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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