yours and have not been published before, and represent your vision of the world and beauty of the planet.

The competition is already running, and ends at midnight on June 6th 2009, so get choosing your best shot then get to the Registration Pageasap!

Happy Snapping!