Regatta

Top tips for summer gardens

Left to fend for themselves over the winter, our gardens now need a little TLC. But no one wants to be a slave to their outdoors plot, so here we bring you a range of top tips to create a hassle-free, but beautiful, garden this summer.

Feed me!: To give plants the best chance of budding, flowering and producing fruit this summer, make sure you feed them right now. Add shop bought feed, fertiliser or mulch, or, if you’ve been busy composting over the winter, you can dig in your very own compost to feed your plants.

Beat the slugs: Slugs and snails will start to launch their attacks on your plants very soon, if they haven’t started already. While no one wants to be cruel to slugs, they are a menace to plants and you’d be wise to deploy a few tactics to keep them off your beds and in pots. There are copper products that help to keep slugs at bay. A beer trap is another method. Or use volcanic rocks and gravel to stop the little creatures from getting near to your plants.

Leave the daffs: Although dying daffodils look unsightly it’s important that you do not cut them down right now. A daffodil needs to have stopped blooming for at least six weeks, before you take the cutters to them.

More blooms: The Chelsea chop is a clever way of creating the appearance of more blooms and helping some plants to bloom for longer. For example, phlox plants benefit from the Chelsea chop from the start of June. Cut the stems down by half, or cut them all to different heights. By cutting them back you slow down the booming and you also create a plant that flowers at different times. This way you’ll create a succession of blooms throughout the summer.

Spread it out: Go for flowering spreading plants in your beds. These will take up ground space and stop some of the weeds. The more ground that is covered by plants the less wedding you’ll need to do throughout the summer.

Short cuts: Pop a few cheaper but high-value flowering plants into your beds at the start of summer. These will be plants that might not last for many years to come but which will give you instant blooms this summer. For example, Lavatera is a good choice.

Take a leaf: Foliage is great for creating all summer long good looks. Choose plants that have different colours of foliage and lots of it. When your garden has fewer flowers on display, you’ll still have a wealth of interesting foliage to look at. Ferns and grasses make great choices.

Low maintenance: Choosing the right flowers and plants for the right spot in your garden will save a lot of heartache. Check out a plant selection guide to find out what plants suit shady areas, and which ones thrive in sunlight.

Bee friendly: Bees and butterflies are good for your garden so encourage them by planting pollinator plants.

Something tasty: Don’t forget that fruit and veg plants also look good in the garden – and they offer an extra tasty delight for your kitchen. Herbs also make a great choice for borders and pots. Herbs look and smell great.

High climber: If you’re looking for plants that offer height but wihtout waiting for years for them to grow, choose a cross between a climber and a shrub. Plants such as shrub roses and clematis will offer good height in very little time.

Decked out: Lawns require mowing and care, so why not give up some of the grass for a smart decked or patio area? This can double up as a dining area, too, and somewhere to host a fun summer barbecue.

Child friendly: If you have the space, give kids a section of the garden for fun and learning. Add a trampoline or a gang hut. Kids love to plant their own veg and flowers so you could create a smaller plot for them.

Added interest: If your garden is new and you’re still waiting for the plants and flowers to put on a big display, you could add a few interesting ornaments, a fountain or furniture and sheds painted in bright colours. Just let your imagination go, and see what a difference if can make to the look of your outdoors space.

Do you have any top summer garden tips to share?

Regatta Achieves Prestigious Business Award

We are delighted to announce that on the 21^st April – the Queen’s birthday, Regatta was given the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2012.

This is one of the UK’s most prestigious accolades for performance in business in the UK and overseas. It acknowledges the outstanding achievement of the company in International trade. This has been due to continuous improvement in export sales growth, resulting in 152% growth over six years. The award also recognises the company’s investment in its staff.

Keith Black, Chairman of Regatta has this to say about the award, “It is a great achievement and we are very proud to receive this award. This illustrates the hard work and commitment of all our employees across the UK and Europe.”

National Trust campaign to get kids outdoors

We're delighted to hear that The National Trust has launched a campaign to encourage more children to go outdoors. The initiative is called 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾ and offers a list of fun outdoor activities, challenges and adventures for under-12s (and anyone older who is young at heart!)

This campaign comes in response to a report that reveals that fewer than one in 10 children regularly play in wild places compared to almost 50% of kids a generation ago. Added to this, a third of today’s youngsters have never climbed a tree and one in 10 can’t ride a bike. 

