The National Trust has just launched one of it’s biggest coastal fundraising efforts ever and you have a chance to help out.

The £1.2 million fundraising appeal is looking to secure the future of one of England’s most famous sites, The White Cliffs of Dover. 

The white cliffs of Dover. Goodbye England http://t.co/5bnfTyVq

June 20, 2012 6:49 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@davidfoto

David Freund

The fundraiser is looking to complete the coastline under the National Trust’s care. The 1.35 KM stretch is the only gap along the coastline in Kent between the visitor centre and South Foreland Light House. It is a great area for Coastal walks with amazing views across the channel.

The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic image that have witnessed many important moments of England’s history including the arrival of the Romans and the return of forces during World War Two following the evacuation of Dunkirk. 

The white cliffs of Dover #366/171 http://t.co/5WLzHjfL

June 19, 2012 1:33 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@klbeasley

Keri-Lee Beasley 

Besides the cliffs being steeped in history they are also home to a wide array of wild life including the Adonis blue butterfly; rare coastal plants such as oxtongue broomrape and sea carrot; and birds including skylark, the only colony of Kittiwakes in Kent and peregrine falcons.

If the fundraising is successful this stretch of the cliffs will be protected and cared for by the National Trust. 

This is a great opportunity to contribute to the protection of an important stretch of England’s south coast with stunning views that need to be preserved for future generations to enjoy. 

There are three ways you can get involved in the fundraising effort: 

• Make a donation online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/whitecliffsappeal and you can choose to have your name engraved on our virtual White Cliffs of Dover
• You can text a donation to support the appeal.  For example, if you wanted to donate £5 you’d need to text ‘DOVR02 £5’ to ‘70070’ – the amount that you wish to donate must be included in the text
• Make a donation over the phone by calling 0844 800 1895

If you are on Twitter and wish to keep up to date with the fundraising efforts you can follow #whitecliffs to see all the mentions and who is getting involved. 

The National Trust have until the end of the year to raise the money to secure the stretch of coastland so if you can help please take a moment to donate to a very worthy cause.

Source: thesartorialist.com via Agne on Pinterest

National Cycle to Work Day is part of Samsung Bike Week, a larger 9-day event that began on 16 June and will come to an end on the 24th.

Organised by ‘Don’t Drive on the 5‘, National Cycle to Work Day is an opportunity for everyone – from veteran cyclists to those who haven’t been on a bike in years – to experience the benefits of cycling. In fact, the theme of this year’s National Cycle to Work Day is ‘Everyday Cycling for Everyone’.

If the health, environmental and financial benefits of biking to work wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe the idea of cycling for charity will encourage you to participate. For every mile you cycle and record using Samsung’s Hope Relay app, they will give £1 to charity.

To read more about the event, you can visit BikeWeek.org.uk or check out our Storify post about it.

Professional cyclist Laura Trott explains this nationwide charity event  in this video:

Cycling Events Across North America

For those of you living outside the UK, it’s likely that there’s a Bike Week, Bike to Work Day or maybe even a Bike Month taking place near you at some point during the yea, particularly if you live in North America where cycling has seen a rise in popularity.

Source: tetinotete.tumblr.com via Maria on Pinterest

For example, various cycling events are held in Canada throughout the year. In Winnipeg, Bike to Work Day also takes place tomorrow (22 June), while in Toronto it was held last month on 28 May.

While there is a large car culture in Canada, and keeping your car in good shape (perhaps by looking into Lebeau’s windsheild replacement offers) is an important part of staying safe on the roads, more and more people are able to forgo this hassle in favour of a less high-maintenance mode of transport.

Similarly, cycling has risen in popularity across the states, with bike events cropping up throughout the year. As part of National Bike Month in the US, San Fransisco hosted its Bike to Work Day on 10 May, Seattle’s Cascade Bicycle Club hosted a Bike to Work Day on 18 May and several other cities across the country organised similar events encouraging professionals to commute via bike.

Of course, cycling isn’t just popular in the UK and North America. Many European and Asian countries greatly surpass them in regard to the number of routine cyclists on the roads. Don’t believe me? Check out this video of rush hour in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Will you be participating in National Cycle to Work Day? What would convince you to swap out your car for a bicycle? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Father’s Day

Father’s Day used to be defined as:

“Father’s Day festival is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and therefore the date of the festival is never fixed.

