Regatta

Join the cycling trend with your family

Cycling look sets to go into boomtime. What with the thrills of Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Brit to win the Tour de France and our Olympics heroes set to go into battle on the rack and road in London over the next few weeks, cycling fever has never been higher. Across the country, children and adults have been inspired to get on their bikes – or back on their bikes –  and bicycle manufacturers are reporting big sales growths.

On top of this, cycling is becoming an increasingly popular form of transport as petrol prices and traffic congestion increase. In cites and towns across the UK there has been a definite increase in the number of cyclists, especially during the summer months.

The great thing about cycling is that is can be done by all – and at your own level. If you have desire to become the next Olympic cycling hero then, by all means, go for it! We will be cheering you on. But if you simply fancy an easy-going outing with friends or family then cycling is an ideal way to go. You don’t need any fancy kit – apart form a bike helmet for safety – and you’ll be comfortable on shorter bike rides in your general outdoor clothing. Remember to take a waterproof jacket for days when it might rain.

But perhaps you need a little more persuading to get on your bike.

The top benefits of cycling

Saves you money: Apart from walking, cycling is the cheapest way to travel. It is far cheaper per mile than public transport or driving. You will not be charged for parking your bike, either.

Good for your health: Cycling is a cardiovascular exercise, means your will reduce your risk of heart disease, some forms of cancer and diabetes. Cycling also boosts your immune system and helps in the prevention and cure of depression.

You’ll look better: Cycling uses fat as fuel so you’ll lose weight and improve your body shape. Cycling at a moderate speed, a person weighing 10st will burn about 500 calories per hour.

Live longer: Statistics show that people who, for example, cycle to work regularly enjoy the wellbeing of people 10 years their junior.

Be greener: More than two-thirds of all car journeys made in the UK are between one and two miles, and nearly 75 per cent are less than five miles. These journeys create pollution, but most people are capable of cycling short distances, and making the most of one of the greenest forms of transport.

Time saver: If you take into account traffic queues, traffic lights and the volume of cars on the road at busy commuter times, it is often quicker to cycle. A cyclist can easily average 10 miles an hour, even when the streets are congested and up to 18 mph.

Good for the kids:  As more children become over weight and inactive, parents can set an example of a healthier lifestyle by encouraging family cycle rides.

See Britain at its best: There are so many beautiful places to be seen by bike. Cycling at a level of effort similar to a gentle stroll you’ll cover enough ground to complete a forest loop, a tour of a country park or a pleasant afternoon exploring villages with cafe stops and tourist attractions. Also check out Sustrans for a wealth of great, cycle friendly routes both on and off-road.

The good news is...summer is on its way!

If you were dreading a rain soaked summer holidays, what with the kids about to break up from school and all, then you’ll be delighted to hear the latest news from the weather forecasters. Apparently, Britain's miserable summer weather is about to brighten up. 

It’s thought that the jet stream, which has been blamed for all the recent rain, might be about to move further north, with more settled and warmer weather coming in.

What is the jet stream?

The Atlantic jet stream acts like a wall and separates weather to the north and south. During a good summer, the jet stream sits to the north of Britain, shielding the UK from the poorer weather that hangs around at the North Pole.

However, as you might imagine, this year things haven’t been quite as they usually are. For reasons unfathomed so far, the jet stream has spent most of its time settled to the south, which has left Brits exposed to rain. And lots of it. 

But now the Met Office reckons that if the jet stream moves north, a build-up of high pressure from the south will cause a better period of dry and sunny weather. And just in time for schools closing down for summer.

Good weather hopes for wildlife, too

Not only is the better weather great news for families but it will be welcome for the UK’s wildlife, which has been suffering over the last couple of months.

Some wildlife expert have said that the recent weather has been "almost apocalyptic" for our wildlife.

The National Trust reports that a huge range of animals, birds and flowers have struggled to survive.

Wet weather has been a problem for breeding birds and animals, too. Reports reveal sea birds being blown off cliffs by gales and garden birds have struggled to find enough food for their off-spring. 