Included on the 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾ list are:

* Run around in the rain (wearing a Regatta waterproof jacket is obviously optional for this one!)

* Flying a kite 

* Making a mud pie

* Bug hunting

* Setting up a snail race. 

As well as the list, the Trust has created five Elite Rangers, who will share their expert tips on enjoying outdoor adventures.  The rangers, all Trust staff, come from across the UK and range in age from 29 to 49. They include:

* Tree Man: A 6ft 3" tree climbing expert, who has scaled 50m trees

* Captain Skim, who can skim a stone over 26 times

* Midas the treasure hunter.

* Den-Boy, an outdoor hideaway-building champion

* Bug Catcher, the mini-beast expert.

Join in a National Trust Free Weekend 

This coming weekend, April 21 and 22, the National Trust will open up 200 of its houses and gardens for free. This is also the opportunity for kids to pick up a free 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾ scrapbook  – and start to tick off their great outdoor things to do checklist.

Alternatively, children can also visit nationaltrust.org.uk/50things to fill in their completed activities and earn points towards an explorer badge.

How does the 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾ website work?

•           Families can sign up to meet a virtual Outdoor Explorer, who will motivate the children to get up and get outdoors

•           You’ll then see an interactive list of  the best 50 things to do before you turn 11 3/4

•           Your kids get to personalise how their virtual explorer looks by getting outdoors and winning rewards

•           There will be lots of tops tips on how to get even better at outdoors adventures.

•           The goal is to earn an explorer badge (and a secret reward!)

How can you find out where to do the activities?

The National Trust site reveals the best places to have each adventure. Whether that's in your back garden, your local park, or a National Trust place near you.

Some of the National Trust sites taking part near you

Sutton House, near London 

Morden Hall, London

Osterley Park and House, London

Hawkshead and Claife, Lake District

Townend, Lake District:

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Saltram, Devon

Leigh Woods, Bristol

Tyntesfield, North Somerset

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire 

If you sign up to this fun challenge please do write to us and tell us how you get on. Tell us your favourite activity. Parents, why not let us know if your kids enjoy the challenge and spend more time outdoors. 

 

Team spirit review our gear!

At Team Spirit we deliver motivation, team building, corporate entertainment and event management
with energy and passion. We recently ran a superb festival themed event for a large global brand and
Regatta gave us some fantastic supporting product gear.

The gear was a selection of rucksacks and waterproof shell jackets, perfect for a festival theme.

The shell jackets were great quality and for a thin waterproof layer the staff wearing them were
surprised that the product was breathable as well as waterproof. Members of our team regularly
visit the summer festivals and they were surprised that the technology of the jackets would make a
rainy festival day much more pleasant, and make them smell a whole lot better!! The jackets were
lightweight and easy to carry around - even coming with their own mesh stuff sack.

The Rucksacks were hardwearing and with the features of an air flow back system it kept the teams
backs sweat free!!! The rucksacks we used on the event were of great quality and had the features
we come to expect from the Regatta brand.

The staff are now fighting over who gets to keep the gear, The 65L is the most popular as this is can
be used for holidays as well at festivals - The girls however think this is more an weekend bag!!

Chris loved our smaller technical 20L Rucksack for cycling as it is a perfect size to carry his every day
gear to the office, as well as a day rucksack during the weekends.

Our MD has decided to keep the pack away shell Jackets for events in the future.

‘We loved all the gear from Regatta and it was perfect fit to use on a festival event, It just goes to
show that if you have the right gear you can have a great time at any festival this year'

(Laura Derbyshire MD, Team Spirit.)

http://www.team-spirit.co.uk/

Looking good in Lady Agility trail shoes

Just because you like the outdoors, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your sense of style and fashion! Many people still associate walking and running with boring and baggy jackets and trousers, mostly in shades of navy and brown. But it doesn't have to be this way! In fact, the tide has completely turned and these days it is difficult to find dull outdoors clothing. In particular, it's women's outdoor clothing that has become ever-so-gorgeous. Added to this, the customised and tailored jackets, shorts, trousers and shoes mean that women can look fabulous in outdoors clothing.

