Who doesn’t love a trip to the beach? To make yours as sustainable as possible:

• Bring reusable food and drink containers, instead of single-use plastic.
• Wear “marine safe” sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
• Engage in low-impact activities, such as swimming and paddleboarding.
• Avoid touching or disturbing marine creatures.
• Leave no trace by picking up your waste.

Although the amount of waste washing up on the UK’s beaches is falling year by year, plastic is still making up the majority of beach waste, which poses a huge issue for the environment.

Double up a fun trip to the beach by attending or hosting a beach clean-up at the end of your visit. Use gloves, litter pickers and bin bags to collect rubbish and prevent it from entering the sea and harming our marine ecosystem.

Dedicate time to planting and nurturing a garden. Not only is this rewarding for you and your loved ones, a sustainable garden has immense potential to reduce our carbon footprint and encourage our ecosystems to thrive.

Start by filling your garden with as many native plants as possible, and make sure to include fruit and vegetables that thrive in the warm weather, such as tomatoes, courgettes and cucumber. To take your efforts to the next level:

• Set up a compost heap or bin to divert waste and improve soil health.
• Implement water-saving practices, such as a drip irrigation system.
• Create your own natural pesticides, instead of using toxic chemicals.
• Invest in furniture made from eco-conscious materials, such as bamboo.

If you don’t have your own garden, see if you can get involved in a community garden or tree-planting initiative.

Hosting a picnic or garden event, such as a BBQ, dinner or games night, doesn’t mean you need to create waste. There are ways to put on a great event without waste:

• Avoid single-use plates, cups, utensils and serving tools. Instead, use reusable utensils and textiles.
• Cook from scratch where possible, to avoid buying food in single-use plastic.
• Serve vegan or vegetarian food, to reduce the emissions derived from meat.
• Cover food with beeswax wraps or silicone bags, instead of plastic cling film.
• Make sure that all leftover food is composted or converted to leftovers.

Going for a walk or cycle is one of the best, eco-friendly ways to enjoy nature this summer — and it’s free! Visit your local green spaces, or go further afield to a national park or mountain to enjoy a scenic day out reconnecting with nature.

Need help planning your route? National Trail will help you find long distance routes through England and Wales. Or, check out Sustrans for a comprehensive look at paths and routes for walking, wheeling, and cycling.

Plan an outdoors scavenger hunt where you have to spot specific things out in nature, such as a pink flower, flying ladybird, or four-leaf clover. This encourages children to use and develop their observation skills, but is also a fun day out for all.

Just remember to:

• Be careful not to disrupt animal habitat.
• Don't pick rare or endangered plants, or drag up whole plants.
• Leave the area the same or better than you found it.

If it’s too hot to spend a long time outdoors, you can still enjoy some fun indoor activities:

• Visit a local library or museum.
• Upcycle your rubbish for an arts and crafts project.
• Cook or bake with plant-based ingredients.
• Start an indoors herb garden.
• Tackle the “to be read” books on your shelves.
• Teach yourself a new skill, such as learning a language.

Summer is the perfect time to reconnect with nature, and doing so sustainably ensures our favorite spots stay beautiful for years to come. Whether you’re hosting a zero-waste picnic or exploring a local trail, every small choice adds up to a big difference for our planet.

Let’s make this season unforgettable by giving back to the earth as much as we enjoy it!