Should I go with my gut? If you’re sailing through a cloudy night, without the stars as a guide, you need an accurate compass. You can’t trust someone else’s word that you’re going in the right direction – like a GPS signal, it might fail you. But a needle pointing north never will. This is …
What is a meadow and what is their practical purpose? ‘Sitting in a meadow is a balm for the soul – a meadow is the most peaceful and gently restful place I can imagine,’ says Wilson Wall. ‘Without meadows, we would lose pockets of diversity and serenity that cannot be replicated in parks and gardens.’ …
Read moreWhy are meadows essential for the environment and our mental health?
Why it’s rude to reject a compliment Do you think, these days, that you’re pretty good at taking a compliment? Maybe, when someone praised you in the past, you’d contradict them. ‘Oh, but it was easy,’ you’d say, or ‘Thanks, but I should have done better.’ But, since then, you’ve learned that rejecting a compliment …
Why trail running is good for your body Whether it’s for leisure or competition, there’ll be a trail to match your preferences – and trail running is more than a sport or way to get fit. It’s an experience. One of the most exciting aspects is the constantly changing terrain, which keeps the mind engaged, …
Read moreWhat are the physical and mental benefits of trail running?
Why lighting windows can create a positive and festive atmosphere One of the first things you might notice about Sweden in winter are the window lights. Even after dark, many people keep their curtains open to display small, softly lit lamps on the windowsill. And, as it gets closer to Christmas and Lucia – a …
Read moreHow to maintain your mental wellbeing during winter – the Swedish way
What makes Lundy Island a sanctuary for wildlife? Lundy’s kelp forests, reefs, sandy sediments, sea caves and shipwrecks provide space, peace and nourishment for dolphins, spiny lobster, pink sea fans, sunset cup coral and Atlantic grey seals. Important seabird colonies, including Manx shearwaters, guillemots, as well as puffins, have also flourished following the eradication of …
Read moreWhat makes Lundy Island an important nature reserve?
How does metal detecting work? The handheld metal detector, first patented by two people, Gerhard Fisher and Shirl Herr, around the same time in the 1920s, works by transmitting an electromagnetic field from the search coil into the ground to detect targets (any metal objects). When an item is detected, the device will produce an …
Why are ghost tours so appealing? For some, it’s curiosity about the unknown or a morbid fascination with ghastly histories and life beyond the grave. Being fully immersed in a ghost tour’s experience brings the past and all its phantoms to life in vivid colour. It’s possible to feel the creeping dread, the quickening pulse …
What to consider when booking wildlife tourism The Responsible Traveller: A Practical Guide to Reducing Your Environmental and Social Impact, by Karen Edwards, includes tips to help you choose an ethical wildlife experience. Aim to tick off at least five of these points before booking: Experiences led by wildlife experts who have studied a specific …
