After reading all about the impressive work of Lizzie Carr and her Plastic Patrol initiative. We decided to take some of her great ideas and further develop them with our own, in order to create some amazing new designs for her trusty Stand Up Paddle Board and then write up our amazing work within a series of detailed newspaper reports.
Read MoreAs part of our school STEM week and a strong focus on recycling and reusing plastic. My class decided to make some plastic bird feeders out of recycled plastic bottles. Read our step by step guide to see what we did.
Read MoreThe SmartHalo cycle navigation system is the coolest cycle product you can buy for your bike. As a daily cycle commuter see what I thought of this really cool product from the innovative designers at SmartHalo.
Read MoreAn exciting Stone Age-inspired craft activity, that is ideal for all Key Stage 2 aged children, which can easily support any Stone Age Topic. It is a practical activity, and it can easily be implemented in the classroom or at home.
Read MoreWhy you should go for walks after work is a motivational piece of writing that encourages everyone to get out after work and go for a walk. It doesn’t really matter where you walk, or indeed for how far, by utilising what you have all around you and embracing the fresh air will definitely bring untold benefits to your overall health and well-being. Read on to find out more.
Read MoreHere is a list of some of my 5 favourite outdoor clothing brands to help you get started and kitted out for the Great Outdoors. I start with The North Face, probably the best known outdoor clothing brand out there, then move on to the likes of Fjallraven, Haglofs, Montane and Rab Equipment. Where I hope to give my honest opinion of what these popular brands might offer.
Read MoreThere's nothing better than an outdoor hen night with your girl gang. Click on the link and get some great ideas on how to have an outdoor hen party in style.
Read MorePeople of the Outdoors is my latest series whereby I acknowledge those individuals who are inspired and motivated to spend their lives in the Great Outdoors. This series forms a selection of personal interviews and imagery taken from these dedicated individuals. This second interview is by Outdoor Enthusiast Mathias Wielinga, who enjoys hiking and exploring the wild outdoors.
Read MorePeople of the Outdoors is my latest series whereby I acknowledge those individuals who are inspired and motivated to spend their lives in the Great Outdoors. This series forms a selection of personal interviews and imagery taken from these dedicated individuals.
The first interview is by intrepid Outdoor Enthusiast Rory Southworth, who enjoys utilisng the wild outdoors, at any given opportunity.
Read MoreA Camping trip is meant to be fun. However, when you are dealing with the elements of nature, one mistake can turn the whole experience sour. When it comes to the outdoors, it pays to be prepared. This article talks about the complete checklist of things one must keep in mind before they venture out into the wild.
Read More50 Bucket list ideas to do in the Great Outdoors is a comprehensive list of fun activities that any child or adult can enjoy in their own free time. I hope these 50 ideas help to serve as inspiration and motivation and indeed help others get outside, enjoy the natural world around them, without spending large amounts of money on unnecessary extras.
Read MoreWhat will it be like in 2019?
With 2018 drawing to a close and a New Year around the corner. This blog post focuses on all that have supported me during a pretty successful 2018 and how I can encourage others to step up, get out and do something new in the year ahead.
Read MorePeak District Walks - Mam Tor.
This is the second in my series of popular Peak District Walks. It forms one of my favourites, that being the stunning area around Mam Tor. I hope you enjoy this mini adventure.
www.garethmate.com ‘Thoughts and Stories from the Great Outdoors’ #placestowanderandexplore
Read MoreWOW Park: A great day out for all would-be adventurers. I recently had the chance to spend the day adventuring in the Danish Woodlands, at an amazing outdoor adventure playground. It was an exhilarating experience, climbing and swinging in the treetops. Rediscovering your childhood, as nature intended.
Read what I thought of this pretty impressive place, in my latest Blog Post.
‘Thoughts and Stories from the Great Outdoors’
Read More'Do more of what makes you happy’ is a frequently used saying. It is also a saying that is often misused or perhaps overlooked. Feeling happy or finding happiness in life is something we all seek. How we get there or how long it takes, is always a question the individual has to answer themselves.
A practical view on how we can utilise what is all around us in order to bring some extra positive thinking and overall happiness into our lives.
‘Thoughts and Stories from the Great Outdoors’
www.garethmate.com
Read MoreRead all about my latest Camping visit to Delflandhoeve in the Netherlands.
A great little campsite in South Holland, close to the city of Delft.
#placestowanderandexplore
Read MoreIn pursuit of further developing creativity, I decided to present my class with another open-ended and creative task.
A task that would not only encourage the children I teach to work together, think expansively, but also build stronger levels of resilience and perseverance in order to reach and hopefully achieve a desirable goal.
Read on to find out more.
Read MoreHow to Reproof an Outdoor Jacket with Nikwax Waterproofing. It is time to test out some Nikwax waterproofing products, which were kindly given to me by Nikwax. Nikwax is the world Leaders in waterproofing. You can read all about my detailed product review and how I reproofed an old outdoor jacket. Breathing new life into it and saving money on buying a new one.
www.nikwax.com/
Read MoreTime for a Digital Detox
I remember the days when Social Media and electronic devices didn’t exist. I remember the days when I (personally) would spend hours of my day, care free and out in the fresh air.
This new blog post highlights another reason why it is important to ‘get back to nature’and give your body and mind a Digital Detox.
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