People celebrate the occasion by honoring their father and expressing affection for them by presenting popular gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates and neckties. Little children often give handmade gifts to their dad.”

Nowadays with travel being so affordable and great days out and week-ends being so easy to arrange, it is a completely different affair with Father’s Day being a great excuse to ‘get away from it all’ and really experience whatever surrounding areas have to offer.

London is the ultimate destination to travel to in the UK in 2012 so why not make this your destination of choice for your Father’s Day getaway…

Image: Pinned by Tillie Pitt on Pintrest

How to get there

You can book your tickets in advance and save a lot on transport costs allowing for you to spend more on sightseeing.

Why not pack a picnic with all your Dad’s favorite things. You could pack some novelty personalised beer and ale with his name on it along with some crunchy French loaf sandwiches filled with his favorite fillings.

You can surprise your Dad with an early card with the tickets enclosed in it so that he can clear his calendar to spend his Father’s Day week-end with you!

Take a look at the Pintrest image below on a great picnic treat idea that you can put in your Dad’s train-travel, picnic basket.

Image: Pinned by Mary Paitsel via marthastewart.com on Pintrest

Image: Pinned by René Casanova via printpattern.blogspot.com

Father’s Day in London Town

Once you’re in London you’ll have a lot to do and many tourist attractions to choose from so to make it more Father’s Day specific why not narrow down your choices to more Father’s Day themed activities.

Here are our top picks of things to do in London for Father’s Day:

• For adventurous Dads: Spend a few hours taking some time to use one of the many London climbing walls and build on your teamwork skills with your Dad as you work on your rock climbing.
• For history buff Dads: If your Dad likes nothing better than to spend a day in a museum or an art gallery then why not let him? You can show your Dad that you know what he likes doing and buy him a day full of tickets to various museums such as the Charles Dickens Museum, Clock Makers museum or even spend some time taking in some modern art at the Tate Museum!
• For connoisseur Dads: If you are of legal drinking age and your Dad has a fine taste for fine amber liquids like whiskey then indulging in a little London whiskey tasting  could be a fine way to spend a rainy evening indoors and reminisce about all the years your Dad has been a Dad as well as learning about whiskey in all it’s forms.
• For sightseeing Dads: One of the best ways to see London is to embark on one of the many cycle routes on a set of hired bikes and see what London has to offer. Cycling allows you to go a lot further than walking if sightseeing is at the top of your list and it is a great way to spend time with your Dad while also working up an appetite and seeing what London has to offer.
• For exploring Dads: If your Dad likes nothing better than to get lost explore then indulge him -make sure you have a GPS on your smart phone just in-case- and catch a tube or two and walk around the beautiful and ‘full of nooks and crannies’ areas of London such as Camden, Regent’s Canal or Parliament Hill. This will be a great experience for you and your Dad to have time away from the crowds at popular spots and you can really make sure that he is having a great time on his Father’s Day

If you are staying the week-end in London then Thistle Hotels offers various hotels in London that will provide a comfortable stay but also offer a place where you can come back to after a long day of sightseeing. You can indulge in a restaurant meal or a high tea, anything to spend a little downtime with your Dad.

Tell us your Father’s Day out story

Tell us how you are planning to spend your Father’s Day with your Dad whether it’s a day out or a week-end away! Let us know in the comment section below and share your ideas with us!

As a child, I never had the patience for kites. Kite-flying always seemed to involve more running and frustration than I expected going into it. Plus, any situation that requires me to hold my arms above my head for long stretches of time makes me incredibly cranky (interrupt me while I’m trying to french braid my hair and I’ll bite your head off).

But I think it’s time I give kites a second chance. Especially considering how cool some of them are.

