6 Tips For Protecting Your Happy Place With Elinor Fay @consciouslyelle

Earth Day holds a special place in my heart. As someone who loves being outside and exploring the beauty of nature, it's a day that reminds me of the importance of preserving and protecting the wild spaces that we all love to explore.

Celebrated annually on April 22nd, Earth Day encourages us to take action and protect our environment for generations to come. As an outdoor enthusiast, like many of you reading this, I believe it's our duty to live sustainably and leave no trace behind when we venture into our happy places.

• It unites people around the world to drive awareness, education, and action towards environmental protection. It reminds us that we're all responsible for the health and well-being of our planet and can play an active role in protecting it.

• It’s a time for us to reflect on our ecological footprint, and it gives us the chance to discover new ways to make our daily lives more sustainable. 

Many plastic items end up in landfills or oceans, causing long-term damage to ecosystems.

I always make sure I’m prepared for the day ahead and bring reusable items in my bag, like water bottles, coffee cups, and cloth bags that can be used over and over again. 

Carrying them with you means that you won’t get caught out and need to use a plastic bottle or disposable coffee cup when on the go. 

When I’m buying items of clothing, I always try to choose fabrics that are good to the planet or have little impact. Recycled cotton, organic linen and recycled wool are just some materials that I look out for when shopping.

Cotswold Outdoor have a dedicated ‘Our Planet’ range which has to meet one or more of their environmental criteria. The more we support businesses that are transparent and use planet-friendly materials, the more in demand and widespread these environmental practices will become.

There are many groups across the UK doing amazing work to protect the places we love to explore.

From beach clean ups to planting trees, get to know your community while making a positive difference. The National Trust, BMC and The Ramblers all have opportunities to volunteer on their projects.

Cotswold Outdoor partner with these organisations to support the vital work they’re doing to restore and protect our local environments.

Off on a day trip or overnight adventure with friends? Instead of taking three cars, challenge yourself to take one. If you’re not meeting up in a remote area, try taking public transport, cycling or walking to your destination.

Not only is this great for wellbeing, it’s also another seemingly small act that can add up to a big change. I challenge myself to walk to places that are within a mile of my house instead of taking the car.

Passionate about protecting the spaces you love to explore? Get chatting with those around you about why this matters and what we can all do to make a difference, no matter how seemingly small.

Earth Day is a great time to bring up these conversations and share your passion for the environment with friends and family.

Thanks for sharing your tips with us, Elinor.

If you’ve been inspired to explore your happy place in kit that lasts, book an in-store appointment with one of our kit specialists, or stop by your nearest Cotswold Outdoor store.