13 minute read
Timeless Tips for Making your Outdoors Extraordinary
We all know the old saying, “hands in the soil, good for the soul.” In a celebration of spring and all things bright and beautiful, this month’s feature explores how to make the most of your outdoor space. Ten fun and creative suggestions that can be scaled up or down to suit your situation and to help you shrug off the gloom and get your outdoor offerings up scratch, ready for a strong summer season. So dig deep, daydream and let your outdoor inspo flow!
By Martha Fosberry, The Moon & I
ARE YOU READY? ZEN, LET US BEGIN! THE MAGIC OF A MEDITATION GARDEN
Finding peace amongst the pressures and stresses of life has never been more important. Guests flee cities and 9 to 5s, quite literally wanting to “escape to the country”. Creating a meditation garden is a fabulous addition to your site, giving guests the ultimate opportunity to reconnect and relax. The UK mental health charity Mind explains that meditation can help people become more selfaware, feel calmer and less stressed, more able to choose how they respond to thoughts and feelings, cope with unhelpful thoughts and be kinder to yourself - what’s not to like?!
As the roots of mediation are largely embedded in Buddhism, a statue of Buddha could take centre stage in your mediation garden, an homage to the inner peace and balance found in this ancient practice. A gentle water feature could add a calming soundscape, (we love this Buddha and lotus flower water feature from whitestores.co.uk https://www.whitestores.co.uk/ alena-water-feature-light-grey.html , currently on sale for £169). Windchimes can be hung from the branches of trees. Creating a low level seating area with soft cushions and throws will help guests get comfy and ready to unwind; this may also offer some protection from the elements should there be poor weather conditions. Why not plant some highly scented flowering shrubs to stir the senses and focus the mind?
Lilac, myrtle and orange blossom are great options and very easy to maintain. To finish, trees can be decorated with colourful Tibetan prayer flags that offer the timeless blessing:
“May the rain fall at the proper time. May the crops and livestock be bountiful. May there be freedom from illness, famine, and war. May all beings be well and happy.” Amen to that!
*Be sure to seek advice from your local authority, should you be considering permanent structures for your mediation space, as you may require planning permission.
TOP TIP
Try providing some books in your space to introduce your guests to the art of meditation and mindfulness. There is also a wealth of free mindfulness and meditation apps such as Calm & Headspace that you can signpost guests to, should they be seeking guidance.
FIRESIDE FRIENDS - COMMUNAL FIRE PIT AREAS
The time of old tradition, of sitting fireside and beholding the night sky is as enticing today as it was thousands of years ago. Creating a safe and comfortable environment is paramount. Digging down at least 30cm then removing all turf and top soil will allow you to make a gravel base to place your fire pit on - ideally centred within the seating area. Alternately you can use stone slabs and create a patio to house your fireside haven. Why not get in touch with a local tree surgeon and commission some large tree rounds to form a natural seating area? For extra comfort you can offer guests a sheepskin to place on top of the wood rounds. For a fancier fireside seating solution, we love the “Harmen” garden chair from Rowen & Wren (www. rowenandwren.co.uk) crafted from birch with textured rope fastenings. As for the main event, there are so many exciting fire pit options on the market!
Harmen Garden Chair
We will showcase a few of our favourite finds here but I encourage you to get Googling to find your perfect pit. The Woodee (www.thewoodee.com), have a huge range of duel purpose cook & fire pits – handmade in Herefordshire with stunning leaf silhouette design. Suffolk based company Great Balls of Fire (www.greatballsoffire.net) have a unique range of orb fire pits that are works of art in their own right. The Indian Fire Bowl company (www.indianfirebowlcompany. co.uk) sell the traditional antique Kadai style open fire bowl – timeless and hardwearing.
*With this great tip, comes great responsibility! Please seek advice from both your insurance company and an organisation such as the HSE – The Health & Safety Executive (www.hse.gov. uk) to ensure your fire pit offering meets the legal requirements and all necessary fire protection is provided.