Times have been very tough for puffins in the UK, too. Puffins on the Farne Islands, which are managed by the National Trust, have seen 90% of burrows lost due to flooding, which means that the usual breeding numbers have been extremely low.

Of course, there have been a few species that have been pretty pleased with the wet and damp conditions. Slugs and snails have thrived in many gardens. If you want to set the kids a yucky challenge, get them to count the number of slugs and snails they can see in your garden. (Don’t ask them to pick them up though!)

The wildlife experts are hoping that the improved weather forecast will come in time to help so many birds, animals and flowers.

A spokesperson for National trust said: “It’s so important that the jet stream, shifts back to its more usual northerly position as our country is overdue a good August.”

Many parents will be thinking exactly the same as their off-spring rush out of school for the start of the summer holidays. We’re keeping out fingers and toes crossed.

Five great ideas for family outdoors fun this summer

It's been reported (in another survey) that families are finding it difficult to find the cash for family days out. A trip to an adventure park or an activity centre will easily add up to £100, and that's before you've paid for the transpot or petrol to get there and the cost of lunch and all the ice creams.

But being outdoors can be free and fun.

Fly a kite: Once you have bought a kite, the fun is free forever more. Or buy a kite for a child's birthday present.

Cycle somewhere new: Head off for a family cycling adventure. Choose a new town, village or ice cream shop as your destination and work out a pleasant, traffic free route to get there.

Summit a hill: It doesn't have to be a huge hill, but it can be if you fancy, it just has to be a hill. The walking up will be rewarded by views - and then there's the fun of walking down.

Go rock pooling: You just need a beach and a small fishing net for hours and hours of fun looking for small creatures and fish in rock pools. Always return creatures to where you found them and never man-handle them. Just look and return.

Set a treasure trail: Mums and dads can make up clues and lay a treasure trail in the back garden. You can write clues to suit different ages and prizes could be as simple as an ice lolly form the freezer.

Make a den: Good old-fashioned fun can be as simple as making a den in the garden using sheets, trees, poles and any bits and pieces you can find. 

Have your own Olympics: Get together with friends and enjoy a few races, including sprints, three-legged races, backwards walking, cartwheel events. Just let your imagination go and you'll easily come up with a whole decathlon of events!

What free or cheap ideas do you have for entertaining the kids this summer?

8 great outdoor activities for summer

With the English and Welsh schools about to break up for the summer holidays, parents everywhere will be wondering what on earth they can do to keep the kids happy for weeks on end. Of course, we will all be hoping for some sunshine, too. The recipe for success for happy summer holiday families is a few treats to look forward to, outdoors play, activities for both grown-ups and children and things to do even when it’s raining.

Thank goodness then that Britain offers lots of outdoor activities. Here we bring you eight great outdoors activities for the summer holidays.

Zorbing: Go solo, or grab a friend or unsuspecting relative and climb inside a huge inflatable zorbing sphere before you are sent tumbling at speed down the side of a hillside. Zorbing has to be experienced to be believed. See Zorbing South

White water rafting: Thrills and occasional spills are all part of the fun as you rush headlong down frothy white water rivers. Check out The National White Water Centre at Canolfan, Dwr Gwyn,  Genedlaethol. Here you’ll raft the steep chutes and boulder-strewn rapids of the river Tryweryn, which is set amid the stunning Snowdonia National Park.

Canyoning: Swim gorges, jump cliffs into deep pools, abseil through waterfalls, and generally have a laugh slipping and sliding over rocks. This is the activity of canyoning and it’s a must-do for adventurous families. Check out Vertical Descents for the highly rated canyoning experiences.

Mountain biking: Scotland is Europe’s premier mountain biking destination and offers an exciting trail or downhill outing for every age and fitness. Some of the best can be found at the Forestry Commission’s 7stanes network of centres in the Borders. It’s well worth the trip north. See www.7stanes.gov.uk

Tandem kayaking: Kayaking is one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the UK and you’ll find kayak hire centres at many lakes and coastal locations. For even more fun in a kayak, give tandem kayaking a go. You’ll take on the challenge of kayaking the world championship course in a tandem kayaks!

