DAYSOUT
GET OUT INTO THE Elements cont.
EARTH
Earth … In its natural form, it may not sound impressive, but just imagine where we would be without it. We’ d be malnourished, have nowhere to live and – the ancient philosophers believed – we’ d be subject to the whims of the gods too. That doesn’ t sound like too much fun, and to prove that earth is essential, here are some of the best‘ earthly’ activities to enjoy in Kent.
PARKS
Kent is a county full of stunning parks. There are eight gorgeous country parks in total, plus a plethora of playgrounds and outside spaces to run around in, explore nature, or just go for a grounding stroll with or without a dog. You’ ll find that there is sure to be somewhere close to you that you can head to when you need a bit of time to yourself, or to spend time with friends and family. And if you are keen to try a country park, take your pick:
• Brockhill Country Park( Hythe)
• Lullingstone Country Park( Eynsford)
• Manor Park Country Park( West Malling)
• Pegwell Bay Country Park( Ramsgate)
• Shorne Woods Country Park( Gravesend)
• Teston Bridge Country Park( Teston)
• Trosley Country Park( Meopham)
• White Horse Wood Country Park( Maidstone)
THE COUNTRYSIDE
The Kent countryside is famous around the world for being something very special indeed. We’ ve got it all here – woods and forests, wide open spaces, hillsides and valleys, and to make it all even more appealing, not only is it available to all, but it’ s all beautiful too.
Getting out into the countryside is vital for a healthy, happy life. It’ s good for the soul. This, after all, is where our local produce is grown, giving us delicious food and drink, plus exercise in the great outdoors is more appealing than exercise in a stuffy village hall or a purpose-built gym.
There is also something innately adventurous about being outdoors that comes with an essence of excitement – just follow your instincts and you can find all sorts of unique places to explore. On top of that, this is how to gain a great appreciation for the earth itself, understanding more about nature and about how lucky we are to have what we have, which in turn leads to a greater sense of mindfulness – of living in the present – which is a great way to destress. All in all, heading to the countryside is full of positives
PICNIC SPOTS
There are some sites, such as the Grove Ferry Picnic Site near Canterbury, Penshurst Place parkland, Lower Leas Coastal Park and Quex
Park that are just perfect for picnics. And other places – including the countryside, parks in general, beaches, and other sites and attractions across the county – where picnics have become the norm. And why not? Picnics are fun, different and very effective memory makers.
So, why do we love picnics so much? There are multiple reasons, and everyone will have their own particular favourite, but it comes down to the earth again. Sitting down outside, making contact with the ground, eating the food that came from it, all prepared by ourselves to share with the people we love … if that’ s not elemental, we don’ t know what is.
CHARITY RUNS
Feet pounding the earth; for some, it’ s the ultimate way of making elemental contact. Running, jogging, even walking is excellent exercise – it gets the blood circulating as it is meant to and it burns calories too. As an added bonus, it generally happens outside, so you get to experience Kent in all its glory as you do yourself some good. You can add to the experience by joining in with a charity run, and put all that hard work to fantastic use by raising money to help those less fortunate. It’ s a wonderful thing to do and a great way to keep focused on what’ s important in life. Here are some upcoming charity runs that you can be part of.
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