READY, SET, GO! GIANT GAMES TO GET YOUR GUESTS GRINNING
There is something delightful about hearing the giggling of guests as they entertain themselves with a board game in the garden. Why not upscale the fun? Larger than life games have become a familiar favourite at wedding receptions and county pubs alike. How about making them a permanent feature in your outdoor space? If you are feeling handy, why not have a go at building some of your own; a simple tower stacking game can be fashioned from lengths of treated timber cut to the same size (you will need 52 pieces).
Head over to Youtube to find a wealth of giant game building buddies. Be sure to always consult a professional if you’re in any doubt about how safe an idea may be to achieve. If pre-made is your preference, Masters Traditional Games (www.mastersofgames.com) have a good selection including giant chess sets, snakes and ladders and many more. If larger games are not a practical option for you, then store some family favourites for your guests to enjoy outdoors in a small shed or weatherproof storage box. These handmade croquet sets by Devon based Martin Symes Wheelright, are stunning and sustainably crafted to last a life time. Range starts from £275 (www.martinsymes.co.uk).
CREATE A HERBY HAVEN – EDIBLE ADDITIONS TO YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS
I think most of us can agree that there is nothing better than cooking with fresh ingredients; and you can’t get much fresher than providing a herb garden for guests to use while cooking on site. For some city dwelling Glampers, the closest they might have come to a herb garden may very well be a lonely potted basil from the supermarket on the kitchen windowsill. A herb garden can be a practical, easy and engaging addition. Size isn’t everything either! Like any of the ideas presented here, you can scale up or down your dream herb haven depending on what space you have in mind. Small raised beds from old railway sleepers are ideal, but herbs can be also be planted in pots.
If space really is a premium why not try a wall-mounted marvel? There are plenty of plush planters on sale at Wayfair (www.wayfair.co.uk) – we love the their wall mounted Aaru 3 Piece Metal Wall Planter Set, for £30.99. The planter possibilities are truly endless! You can even create vertical planters from upcycling old palettes – Pinterest has some great “How To” guides for this if you are feeling handy. You are not limited to herbs either; plant up some tomatoes in a pair of old wellies or a hanging basket for hungry campers to pluck. Try filling up an old wheelbarrow with compost & plant that up with edible flowers - nasturtiums are an excellent choice and taste wonderful in a wild salad. Vintage agricultural tins, tubs and even tractor tyres look fabulous brimming with blooms. Let’s get planting Glampers!
WORK IT OUT, OUTSIDE – CREATING AN OUTDOOR GYM OFFERING
From chilling out in the meditation garden, to chin ups! This fitness focused idea can be scaled up or down depending on your budget too. There are UK based companies who specialise in outdoor gym equipment, such as freshairfitness. co.uk, and most can advise you on design options for your space. However, if you are on a tight budget and are handy with the tools, a simple calisthenic (body weight) workout space can be achieved with a bit of DIY. Upright posts can be erected using 4-5 inch tantalised timbers whilst galvanised steel bars and fixings can be used to create a range of equipment perfect for pull ups, chin ups, tricep dips, press ups, squats and jumps.
A good range of bars and fixings can be found at The Metal Store (www.themetalstore.co.uk).You can even explore the option of using existing trees (should they be large and strong enough) to hang work out equipment from. Portable wooden gravity fitness rings can be purchased from Gravity Fitness (www.gravityfitness.co.uk). Don’t let the fun be compromised - it is essential to ensure you contact your public liability insurance company to make them aware of any outdoor activity equipment you provide for guest to use during their stay. You may also need to display a use disclaimer notice informing guests that equipment is used at their own risk.
NAKED IN NATURE – THE LIBERATING EXPERIENCE OF OUTDOOR WASHING
After all their hard work in the gym, your guests will need a wash! There has been a clear growth in the trend of outdoor bathing. The market is seeing more and more bold bath tubs and snazzy showering structures. There is something about the simple act of bathing outdoors that automatically connects you to nature itself on a primal level. The sound of birdsong as you take a long soak under an oak, the canopy of blazing green leaves above you as the warmth of a shower washes off your day’s adventures: perfection. Propane boilers are a great off-grid water heating option if mains water and power are not an option.