Take the new Regatta Lady Agility trail shoes as an example. These shoes, which can be used for trail walking or running, tick all the boxes for practicalities, such as comfort, grip, support, water resistance, breathability, shock absorption and easy-fit laces, also look fantastic. Okay, so looks shouldn't matter as much as comfort and the practicals but it's lovely when you find both in an outdoor clothing item.

The Lady Agility trail shoes come in Granite and Viola or Black and Lemon Sorbet colours, with the addition of a beautiful flowery pattern. We would be as happy wearing these to the pub or the shops, as out on the trails, if we're honest!

Lady Agility shoes put to the test

We asked one of our reviewers, Mum Outdoors, to put the Regatta trail shoes to the test on trails. She said: "I love the look of the trail shoes. So often trail shoes come in boring shades of black, grey or brown but these look really funky. I particularly like the pattern and the shades of grey and pink. 

"Fit is also important and the shoes felt immediately comfortable when I slipped my feet inside. The elastic laces add good support and can be easily adjusted to suit your feet or your activity. I used the shoes for both dog walking on country trails and some off-road running. They suited both activities, although if you plan to go faster and higher on the hills i might choose a shoe with a slightly lighter sole. 

"The Lady Agility shoes were brilliantly grippy and made easy work of walking and jogging through mud. It seemed a shame to get the shoes mucky but the mud was easy to wash off once I got back home. I confess I have also worn these shoes to the local pub! I think they look good enough for a causal night out and go well with jeans and/or walking shorts or walking trousers.

"If you have a flatter instep you might require an extra insole in the shoes because they have a good amount of room in the forefoot. I'd say they would be ideal for people with wider feet and a higher instep. 

"The details also say that the shoes are breathable and waterproof. I certainly didn't have wet feet even at the end of a muddy walk with the dogs so I am sure they do as they say on the label! I think I might buy another pair, though, so I have a smart pair for the pub and a mucky pair for the trails!"

Trendy looks for women's outdoor jackets

A suggested item of clothing that would go very well – both in terms of looks and practicalities – is the Alessandra Softshell XLT jacket. Choose the Viola colour for perfect mix and match, or go for the striking Blue Wave.  

The hooded midlayer is made from Regatta's lightweight Softshell XLT stretch fabric, which is perfectly suited to high energy mountain sports, such as trail walking and runnning.

Both water and wind resistant, this jacket comes into its own in the spring and summer months. It's fit is also extremely flattering and Outdoors Mum said she felt "just about as trendy as it could possibly be in outdoors clothing"! 

Where will you be walking or running – and looking gorgeous – this summer?

Vicki Tansey climbs Snowdon

After not having the time to do as much walking as I would like over the last few months, I committed to climbing Snowdon last weekend, for the 3^rd year in a row. Most of the people that walk with us decided to do the Miner and Pyg Path as they are in training for doing the 3 Peak Challenge. I took a couple of friends to the Llanberis path (tourist route) as they hadn’t climbed Snowdon before, and I believed my fitness wouldn’t be up to keeping up with the other group. I was also concerned about the fact that as they were doing a path I hadn’t done before and I am terrified of heights. I take the view that I would rather go on a path where I know what to expect!

 

We headed to Snowdonia after an incident with a taxi driver ramming into the back of us, and parked on the grass verge opposite the Legacy Victoria Hotel.   We had a packed lunch with us and headed up towards the start of the path. The first part is actually a road, and is very steep.  I had forgotten just how steep it was, and it demonstrated immediately just how unfit I had become!

 

Eventually we left the road, and turned left, following a path clearly marked 'the summit'.  The path you follow is extremely easy to navigate and there are always plenty of people ahead of you so you can generally work out which way you should be headed.  Unlike previous experiences of climbing Snowdon, people were not overly friendly or encouraging, which surprised me. The one thing I have always enjoyed about walking is the friendliness of all the people out and about.

Unlike last year when we climbed in glorious sunshine, the weather was colder and overcast, so I went well prepared in my fleece and walking trousers. I was carrying my new regatta rucksack, well stocked with my waterproof pants & waterproof jacket in case the weather took a turn for the worse. We stopped at the Half Way Cafe (the only toilet on the mountain), and had our lunch. Once you get past the cafe the climb does get steeper, but for the most part, the path is good, with lots of space for people to pass without any issues.  At this point the weather really came in and visibility became poor, depriving us of the views that I know from previous experience are up there! Once we hit the part of the path which marks the final push.  It becomes very steep, and shingled as you head towards the tunnel that the steam train goes under.  Once you are through the tunnel, you head to the right and the path narrows.  It becomes a bit of a scramble for a short way and at this point on a clear day you can see the summit.  Due to not being able to see the summit, I had to dig deep to keep going.

