5 Great Ideas for Environmentally Friendly Days Out for all the Family
Here are the best environmentally friendly days out for you and your family to enjoy around England…
There are plenty of environmentally friendly days out in England to consider. England has plenty of eco-friendly attractions to enjoy. Even in more built up areas of the UK, plenty of sustainable and eco friendly adventures await.
1. Have a National Park adventure
Of course, heading out into the natural world is one of the very best ways to get away from it all and have a restful day out. Wherever you live in England, you should find it relatively easy to make your way to one of England’s wonderful National Parks:
- Northumberland National Park
- Lake District National Park
- Yorkshire Dales National Park
- North York Moors National Park
- Peak District National Park
- Exmoor National Park
- Dartmoor National Park
- New Forest National Park
- South Downs National Park
And beautiful natural environments can, of course, also be enjoyed in England’s areas of outstanding natural beauty, and other designated protected areas. Great days out often involve exploring these areas on foot, or by bike. Or engaging in many other outward bound activities.
2. Go for a day on a farm
Protected areas are not the only places where you can have a great day out and spend time outdoors. Other great days out include visits to sustainable farms. Even in the heart of London, city farms offer the opportunities to meet the animals and understand more about food production.
Across the UK, there are plenty of farms that allow visitors to come and learn more about what they do.
For example, you could visit:
- Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm and Eco Centre, Buckinghamshire.
- Swillington Organic Farm, West Yorkshire
- Windmill Farm, Somerset
- Ford Hall Organic Farm, Shropshire
- Riverford, Devon
And those are just a few of many examples. Many farms have farm shops where you can pick up their produce, and there are also plenty of pick-your-own places that can be great for days out across the country.
3. Visit glorious gardens
Another great eco-friendly thing to do on a day out is to visit some of England’s glorious gardens. From Kew Gardens and Botanic Gardens in many towns and cities, to the glorious gardens that surround many of England greatest country homes… There are plenty of great gardens to discover.
If you love plants, Cornwall is a wonderful place to go, for example. There you will find the famous Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heiligan, Trebah, Trewithen and many more great days out for plant lovers. If tropical plants are your thing, the Rainforest Project in Berkshire, where you can also see tropical creatures and learn about our planet’s precious rainforest ecosystems. Many other amazing gardens are iconic sites across England. Some great examples include Hidcote Manor, Sissinghurst, and the Beth Chatto Gardens, to name but a few. There are some great days out in Cornwall for plant lovers!
You might even find special open days that allow you to visit home gardens that are not usually open to the public. Visiting these hidden gems can be a great way to gain inspiration for your own garden, and to spend some time enjoying pleasant, green surroundings.
4. Have a day on the water
For many people, a go-to day out is a day beside the seaside. And of course there are plenty of places around the English coastline where you can enjoy beautiful beaches and amazing stretches of coastline. Hikes on coastal paths through natural beauty spots are often great ideas of an eco-friendly day out. But you can also consider seeing the coastline from a different perspective – on a day out on the water. You might sail, go kayaking, go paddleboarding in England, or enjoy a range of water sports.
Moving away from the coastline, days out on the water might include canoe or rafting excursions down England’s beautiful rivers. Or even wild swimming (with care, in an appropriate spot) in a river, lake or other body of water. Enjoying the sea or fresh water locations does not mean crowding into busy picnic spots. Head off on the waters and you will often find yourself in a far more secluded position – off the beaten track and able to appreciate England’s wildlife in all its glory.
5. See sustainability in action
If you are interested in living in a sustainable, eco-friendly way, there are plenty of amazing places to see sustainability in action in England. Consider a visit to one of the many Permaculture Land Centres across the country, for example, to see how we can solve so many problems in a regenerative and eco-conscious way. On a day out to see how others are living and working sustainably, you can learn how to implement these ideas not just on your days out, but in your own daily life.
You can also see sustainability in action if, rather than just enjoying yourself on your day out, you also consider how you can give back. You might be able to volunteer some time on a beach clean, litter pick or other clean-up operation. You might be able to plant trees, or help with other rewilding or conservation projects.
Environmentally friendly days out in England
Of course, these ideas are just the beginning. There are literally thousands of great environmentally friendly days out to consider. You do not need to opt for the same old options as everyone else. Forge your own path, head out into nature or other beautiful environments, and you are sure to find plenty of amazing things to see and do.
- 5 Tips for Setting Up an Airbnb in the UK - 19 March 2024
- MOT Test: The Foundation of Road Safety Maintenance - 14 March 2024
- Why the UK Makes the Perfect Wedding Venue Destination - 22 February 2024