LITERARY LOVERS – OUTDOOR LIBRARIES AND THEIR LEGACY
“A library outside?” I hear you say... Just stay with me on this one. We all know that damp and paper are not the best of friends, so for this tip storage is all important as is location. Your literary offering can be a small shelf or cupboard with doors that is housed outside under a veranda or in a sheltered place like an honesty shop or gazebo. Consider extending the idea by creating a reading corner for guests to curl up and lose themselves in a great book. You can provide guests with a wealth of literature of your choice: perhaps some books on your local area and its history, walking guides and OS maps or books that inspire you or transport you.
The legacy of this resource is that it keeps giving to each guest who participates by taking or leaving a book. Sharing a book recommendation is such a gift – imagine being able to offer that to each person who visits your space! This nifty tip also helps reduces waste and encourage guests to pay finished works of fiction forward, dodging the bin.
CINEMATIC SIMPLICITY – POP-UP PICTURE SHOWS & HOW TO CREATE THEM
For some, the idea of an outdoor cinema experience might conjure outdated images of John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John hopping around in the back of a 1950’s convertible, but fear not – this idea calls for far less fuss and no one has to sing… unless they want to, of course! With the declining interest in broadcast TV, most guests will have a subscription to online streaming platforms such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. Although folks tend to go Glamping to get out of the office and put down their screens, an outdoor movie interlude might be just the ticket after a hard day’s hike. Imagine lounging beneath the bows of a tree with a starlit sky, candles and your favourite flick. The simplicity of this idea is exquisite. Aside from a good quality USB projector, all you need to provide guests with is a large white sheet, some string and strong metal pegs. USB projectors are becoming more and more impressive. The newly released Samsung Freestyle smart fully HD portable projector (available online at John Lewis for £999 - www.johnlewis.com) https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-the-freestyle-hdr-full-hdsmart-portable-projector-550-lumens/p5995682?sku=240822976&s_ppc=2dx92700 070336121925&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpcOTBhCZARIsAEAYL uV-WdKxGc8TuoHdlOdR8T4LsfkUNHf9RqxIhXapiIT-dqg6rF4AQXEaAiE9EALw_ wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds seems to be stealing the show for indoor and outdoor use. The builtin 5w speaker and 180 degree rotation make it incredibly versatile. Many more makes and models are available online, so once again get Googling to find your picture perfect projector.
*Please refer to the ICO Independent Cinema Office to ensure you have the correct licensing in place to enable guests to view media.
HONESTY IS A LOVELY POLICY
For those of a green-fingered persuasion, this is a wonderful way to celebrate all that your site has to offer and let them share in a slice of it; quite literally if you are a good baker! You can house your homegrown & homemade treasures in a weatherproof shed or pergola in a communal area. An honesty cash box can be left or you can create a QR code for guests to scan and pay by card or in an app. Some companies take a small fee for taking payments in this way, so cash can be encouraged by making guests aware of your honesty shop prior to check-in.
Let your imagination go wild with what you can offer: fresh seasonal salad, homemade chutney & jam, soaps, seeds or even sausages! You can chop and change stock depending on what is available and when. It is also a lovely avenue to expand your skill set. Who knows; a homegrown hobby could flourish into a workshop offering for guests to experience – the possibilities for expansion are exciting because you are only limited by your imagination.
*Check with local authority as producing and selling some homemade products may require a certified kitchen and relevant hygiene training. Don’t be daunted by this – it’s super easy and if you already provide breakfast or hamper options for your guests you may already have the licensing you need. Stocking or selling any alcohol also requires a license.
CUT FLOWER CREATIVITY – A BLOOMING BEAUTIFUL IDEA THAT WILL SAVE AND POSSIBLY EVEN MAKE YOU MONEY!
Having a seasonal cut flower garden is such a bountiful resource for your business. Not only can you make a few bucks on blooms by selling them on site, but you can save a fortune by having free fresh flowers to decorate your spaces, avoiding expensive imported supermarket posies – better for you, better for the environment... it’s a win-win. Growing flowers will also encourage wildlife: lavender, roses, dahlias and corn flowers are excellent choices and can be planted in large rows. The butterflies and bees will certainly be thankful and, at the end of the summer, edible blooms like lavender can be dried for use in cooking or crafting. The book “The Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden” by Erin Benzakein is an invaluable resource when embarking on your floral odyssey.
