2008 Outdoor Almanac
As we enter a New Year perhaps it is time to take stock of the opportunities that the months offer us? How often do you get to December, get caught up in Christmas and realise, on reflection how you never quite got around to doing all those activities you had planned much earlier in the year? There are probably a million reasons why we never quite get around to them but with a little forward planning and organisation its possible to make both the time and room for them now in your brand new 2008 diary.
January: There's nothing like a few days of sunshine after a snowfall to make winter seem like a brighter place. However you can also get the feel by going ice skating outdoors. Why not plan in a day at one of the rinks open in January such as the Royal Windsor ice rink, Windsor, Berkshire, which is open until the 7th January? Warwick Castle in Warwickshire also has an ice rink open until the 6th January.
February: It's a leap year this year with an extra 29th day making up the month. Surprisingly perhaps I could not find any activities designed to celebrate this infrequent event. Maybe you should make up one of your own?!
March: All the Spring bulbs are out by now and given a good weekend its worth a visit to the various displays on in gardens usually somewhere near you. There are special Spring bulb festivals in places too, such as at the Ambleside Daffodil and Spring Flower Show, Ambleside, Cumbria, the Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend, at Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, Dorset, the Snowdrop Festival, Edinburgh as well as the Spring Floral Festival Week in both Jersey and Guernsey, flights here are good value from many UK local airports.
April: As the days become longer and sunnier all the cherry blossoms and tulips come out. However one event its always worth getting out for in central London, to cheer those brave souls running the full course, is the London Marathon. It's all for a good cause and the atmosphere is always electric! The Flora London Marathon official charities this year are the Spinal Injuries Association and H·E·A·R·T UK; the event takes place on the 13th April.
May: How about a planning an early break away for a long weekend in May. The weather is often very good by now with long day light hours. We would like to recommend our own neck of the woods if we may? The Eastbourne area has a lot of things to do and see as well as its beaches you know! Pevensey Castle, the dramatic Seven Sisters, and the Science Centre at Herstmonceux are just a few of our local attractions. At the same time you can pop into the WeatherShop to have a look at our summer range of items in person. We will be delighted to help you answer any questions you may have about the wide range of weather stations and other equipment we sell.
June: As we head towards Mid summer and the longest day, there's nothing quite like an outdoor walk in the moonlight. These are becoming increasingly popular with walking groups around the country as people discover the completely different attractions of a night walk. Youll rely much more on different senses, as the scents and sounds of the night become the main attraction. Local papers often advertise walk details or look up local wlking groups on the web. If there arent any why not organise your own with freinds? Try and walk the route in daylight if you can so you are familiar with it and always wear stout walking shoes as the risk of tripping up is greater by night, though with bright moonlight youll be amazed how quickly you adjust and much you can see.
July: This is the time when the flora and fauna of the UK is usually at its very best. The world's largest annual garden and flower show takes place at Hampton Court, near London, organised by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). It's a real site to behold and anyone can visit on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday and you can purchase plants there too. You can arrive by car or train but if you prefer why not arrive a little differently and take a boat up the Thames from London?
August: The peak season for getting away from the UK and going on the traditional summer holiday. Wherever you go dont forget that the sun is still very strong especially early in the month and anywhere south of the UK will be seeing high UV levels much of the time. Use a good quality sun screen and be careful of going out around noon - act like the locals do.. have a siesta or break inside or under shade then. You wont regret it, as there's nothing a lot worse on your holiday than catching too much sun!
September: The summer is the time for music festivals but a surprising number still occur outside well into September. If your young -or young at heart- when has a little bit of rain ever proved a dampener on good music outdoors!? Though the mosh pit may become more like a slosh pit there's nothing like a good band and a good natured crowd to lift your sprits, even in wet weather. This month sees major music festivals at Newport , Isle of Wight (Bestival) from the 4th-6th September and the -free- Mayor’s Thames Festival on the 14th and 15th September in central London.
October: With mid Autumn upon us by now and the nights rapidly drawing in again, traditionally it is time to gather in the harvest and celebrate with a festival. These celebrations go back a long way, centuries before they took on their modern religious significance, back to pre Christian times, when the success of the crop governed people's lives. Saxon farmers are thought to have started the practice by offering the first sheaf of corn cut to the god of fertility in order to safeguard a good harvest the following year. The practice of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches didn't acually begin until 1843 when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special Thanksgiving service in Morwenstow, Cornwall and this led to the custom of decorating churches with home grown produce.
November: The annual celebration of November 5th is perhaps most celebrated in Sussex with the infamous 'Lewes Fireworks' display. Well worth a visit if you like the combination of fireworks and street parades, the whole town gathers in the main street and later around huge bonfires. Best leave your car outside the town if you go as it gets exceptionally busy and crowded by early evening.
December: As we gear up for Christmas once again this is usually when we all start to ponder how quickly the year has come and gone again. Time to get the shopping done, the tree lights up, sing carols and eat mince pies. Make the most of the year in 2008 and try not to let the weather put you off getting out and about!