For example these:

Cool Kites

Source: potterybarnkids.com via Kenzi on Pinterest

 

Source: airworksstudio.blogspot.com via Raegan on Pinterest

 

Source: playfairhavefun.blogspot.co.uk via Tracy on Pinterest

 

Funny Kites

Image via Funalso.com

 

 

Source: cracked.com via Island on Pinterest

Source: windpowersports.com via Paige on Pinterest

 

Source: tlc.howstuffworks.com via Joy on Pinterest

 

Image via Chroniclelive.co.uk

 

 

Pretty Kites

Image by edwardopilopilous via Flickr

 

 

Source: compulsivelycompiled.blogspot.com via iDebbie on Pinterest

 

 

Image via RaviolisForLunch.blogspot.com

 

 

Source: worldmarket.com via Erin on Pinterest

 

 

Fun Facts About Kites (via Kiteman.co.uk):

•  Kites were used during the American Civil War to deliver newspapers and letters
•  The world’s smallest kite that actually flys is only 5mm tall
• In 1826 there was a stage coach service between London and Bristol that used kites instead of horses
• Alexander Graham Bell invented the tetrahedal kite, which could carry people. It paved the way for further exploration into manned flight
• Benjamin Franklin successfully used a kite to prove that lightening was electricity

For more great kite facts, check out Kiteman.co.uk.

 

Which kite is your favourite? Isn’t kite flying the best? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Shop during Chelsea Flower Show by Steve Elliott via Flickr

If you’re one of the lucky attendants (The 157,000 available tickets sold out last week in record time), make sure you’ve checked the flights to London deals offered by airlines such as Aer Lingus and be ready for 5 days of intense garden sightseeing!

Although most of the gardens showcased in the event are prepared under artificial conditions to ensure that they are flowering during these 5 days, this year’s designers believe that real gardens are designed to grow throughout the year.

Andy Sturgeon, designer of the M&G Garden, explains that longevity is one of the main aspects in his work.

‘My original vision does not disappear in just a few short years. I always design gardens with this in mind, using plants and materials that have longevity.’

Arne Maynard, designer of the Laurent-Perrier Bicentenary Garden, believes in creating ‘usable’ gardens that work through all seasons.

“The garden is designed to be an inspirational yet achievable realisation of enduring elegance – something that can be grown and enjoyed in a real situation. It will bear fruit and provide flowers throughout the year, with each element having its time to shine.”

Have a look at  TV personality and garden designer Diarmuid Gavin’s views on the show.

With over 30 garden designs, the visitors to the event will be able to see some of the world’s most innovative designs in each of the four categories: show gardens, artisan gardens, fresh gardens and generation gardens.

For engaging and interactive features, the visitors can head to the Great Pavilion. This venue will showcase interesting exhibits related to the horticultural world. From talks on communities and the environment to advice on troublesome plant pests in towns, the Great Pavilion is the perfect place to learn and engage with the other visitors to the event.

If you’re attending the event, the organisers recommend travelling to the show using public transport; Sloane Square tube station is a 10 minute walk from the showground. Last Minute has great deals on London hotels around the area, these are perfect if you don’t want to waste your time travelling and just focus on visiting the gardens!

If you can’t wait until the show opens next week, head to our Pinterest board and take a look at the best designs from the previous editions!

Are you going to the show this year? Have you been to any of the previous editions? Let us know in the comments section below!

Image by: Melanie-m

Wallace and Gromit are making a return to help out with summer celebrations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. There are going to be celebrations going on across the country and we thought that we would give you the low down on what is going on and how you can get involved.

There are going to be 70 tea parties across the country as Wallace and Gromit have teamed up with the National Trust to create some truly special events. There will be a screening of a new Wallace and Gromit animation happening at these events as well as many other goings on such as brass bands, outdoor games, model making workshops, face painting and even a bouncy castle. Activities will depend on which event you go to but overall there is so much happening that there is bound to be something for everyone.

As we mentioned before there is going to be a new Wallace and Gromit animation that will be screened at the events. If you can’t hang on until June to see the animation we have a sneak preview that you can check out here.

This is just a taster of what the animation is going to be about. But we do have some facts about the creation of the animation that show how much work goes into creating these amazing animations.

30 – number of people who contributed to the making of the film

3 – months it took to make

500 – hours taken to complete from storyboard to post production

60 – metres of bunting used to decorate West Wallaby Street and National Trust property

8 – hours spent brushing the grass with a fork to achieve the correct look

30 – kilograms of plasticine used

4 – number of Gromits used in filming

254 – weight in kilograms of the National Trust property in the film

Nick Park who is the creator of Wallace and Gromit is over the moon at being able to team up with the National Trust he said:

“I have to pinch myself when I think how far Wallace and Gromit have come; from ideas in my head, to ‘film stars’ working with great organisations such as the National Trust, which the nation holds dear to its heart.  At Aardman we are thrilled that Wallace and Gromit have had a chance to explore all the Trust has to offer – from helping to put up bunting to enjoying their Wensleydale cheese platter at a picnic. Wallace and Gromit are in for a cracking summer at the National Trust.”