About 5 minutes from the summit we met the other group coming back down, and after a brief chat we continued on. When we reached the summit, we didn’t linger as it was cold and windy. On our return down to Llanberis, we made great time, as it is easier to descend.  It is however, tough on your knees and your feet. About a third of the way down we actually caught up with the other group as one of their number had pain in their knees, so they chose to take the less demanding path down.

After the descent, we had a quick drink in the Victoria, before piling into the cars and heading to Betys Y Coed for a pub meal at The Royal Oak. It was great for both walking groups to meet back up and chat through our walks and unwind after a tough day.

I doubt that I will head up Snowdon again now, after having done it 3 years in a row. I will be looking for a new challenge.  Any suggestions?

A guide to outdoors clothing for Easter

Oooh, and how much we have enjoyed the warmer weather! But now, just as the Easter holidays get into full swing, the forecasters are predicting much colder weather, including rain and even snow. Already Scotland has witnessed a sudden disappearance of the sun and in some areas there is a layer of the white stuff on the ground! But we’re not going to let the return to colder days get in the way of our Easter outdoors fun.

The best way to look at Britain’s changeable weather is to simply think: “It’s not about the sun, rain or snow. It’s about what you wear to enjoy the great outdoors.”

Dress to have fun outdoors this Easter

If it’s raining: Spring and early summer usually mean warmer temperatures, but this can also be the season for Spring Showers. Families should look at outdoor clothing that is lighter than winter kit but still offers excellent waterproof qualities.

Ideas for wet weather outdoor clothing includes:

* Walking shoes, rather than full-on boots. Check out the Wayfarer walking boots

* Lighter weight waterproof jackets, such as Packaway jackets. Take a look at the Packaway II jacket

* Waterproof over trousers for putting on and off as the rain comes and goes. Check out the Byrne overtrousers

If it’s sunny: We all need a little sun, especially for topping up the all-important Vitamin D levels. In prolonged sunny spells it’s vital that you protect your skin with sun lotion, or go for clothing with in-built SPF protection.

Sunny weather outdoor clothing includes:

• Shorts or three-quarter length trousers. See the practical Regatta Latice shorts 
• Zip off-trousers, such as the Regatta Medina zip offs for women
• T-shirts, such as one from Regatta's Adventure Tech range 
• Summer hats and caps. We like this kids' Dasher cap

If it snows: Oh my, but it does happen! Areas of Scotland have been treated to a Spring snowfall this week and this means you’ll need to look out all your winter outdoors kit. The key is to layer clothing so as to trap warmth between the layers and to keep your core body temperature comfortable. Don't forget to treat the extremities, such as hands, head and feet to extra layers, too.

Snow in Spring clothing includes: 

• Higher tech waterproof jackets and fleece jackets
• Long-sleeved base layers
• Long-sleeved fleeces, body warmers and softshell jackets
• Walking boots
• Winter walking socks
• Hat and gloves

When the weather is changeable: The most likely outcome during the Easter holidays is that it will be sunny and dry, and then wet and windy, and then wet and warm and then dry and windy and then sunny again. So this requires outdoor clothing that can deal with frequent changes in the weather.

Outdoor clothing for changeable conditions include:

• 3-in-1 jackets, that can be worn together or worn apart, depending on conditions
• Waterproof overtrousers that can be put on and off and on and off again
• Zip off trousers that can be worn as trousers and then shorts and then trousers again
• A rucksack for stowing extra layers, hat, gloves etc for any sudden changes in the weather.

Now no-one needs to worry about the weather this Easter. You simply need to find lots of great outdoors things to do with the kids. Where will you be heading outdoors during the Easter holidays?

A Regatta photoshoot in Capetown

Some of the Regatta marketing team have recently got back from a rather long, yet extremely successful Spring Summer 13 range photo shoot. The destination of the shoot was Cape Town, South Africa, where us hard working folk endured a 14 hour flight and had to work in 30 degrees of
glorious sunshine. It's a hard life....but someone has got to do it!

