The Great Outdoors

Gardening is perhaps the most common and popular outdoor hobby. Whether you like growing flowers or vegetables, or just enjoy gazing on your nicely -cut lawn, millions of us get tremendous enjoyment from pottering in the garden or on an allotment. There is a wealth of information available to give you tips on how to garden successfully. There are numerous television programmes and hundreds of books. Have a look at some of them at Amazon. You can even learn how to garden whilst being sympathetic to the wildlife in your garden.

There is also an extensive guide to gardening in our Gardening Section by Rosemary Martin. You can read what she has to say about many different gardening topics and email her with your queries.

If you're completely new to gardening, take a look at our feature for beginners: http://www.laterlife.com/features/laterlife-start-gardening.htm

Birdwatching, or twitching if you do it seriously, is one of the most popular ones. There is a monthly on-line magazine for bird watchers, called Birds of Britain (www.birdsofbritain.co.uk) and, of course, a hard copy one, Bird Watching, that you can subscribe to through www.greatmagazines.co.uk  . You can go on bird watching breaks, bird watching walks and there all sorts of other activities for bird watchers. So it’s a good way to maintain and increase your social contacts, too!
 

Flower Spotting is an activity that many people take a great deal of pleasure in. Of course, if you are a walker, you can always admire the flowers that you pass. There are many books that you can buy that will help you identify them. You could, if you wish, go on a course to learn to spot them. The Peak District National Park organises such courses that last for a day and which will help you get more you’re your flower spotting. You can find out about them at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk 

Bee Keeping is not everyone’s idea of a nice, relaxing hobby but a surprising number of people do it. If you fancy producing your own honey, or just keeping bees because you like them, it is a fascinating hobby. The British Bee Keepers’ Association has a beginners’ guide on its website - www.bbka.org.uk . Find out what’s involved to see if it’s for you.

Country Crafts. There are many country crafts that you can learn and then take up. Amongst them are dry stone walling, hedge laying, willow weaving green oak barn building. All of these crafts can be acquired and then practised if you are keen enough to do them. Type the name of the one you fancy into Google and take your investigations from there. The National Trust  (www.nationaltrust.org.uk ) runs courses in various of the country crafts. Go to the website and then the Learning & Discovery section followed by adult learning. They also do courses in birdwatching (see above).and you can do archaeological digs with them.

In fact, archaeology is a whole different area that you could take up if you are interested in history, solving puzzles and being outdoors. You can find a list of volunteer courses, projects and work experience at www.ukarchaeology.org.uk

As well as courses, the National Trust runs working holidays, during which you can help with a conservation survey, herd goats to paint a lighthouse or plant trees. You can, of course, just walk around their wonderful gardens and properties. How about a hobby that aims to do every National Trust garden or property in your area – or the whole country?!

Just being outside is good. However, if you can have an interest in the great outdoors, it will enhance your pleasure in your surroundings and help you appreciate them more. Is there anything here that you like the look of?

As well as these activities, the following might also tempt you:

• Clearing ponds and ditches for your local conservation group
• Becoming a warden for a common in your area
• Volunteering to help the National Trust and/or English Heritage

If you have a particular Hobby or Interest and would like to research and write about it on the web, take a look at our Associate scheme.

Now, take a look through the other pages and see if anything takes your fancy – or something might trigger another inspiration. If you don’t find what you want, however, take a look at the Sports and Activities section, or go to Amazon where you will be certain to find a book on the hobby or interest of your choice

 

Visit our Pre-retirement Courses section here on laterlife or our dedicated Retirement Courses site