So it looks like it is going to be summer full of Wensleydale and picnics. If you are near to an event you should make the effort and try to get along as it is bound to be spectacular.

What would your ideal tea party involve? Are you excited to see Wallace and Gromit back in action? Please let us know in the comments.

To start the Octavia Hill Awards focus on conservation and the bringing green spaces to the community. There was a nomination section of the contest where anyone could nominate someone they felt represented Octavia Hill’s spirit in giving back to the community. After this there was a public vote which enabled the short list to be drawn up. There are different sections for nominations and they are:

• Growing Hero
• Natural Hero
• Inspirational Hero
• The People’s Campaigner
• Green Space Guardians
• ‘Love Places’ Award

People who have made it on to the short lists for the different categories have all shown amazing commitment to their communities and a true belief of how important green areas are to people. For example, Patrick Frew – Cloughmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Patrick wanted to see more food being grown locally. He took one acre and developed it into a well planned out growing space. He involved the whole community from toddlers to OAPs and he is already moving on to his next plan which will involve a much larger space which will continue to keep the community in touch with nature.

Another great example, this time from the natural hero section is Anna Townend – Greenwich, London. For over the past thirty years Anna has worked to ensure that nature is given space within cities. She has worked on many different environmental causes but has always been part of the Greenwich Dwarf Orchard, which took a derelict site and created a wildlife garden, ecological reserve and education centre for local schools. She is truly a woman that embodies Octavia Hill’s spirit.

The lists were put together by a team of judges that all understood the passion and importance of Octavia Hill. The judging panel was made up of.

Fiona Reynolds who is the Director General of the National Trust since 2001 and feels that “People need places to get away from their busy pressurised lives and to feel that sense of refreshment which is absolutely at the heart of our founders’ mission.”

Fergus Collins who is editor of BBC Countryfile magazine, a monthly publication that offers inspiration and practical advice for making the most of the British countryside. He understands the importance of nature and was looking for people who communicated this to others.

Alice Roberts, is a broadcaster who has presented many shows focusing on her expertise and passion for science, medicine and anthropology.

As the votes are all in now we will be looking to update you on the winners come June as well as looking in more depth about the runners up and the projects that were nominated for the short list. The Octavia Hill Awards are a great way of celebrating those who are taking the time and putting in the effort to create beautiful spaces and bring communities together. We can’t wait to see who has been voted the winner. We have created a pinterest collection of some of our favourite green spaces with some international entries, we hope that you enjoy them.

And yes, it was actually a historical event contrary to what some people on Twitter might say. But it isn’t just the movie re-release that’s got people talking about the Titanic again; all the museum events and TV specials have been set to tie in to the hundredth anniversary of the catastrophe.

The Titanic left port today, April 10th, in 1912 on its fateful maiden voyage, only to run into an iceberg a mere four days later, mainly because of an error by the ship’s captain. Due to issues with the ship’s design, the separating walls on the ship’s ballast were not made tall enough to properly reach the ceiling, meaning that the one puncture from the iceberg ended up being fatal when the entire hull of the ship flooded. Not to mention, evacuation was a disaster when rescue boats meant for 65-70 people were let out with half that. In all, it was a catastrophe that was preventable from several different angles, which is part of what makes the tragedy resonate for so many people. The “unsinkable” ship that sunk has gone down in history as a warning of what happens when safety goes by the wayside.

But if you’re a Titanic afficionado, or just looking to relive a younger obsession with the period, this is definitely the year to take advantage of all the informative special events surrounding the Titanic centenary. Check out our list of Titanic anniversary events to see if there’s anything happening in your neck of the woods, and be sure to book ASAP, whether you’re in need of a hotel in Belfast or a few tickets to an attraction in Orlando.

Have you already seen Titanic 3D? Share your thoughts below.

Decide how much you want to spend on your garden

Start with a budget and stick to it, decide on the basic elements you want for your garden and look for the best deals before you actually purchase something. Some DIY stores usually have great offers on furniture during winter months, consider this and decide what’s the best time of the year to buy the things you need for your garden.

