Journal

Britons have become more risk averse and are spending less time outside than ever before, compounding a mental-health epidemic. Belinda Kirk believes in the power of adventure to change lives for the better – so she’s triggering a revolution…

It has long been known that walking in nature is good for alleviating stress and improving our mood. But scientific studies in Japan have helped establish the practise of ‘Forest Bathing’ worldwide, after showing that connecting with nature has a higher purpose still; it is a necessity.

Swimming in cold water is said to have many health benefits. We took a dip with a group of sea swimmers in Folkestone, Kent to find out what it is that keeps them in the water all year round.

What’s so wild about English forests? We joined expedition leader and wild walking guide Ian Finch, on a walk through a beautiful Hertfordshire woodland just outside the M25, to discover how to make an everyday walk in the woods just a little bit wilder.

Truffles, like mushrooms, are the fruiting body of a type of fungi that forms a fascinating symbiotic relationship with trees. Many types of truffle are edible and highly prized by top restaurants and food connoisseurs. Much skill and knowledge is needed to find and identify them, which only adds to their mystique.

Leanne travels to Dungeness in Kent, to take part in Britain’s biggest annual beach cleaning event, to see just how much plastic is being recovered from our beaches every year.

The Scarlet Elf Cup or Sarcoscypha austriaca is a species of fungi native to the United Kingdom and many other parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Elder or Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) can be found all over Britain – a common sight in hedgerows, they are are source of popular edible berries and flowers.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea has over 25 common names in English but here in the UK they are mostly known as Cowberry or by their Swedish name of Lingonberry, which comes from the Swedish word for heather. Other names include Bearberry, Partridgeberry and Mountain Cranberry.

Alder or Alnus glutinosa is a tree native to the UK, which can be found across most of Europe.There are many other varieties but this particular species is the only one native to the UK.

Common Ash or Fraxinus excelsior is native to the UK. It is part of the family Oleaceae which Olive and Lilac trees also belong to. They can live for well in excess of 400 years.

Common Hawthorn or Crataegus monogyna is native to the UK and is a popular hedge tree. It lines many a motorway and country road, its blooms colouring hedgerows white in May and red with its berries in Autumn.

Katy Who provides her suggestions for the best way to spend a short break in beautiful, windswept Pembrokeshire. From surfing its famous beaches to puffin-spotting on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire is an underrated jewel in the crown of Wales.

Our Photographer Spotlight series aims to showcase the work of photographers who capture the UK landscape in a way which shows its beauty and diversity. In this interview, we chat to writer, Instagrammer, photographer and Thryve team member, Katy Livesey.

The Scarlet Elf Cup or Sarcoscypha austriaca is a species of fungi native to the United Kingdom and many other parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Our Photographer Spotlight series aims to showcase the work of photographers who capture the UK landscape in a way which shows its beauty and diversity. In this latest instalment, we chat to outdoor photographer and Thryve team member, Leanne Downs.

This is a steep but straightforward and rewarding hill walk on a clear day, giving spectacular views across Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park