Coasteering: You’ll never see the shoreline in the same way after giving coasteering a go. This is the pursuit of traversing the coast by swimming, jumping, scrambling and generally having a lot of fun in a wetsuit. Coasteering is guided by experienced instructors. Try coasteering in Pembrokeshire with Preseli Venture

Orienteering: All you need is a map, a compass, a bit of energy and the determination to tick off all the checkpoints. Or join a guided orienteering day. At Reach Beyond Adventure Orienteering you can try orienteering at whatever pace you fancy, learning how to use and improve your navigation skills in and around the beautiful areas of the Lakelands.

Bodyboarding: This is a great sport for all and even if it’s a rainy day. Pop on a wetsuit and buoyancy aid and try rising the waves on a bodyboard. There is no need to stand up on the board as with surfing, instead you hug the board to your body and enjoy the thrills of whizzing back to dry land on a fast-moving wave. Take lessons or hire the kit at numerous coastal places and give it a go for yourself. Make sure you seek advice about the safe spots of bodyboarding.

Wakeboarding: Like water skiing, only on a mono-board, and like surfing, only you’re pulled along by a cable, cable wakeboarding is fast becoming the trendiest adventure sport there is. Give it a go at Milton Keynes

The holiday adventures of Sam, age 4 ¾ and Ben, very nearly 3

In June my little brother Ben who is very nearly 3 and me, Sam, 4 and ¾ so I’m much bigger and more knowledgeable about dinosaurs, went on holiday to Cornwall. We were looking forward to spending   sunny days playing on the beach.

“Weather’s not looking that great” dad said as we were setting off.

“Better not forget the Regatta then!” mum replied rushing back in for my favourite softshell  and  coat which are both red and make me look grown up and like a footballer.  Mum said Ben had a different green checked softshell and a blue coat because he is the littlest but I think it’s because I’m the best at football. They loaded yet more bags into the car and we set off on the very long journey to Cornwall which is so far away because it is right down at the bottom of the country.

For the first few days the sun shone and we paddled in the sea which was very cold, built sandcastles and played frisby on Porthminster beach in St Ives. It’s a big sandy beach with lots of family friendly facilities so was great for us to play on though you have to be fit as a footballer to climb back up the steep hill that leads down to it. On Wednesday the skies turned an ominous grey so we busied ourselves inside colouring in dinosaurs but they’d soon rampaged around the holiday apartment eating everything in sight.

“We can’t stay in here all week” mum said despairingly to dad “Come on boys let’s see if it’s raining outside”

It was a bit drizzly outside but luckily Cornwall still has lots of places to visit on a wet day so we got into the car and drove to Sennen Cove to get something to eat and watch the surfers from the shelter of The Beach restaurant – www.thebeachrestaurant.com. We had a yummy lunch, I had pasta which looked like wiggly worms and I even tried some of my dad’s Newyln crab sandwich too. Then we decided to put our hoods up and go to get a closer look at the stormy sea.

It was really windy on the beach but running and jumping soon warmed us up.

The rain got a little bit heavier so mum decided we should put our coats on too. We had lots of rainy day fun.

Dad said that when we are a bit bigger we can do an adventure walk from Sennen Cove to Lands End which is at the very bottom of Britain. The walk is about 3 miles to Lands End and it takes you round the coastal path, there is even the remains of a shipwreck to be seen on the way.  I would like to go as I think I might find some dinosaur bones too. You can find out about this walk and alternative routes back to Sennen Cove at www.southweatcoastpath.com.

The next day was also rainy so this time we decided to drive down to St Michaels Mount to visit the magic castle there. People say a big giant called Cormoran used to live in it, if I lived there I think I would have a pet dinosaur to scare away any unwanted visitors .You can find out all about the place and how to visit at www.stmichelsmount.co.uk. It’s a national trust property so members can get in for free which made my dad very happy. Unfortunately the sea was so rough that the castle was closed because the boats couldn’t get across with visitors. If I lived there my pet dinosaur would be able to paddle through the rough sea so people I liked could still come to see me on stormy days.    

