Staycation Summer

With people counting their pennies and a poor exchange rate for the Euro, the buzzword this summer is ‘staycation’.  According to Visit Britain, one in five Britons who holidayed abroad last year will be staying at home this year, meaning an estimated five million extra people will be spending the summer locally using their own home as a base for day excursions and short trips.

But after two disappointing wet and dreary summers, rumour has it that we might be in for a treat this year.  According to the Met Office, predictions are for a dry and warm BBQ summer, so those staying at home for the summer holidays might have made a good decision! With hopefully some warmer weather on the horizon and more free time on our hands, we should be making the most of the British countryside and the local attractions.

Biome Lifestyle, the online store offering the finest in ethical homeware and gifts has a great range of outdoor products to help you make the most of your British summer. Each item is made with organic, recycled or sustainable materials and is ethically sourced so you know how and where each was made.  The products are individually handpicked to unite style, design and ethics in and away from your home, so you don’t have to make any compromises.

For a summer less impactful on your pocket and on the local area, why not:

Go camping:
With a warmer summer predicted, camping seems more appealing than ever.  Whether you’re spending time with a group of friends at a festival or teaching the kids some outdoor skills, camping is a fun and cheap way to enjoy the days and nights.  At Biome Lifestyle, you’ll find an array of products to make your camping experience more comfortable, from organic cotton roll-up beds and sleeping bags to solar showers, wind-up lanterns and iPod chargers.

Go on a picnic:
If you’re looking for something to while away an afternoon, a picnic is the perfect relaxing solution.  There are endless beautiful places to visit across the country that make ideal locations for a picnic.  Biome Lifestyle has a new lightweight picnic kit available, which is ideal if you also want to go on a long walk. Contained in a natural jute bag, the kit for four contains recycled plastic dinner plates, side plates, beakers and cutlery.  And if you want to work off your food, Biome Lifestyle also has a recycled plastic Frisbee.

Take a trip to the local museums/ nature centres:
Sometimes it’s the places closest to us that we don’t get around to visiting, but if you’re staying in the local area this summer it’s worth getting out and investigating. Local museums often have free or low entry fees and are a great educational trip for children. Nature centres are another great option and often have trails for children to follow, with quizzes and things to spot and collect along the way.
 

Investigate cycle and walking paths:
In summer we always seem to have bags of energy, so finding the local cycle and walking paths are a great way to spend your time – and they’re free!  Not only will you enjoy some healthy exercise, you can tire out the children and treat yourself to a quiet night - a rare occurrence during the summer holidays!

Host garden parties:
Entertaining at home will be key this season and, if the weather is as forecast, your guests won’t have to retire inside due to rain.  Make sure your garden is looking spic and span so you can use it as an extra room.  To help you develop your green fingers Biome Lifestyle has a gardening kit, perfect for a new starter, plus some fantastic flowerpots made from recycled tyres and, so you can set the mood, some lovely recycled glass tea light holders available in three colours.  Finally, bring a summer feel to the table with Biome Lifestyle’s bold and bright raffia placemats and table runner.

So, why don’t you make the most of your summer?  And, if you’re staying at home this year don’t be too glum as Britain has a lot to offer – including the weather!

Product prices:

• Eco camp kit - £115
• Organic cotton roll-up bed - from £70
• Organic cotton sleeping bag - £75
• Solar shower - £9
• Solar shower with curtain - £25
• Self powered LED lantern - £22
• Solar iPod charger - £70
• Picnic kit for 4 - £25
• Recycled plastic Frisbee - £4.50
• Eco garden kit – £62
• Recycled tyre flowerpot set of 3 – £55
• Recycled glass tea light holders - £7 each
• Colourful raffia placemats, set of 6 – small £10, large £12
• Raffia table runner - £12

All items are available from www.biomelifestyle.com / 020 7254 7613