Isn't nature brilliant?

I love this time of year. As I look out my window, white cherry blossom is starting to emerge among the trees along the river. I'm still in my running gear after jogging up the valley. As I entered Jesmond Dene, there was a flash of black, white and red over my head. I stopped and got my first really good look at one of the woodpeckers who I've listened to for 8 years. No shimmering flash of a kingfisher this morning, but I still have a big fat grin on my face as I get stuck into work.

I'm lucky - I live in a river valley less than 20 minutes walk from Newcastle City Centre. If you struggle to get out and commune with nature, why not try out BTCV's Green Gym - fitness and fresh air!

A Green Day Out?

The Guardian has published its top ten green days out, of which I've been to 6 - The Eden Project (great but only green-ish), A Farmers Market, Nature's World Middlesbrough, Brighton Earthship, BTCV Tasks (many... I used to lead some), and best of them all, The Centre for Alternative Technology or CAT in Wales.

To me CAT is amazing, both in location, its content, and its longevity, having been established in the 70s. Compared to the slighty empty flashiness of the now defunct Doncaster Earth Centre, CAT has honed its message to eradicate preachiness and made everything fun, fun, fun. When I was there about four years ago it was swarming with kids running riot (in a good way). It has been revamped recently and I'm keen to back for another look.