So instead of the magic castle we went to visit a little fishing village called Mousehole but the people in Cornwall call it “mauzel”.  The village has lots of narrow streets so Ben and I found lots of secret passages which we don’t think many people knew about. I couldn’t take my pet dinosaur for a visit here as he would get stuck down most of the streets!  The sky had brightened up a bit but the sea was still quite stormy here and waves were crashing against the harbour walls.

We decided to put our hoods up and walk along it daringly to see if it splashed us. A huge wave battered the wall as we got close to the end though Ben and I were fine in our Regatta coats but my Auntie Jo got a very soggy bottom. 

To dry off we went to play on the beach again looking for shells and throwing pebbles in the sea. Mousehole harbour is very pretty with lots of fishing boats and I got to sit in one to test out my sea legs. I was hoping to see some pirates too but I think they were busy looking for treasure.

Mousehole has lots of things to do  if you visit– you can go on boat trips and fishing trips where you might even catch a shark! You can walk on the coast path or play on its small sandy or pebbly beach like Ben and I did when we were there.  It also has a Wild Bird Hospital www.mouseholebirdhospital  which we visited where people can bring injured birds so that they can get better. We saw some birds with only one leg or one wing who will have to live there for the rest of their lives now and some seagull chicks who will hopefully return to the wild. It is also famous for its artistic community and has lots of little shops and galleries to visit. I had to be very careful not to knock anything over and am wondering if there might be a market for some of my dinosaur artwork? You can find out about Mousehole and the places to visit nearby at www.cornwall-online.co.uk

In the afternoon mum said we had been very good boys so we could have an icecream. It was really yum.

By the end of the day I seemed to have a big splodge on my softshell and nobody was sure whether it was icecream or a present from a seagull

But Mum says there’s nothing to worry about because it will easily wash out though.

Sam, Dinosaur expert and fan of holidays in Cornwall aged 4 and ¾’s

 

Take a walk next to a 'healthier' river

There is great news for Britain’s urban rivers – and anyone who likes to walk and spot wildlife – as new research reveals that they have more insect life. This is promising because the trend historically has been for decreasing stocks of invertebrates.

The research, one of the largest studies of national trends in river health ever undertaken, shows that rivers in and around urban places in the UK are much more likely to be havens for insects such as mayflies and stoneflies.

On average the numbers of insects has increased by 20%, according to the study published in the journal Global Change Biology.

The researchers from the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University reckon industrial decline, tighter regulation and improved wastewater treatment over recent decades has contributed to the improvement.

And while we might not all like lots of insects, these creatures are responsible for increasing wildlife in rivers and on river banks, which has to be good news for people who enjoy messing about on the rivers or walking nearby.

A spokesperson said: “These important results show how benefits to river biodiversity—the huge array of species that live in our rivers—have arisen from investment and long-term restoration intended largely for other ‘river ecosystem services’ such as drinking water and sanitation.

“This is great news for our rivers and also for the many people who live, work and play along their banks everywhere from Burnley to the Black Country or from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff.”

Great walks near UK rivers

Lake District National Park

A lovely stroll along the River Eden. There are six long-distance walks passing through the town of Kirkby Stephen, including Wainwright's famous coast-to-coast walk.

See Eden in Cumbria

The Nene Way

This delightful walk heads along the River Nene via peaceful Northamptonshire countryside. You’ll be tracing the steps of Darling Buds of May writer H E Bates and Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame. 

River Derwent

You’ll needs lots of energy for this one, but it’s wel worth the rewards. The 55-mile route follows the Derwent through the Peak District National Park.

See National Heritage Corridor

The Speyside Way

Following the second longest Scottish river, the Spey, this long-distance walk heads from Spey Bay, on the Moray coast, to the outdoors Highlands town of Aviemore. Walk over a week or split into lots of day walks.