So why Cape Town? Well the first reason is that due to our calendars we need to get the imagery for our new summer ranges in February, which means everywhere generally in the northern hemisphere is experiencing Winter weather. It's not easy shooting t-shirts when it's minus temperatures and raining!

The second is that we need a country that offers a wide variety of outdoor locations to help showcase all our ranges. And that is exactly what Cape Town offers. Within 2 hours drive of Cape Town you can get
mountains for our technical X-ert range, rivers and woodland for our sporty Adventure Tech ranges, classic woodland and gardens for our Outdoor Classics range and the all important beach and coastal (of which there are plenty of good locations) for our lifestyle Wildshores range.

The days are long, with 5:30 starts and there is a lot to cram in including product and lifestyle shots for clothing, footwear and rucksacks. There is also filming required for our brand films and then specific shots for our advertising campaigns. At times it's hectic, a little stressful especially when samples go missing, and you definitely need a beer at the end of the day! But it's also extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Some of the models are real characters and the production team who are based in Cape Town are all hardworking and great fun.

I cannot divulge too much information yet - you'll have to wait until January 2013 when this product will start hitting the shops - but i can say the products this season are all looking really strong with some
bold new colourways which look fantastic set against the beautiful scenery of South Africa. There are  some very innovative new product lines within the footwear range too!

It s always nice to show the results to the teams back in the office too as many people work so hard to get us the samples for the shoot. The imagery is a great showcase of everyone's hard work and commitment to producing such great Regatta products.

Get into camping holidays

The first bright rays of sunshine and everyone is thinking about their Easter and summer holidays. And coinciding with the ever-growing trend for the stay-cation, many more families are checking out campsites for this year’s family vacation.

The British camping break is predicated to be the hottest holiday for families and couples in 2012. Tourism insiders have already been witnessing a huge demand for under-canvas holidays. A spokesperson for the Camping and Caravanning Club of Great Britain, said: “The interest this year, and over the past few years, in camping, and also caravanning, has been incredible."

Alex Barclay, of on-line campsite directory Scottish Camping, has also been amazed by the hike in interest from campers. He said: “In 2009 we’ve had 25 per cent more visitors to our website and we believe it will be even greater in the next few of months.”

While camping has traditionally been seen as a back-to-basics holiday, these days the range and comfort-levels of camping equipment has vastly improved the experience. Tents come in sizes similar to a small semi-detached house, and with bedrooms, a living area and even a WC.

Many campers now add carpets, blow-up mattresses, cosy sleeping bags, fridges, solar panel sourced showers, full-on cooking stoves and kitchenettes and a host of other luxuries.

Of course, camping doesn’t have to be so plush. A tent, mattresses, sleeping bags and a few essentials will suffice if you’re staying on a campsite with toilet and shower facilities, and a pub or restaurant nearby.

Getting started with camping

Where: There is an extensive range of camping sites across Britain, with varying costs and facilities.

Check out:

* Camping and Caravanning Club

* www.scottishcamping.com

* Inner Wolf

* Dog friendly campsites

What to take: The list is endless but the basics include:

*Tent: Go for a family sized with space and rooms for everyone, or a tent for mum and dad and smaller tents for the kids.

* Sleeping bag: There is a huge variety in all sizes, shapes and warmths. For a summer holiday go for at least a “two-season” bag and buy to fit height and size.

* Mats: Again the range is big, including foam mats, thermarests, blow-up mattresses, camp beds and even bag-and-mattress combinations.

* Torch: An essential so choose from lanterns, head torches and wind-up torches.

* Cooking stove: The choice depends on how much campsite cooking you plan to do. Two- ring gas stoves are ideal for a family holiday, or a throwaway barbecue for one-off occasions.

* Eating equipment: I you plan to eat alfresco you’ll need a good range of camp-safe plates, cups and cutlery. A good camping shop will have a variety in plastic or metal.

*Clothing: Camping can be wet and cool. Don’t forget to bring waterproofs and warm clothes, such as fleeces, for evenings or overcast days.

* Added extras: So many items now come in the portable camping range including chairs, tables, showers, toilets and radios. And don’t forget your camping pillows, rugs, wine cooler. The list is endless.

* Or hire: Tent2hire (www.tent2hire.co.uk) rent out a range of tents, camping furniture, sleeping bags and mattresses.

We would love to hear where you plan to go camping this year. Or your favourite camping spot.