It’s been a beautiful July on these shores, and with lots of sunshine-filled days and warm summer nights (hopefully) still ahead, we asked Lou Archell from one of our favourite lifestyle blogs Little Green Shed to gather together her ideas for making the most of the summer holidays. So stock up on marshmallows, dust off your teepee, grab your best den-making blankets, and get ready for a summer adventure…
Summer is here! Weeks of school holidays stretch out in front of us, full of the promise of days spent chilling, being outdoors and adventure. Even if you don’t have school-age children, the summer months are here for the taking – enjoy every last moment to the full. Here’s a little guide on what you can do to fill your time over the coming weeks…
Get your camp on
There’s nothing better than camping under the stars – a chance to kick back and watch the world go by. Get it right, and this could be the best holiday you’ve ever had! You can…
– Star gaze
– Cook on an open fire
– Watch bats fly over head at dusk
– Sleep outside on warm nights
– Tell spooky stories by candle light
– Cook marshmallows and smores
Adventure
Summer means adventure, explore the unknown, set forth and try new things…
– Take a wild swim – in the sea, a river or lake
– Make a den in the woods
– Hike a hill and marvel at the views
– Go crabbing or fishing for your supper
– Go on a night cycle around your neighbourhood – see it in a different light!
Get creative
– Beach comb for shells to turn into necklaces or display at home
– Make pebble faces
– Take a rake and make shapes in the sand
– Build dens in the woods
– Whittle a spoon
Gather
Summer is the time get your friends and loved ones together. Organise parties, BBQs or go to festivals. Here are some suggestions:
– Just So Festival in Cheshire – a perfect festival for first timers and families
– Camp Bestival in Dorset – a big, booty-shaking, hip happening festival for kids and teenagers
– Throw an outdoor cinema party
– Feast under the stars – or failing that festoon your back yard
– BBQ every day
Cook
Summer is the time to indulge in salads, summer fruits and vegetables. Unleash your veggieness and embrace all things home grown.
– Make salads using wild flowers
– Make hummus from beets, beans and whatever you fancy
– Make summer berry ice-cream
– Cook over an open fire – large paella dishes, fresh fish or ribs
– Invite friends and neighbours to taste your home-grown and home-made creations
Get child like
Act like you did when you were little or take your child’s lead – let the day unfold in a child like way…
– Fly a kite
– Make mud pies
– Create clay models
– Make ice pops using fresh fruit juice
– Roll down a hill
– Have a scooting race
– Embrace the loom bands
– Draw on pavements in chalk
– Go rock pooling
Summer is the best time of year – and with the weather we have been having recently there is no excuse! Get out there and have some fun.
Lou x
Lou Archell is a lifestyle writer and blogger from Bristol, UK. Her blog Littlegreenshed is a collection of happy memories, travels, adventures, flowers, interviews and inspiration. She champions craftsmanship and sometimes sells her own prints in her Folksy shop.