See Speyside Way

River Stour and Dedham Vale

Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dedham Vale has been immortalised by the paintings of John Constable. There are lots of shorter walks, and also the longer-distance Essex Way and the Stour Valley Way in the area.

See Deham Vale

Pulteney Bridge, Bath

Stroll down the wonderfully elegant Pulteney Street, and through the delightful Sydney Gardens Park, to the Kennet and Avon canal. Follow the Avon upstream to Pulteney Bridge and the horseshoe Falls.

The Clyde Walkway

Heading for 40 miles from Partick in Glasgow and New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, and a chance to see the amazing New Lanark waterfalls. This is a great walkways for dividing up into shorter walks. It’s easily accessible by road and public transport. In Glasgow you could pop into the new Riverside Transport Museum, see picture above, located on the banks of the Clyde. 

See Clyde Walk Way

 Humber Bridge

This amazingly long bridge makes a great walk.

See Visit Lincolnshire

Tell us about other river walks that you enjoy.

The Skinner's World Cup event Highclere 26th & 27th May 2012

The England team duly arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Newbury on Friday and the first
priority was to find shade for the dogs as there had been a dramatic change in the weather.
The temperature was now in the high 20`s – a huge change from the previous blog!

In the evening we attended a `Meet the Teams` dinner where each team was introduced
and given an engraved crystal glass by Skinners as a delightful memento of the event. It was
a great opportunity to catch up with friends old and new.

The judges this year were Heather Bradley – England, Mark Bettinson – Wales, Nigel Carville
– Ireland, Gereon Ting – Germany, and Tom West – England. Between them they have a
vast wealth of knowledge and experience of this prestigious event for retrievers.

Sixteen teams stepped up to the challenge:-

Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, England,
Wales, Hungary, Holland, France, Italy and Switzerland. All teams ran 4 dogs and completed
5 tests each day. The tests had been ably set by Peter Castleman; the consensus being that
they were the best ever. Such a wide variety of obstacles on challenging ground taxed both
dog and handler.

At the end of the first day all attended the Skinner`s Gala Dinner. Such a lovely and
amazing event with some countries sporting national dress. Everyone eagerly awaited the
announcement of which team was in the lead after the first day. The England team were
delighted to be ahead by 17 points. Would that be enough – only time would tell!

The second day dawned bright and hot. You could feel the excitement and tension in the air.
Team Captain John Halstead, did a brilliant job of keeping our nerves in check and keeping
us on the straight and narrow. To much delight, all England dogs went even better on the
second day, each dog achieving at least one perfect score. But was it enough? Word was
that other teams had gone really well too.

When all 10 tests had been completed everyone assembled in the main arena of Highclere
Country Fair. The England Team wore the superb Regatta coats into the ring with Captain
John Halstead waving the England flag. With 64 dogs in the arena, it was quite a sight.
Silence fell as the announcements were made. It was a great moment for us when it was
announced that England had won!

First – England with 700 points

Second – Holland with 674 points

Third – Austria with 662 points

So England had won the coveted Skinner`s World Cup. They managed to extend their lead
from the conclusion of the first day – no mean feat. The icing on the cake was that England
also had the overall top dog in any team – Brendan Kelly with Ravenstar Dillon. It was
Brendan`s first time running for England and he did the team and himself proud.

The other teams were gracious in defeat and lots of congratulations were bestowed upon
England. Then it was the long treck home for everyone. What a weekend it had been; great
camaraderie and sportsmanship of the highest order in this Jubilee and Olympic year.

Well done to all. Once again the team would very much like to thank Regatta for their very
generous sponsorship. The clothes certainly made the England team look the part in this
prestigious event as the photos testify.

Our thanks must also go to Skinners for their amazing support in the 11th year of this
wonderful event.

The England Team:

David Latham – FT CH Delfleet Neon of Fendawood

Nicola Rudgard – Waterford Featherman

Brendan Kelly – Ravenstar Dillon

Lee Hartis – FT CH Lowforge Aragon of Leacaz

Mark Demaine – FT CH Calderhey Adder – Reserve