Source: bhg.com via Jack on Pinterest

Create a garden map

Study the available space in your garden and decide how you’re going to arrange the items that you’re planning on buying. Draw the lawn, flowers, vegetables or decorations that you’d like to have in your garden.

After studying your lawn areas, you might find that some of them are quite difficult to maintain. A nice solution is using fake lawn, check artificial grass prices online and consider if this might be a cheaper option compared to planting new lawn.

Decide which flowers you want to plant

Make a list of the new flowers that you’d like to have in your garden, we’ve created a pinterest board with the best options for spring, go ahead and take a look for some inspiration!

You can use your own seeds, keep them from the flowers and vegetables that you grew in your garden during the previous season. Pick the seeds and allow them to dry after placing them in labelled bags. When spring starts, plant these seeds in seedling trays and keep them in a warm indoors environment until they’re ready to be transplanted to the garden.

Ask for cuttings from someone in your neighbourhood, people love to share the plants they’re proud of! This is a cheap way to have new flowers in your garden, keep the cuttings in water and make sure you check the water until they can be put into soil.

Wait until frost season is over

Make sure you start working on your garden when really cold temperatures are over. Don’t plant anything until then or you might be surprised by frost and will have to buy new flowers again.

When the temperature is slightly warmer take the seedling trays outdoors to help in the transition from an indoor environment to an outdoor one.

Create your own garden decorations

Restore those old chairs in your garden and leave them ready for the new season. You can create fantastic garden decoration with little money, take a look at this DIY bird feeder from a recycled bottle!

DIY bird feeder via Shelterness

Do you have your own tips for preparing a garden? Want to share your DIY decoration ideas? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Cramond Island 

Photo by Jen Schofield via Instagram

Cramond is a seaside village 20 minutes away from Edinburgh’s city centre. Along the coast of the village is Cramond Island which is close enough to walk onto when the tide is low. The island is one of several that lie on the Firth of Forth. The island is attached to Cramond Beach and makes for an interesting walk.

There is evidence of historical significance on the island with fortifications that might suggest settlements during World War II. The island provides an interesting range of terrain for the pups and includes grass, beach, stone and designated paved walkways. Walking along Cramond beach and around the island will take you about 2 hours.

Arthur’s Seat 

Photo by Amanda Butler via Pinterest

Arthur’s Seat forms most of Hollyrood Park and lies within the city centre of Edinburgh close to the Scottish Parliament. There are a couple of options for walking around Arthur’s Seat and you can choose depending on how hard you want to push yourself and your dog.

Walking upwards to the peak of Arthur’s Seat is very steep and straight, this would be the most strenuous option. You can also walk through the valley of Arthur’s Seat which is quite level and has long grass, small hills and plenty of areas for the dog to run further and sniff. The last option is the Craggs, which is a relatively steep pathway halfway up Arthur’s seat and down.

Personally my dog enjoys the valley walk the most and it seems to be the most popular amongst other dog walkers (as we see so many on the walk every time we go).

North Berwick

Photo by Tim Grey via Pinterest

North Berwick is probably my favourite place to walk my dog. You can spend an entire day here and the humans will have as much fun as the dogs. This is the furthest away from Edinburgh’s city centre, a 45 minute drive or a 30 minute journey on the train but I assure you it’s worth it. North Berwick is the perfect location for a mid-summer walk because it’s ALL beach.

In fact, last Sunday we spend 4 hours walking along this huge stretch of beach. It is clean, interesting and is always full of other happy dogs and owners. Grab yourself some famous North Berwick fish & chips and an ice cream and enjoy the sea breeze. There are plenty of dog friendly pubs in North Berwick as well if you fancy a refreshment in a cosy pub. Then you can hop back on the train which are every 30 minutes back to Edinburgh and watch the dog snooze for the rest of the week!

The best kind of dog walk is when everyone feels like they’ve got something out of it, North Berwick is perfect because you have to make the effort to get on a train which means you really feel like you’re out of the city and you enjoy your walk more because of it. Why go out for only an hour? Take a packed lunch and a book and make a day of it! Healthy owner + healthy dog = happy family.

What are your favourite places to walk a dog? Tell us in the comments section below.