PLAN YOUR ADVENTURES
Exploring new places enriches our lives, boosts creative thinking and inspires personal growth.
Once you’ve overcome the hurdle of leaving the house a few times and realised the magic of the natural world is out there just waiting for you, you’ll soon find yourself organising your week around nature visits. You’ll be walking back from work via the park or getting up earlier on a Sunday to venture out before the teenagers emerge. Maybe you’ll seek out a sunrise or the dawn chorus.
Next, and here's when you know life has taken a turn for the much more interesting, you’ll openly start seeking new places to go. You’ll find yourself studying maps and organising trips to new places you hear about in the pub or on social media. You’ll be researching conservation projects in places you might just make into a short break destination or even planning a full on wildlife seeking trip to Romania disguised as a family holiday.
The RSPB and Wildlife Trusts websites list nature reserves in your area and the Woodland Trust has lots of tips and ideas too. You could also look for conservation projects or simply search the type of habitat you fancy visiting.
Social media lets you see where other people have enjoyed visiting and the internet is great for searching places further afield, but don’t overlook the amazing adventures you can have within the borders of your OS map. Exploring closer to home encourages us to understand and care for our local patch so we are more likely to fight to look after it. Plus, shorter trips are better for the environment too.
Use the key on your map to help you understand it. Look for green spaces, water and woodland as these are likely to be good wildlife places. You might want to find hilltops or cliffs if you are looking to be closer to the elements or stretch your eyes with a view. Perhaps look for footpaths you haven’t tried before. It is helpful if you can find somewhere marked on the map to park, but often you will have to work it out when you get there and perhaps walk a little bit further.
Now you’ve decided where you want to go, let someone know where you are heading.
Check the weather forecast and maybe tide times.
Understand your map, know where you're going and remember to take it with you. I like a good old paper map, but if you can get on with an app I've been told these are really good too.
Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and its inevitable fickle changes, especially if you are heading to high ground. The waterproof trousers are usually a must.
Carry a rucksack to hold the layers you take off or will want to put on. It also keeps your hands free for exploring.
Binoculars are fantastic for bringing nature that little bit closer and identification apps can take the frustration out of wondering what you have found.
Pack plenty of water.
A picnic, or at the very least a flask, makes any walk into an event and you may want to bring a notebook, a camera or another way to record your adventure.
I like to take a small box for any delicate finds and a bag for any litter I may find
If you’re planning to explore more remote places where the weather can change and conditions could be unfamiliar, seek assistance from a local guide. It is easy to lose your bearings when the fog comes in or take the wrong path down a mountain and find yourself miles from your car and civilisation. Tackling more extreme conditions without the right knowledge or equipment potentially puts your life and those of rescuers at risk.