Welcome to Open Gates Outdoors’ Blog!

Hello! It occurred to me that the best way to keep our website current and make sure it includes the very latest news and reflections of Open Gates Outdoors would be to include a blog spot. So here it is. It’s my first attempt at a Blog so please feel free to get in touch and give me your thoughts…

I can’t promise to blog every day but will aim to once a week. My intention  is to develop themes of our Facebook and Instagram posts to include a bit more detail. This might be on amusing experiences in the outdoors, issues to do with the outdoors generally or more specifically to do with widening participation in the outdoors, or observations and discoveries relating to natural or man made features of the outdoors. 

Watch this space…..

George

PS first proper blog to appear here later today relating to sheep!! Don’t miss it…..🐏🐑😀





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Moving statues

Image
Statues are not history "because they are always silent about the victims" and are erected "by a tiny male elite." This is the argument of David Olusoga in response the the government's "retain and explain" policy towards statues. Whereas the government urges town planners to retain statues but put them in historical context, Olusoga argues controversial statues should be removed as they only give one side of history.   Several statues in Sheffield have been moved from their original positions but, rather than being removed entirely as Olusoga would urge, they have been put in an alternative location, usually in parks. This was often done in the mid 20th century when increased vehicular traffic meant that some statues were presenting a dangerous obstruction to sight lines and traffic flow. Perhaps the best known example is the statue of Queen Victoria  (above) presently at the Hunters Bar entrance to Endcliffe Park. This statue was designed by Alfred
Read more

Sheffield’s Urban Green Spaces

Image
Yesterday while I was at an event at Duke’s Cafe in Norfolk Park I came across this map of Sheffield’s urban green spaces. Open Gates Outdoors is passionate about exploring Sheffield’s urban green spaces as well as its beautiful frame. This map got me thinking about what is my favourite urban green space in Sheffield and which urban green spaces on the map have I not been to and would I most like to explore.  If I had to pick a favourite urban green space it would be Rollastone Wood in Meersbrook because it’s convenient for my house, so quiet, its a gorge with big slopey paths and it links so well to Carr Woods and also the Moss Valley beyond. The urban green space I haven’t yet been to and am most keen to experience is perhaps Loxley and Wadsley Common. I had a lovely walk in Loxley Valley recently appreciating its awesome crags and I want to explore the Common with its trig point and it’s links to the Bradfield area to put the Loxley Valley into more context. What is your favourite u
Read more

An alternative approach to being outdoors

Image
On 29 September 2023 Open Gates Outdoors led a walk as part of the World Wide Wander organised by Street Wisdom. Street Wisdom describes itself as an international social venture which brings experiential learning to city streets the world over. It was founded by David Pearl with the aim of transforming city streets into inspirational learning zones.  Street Wisdom attracts me in part because its mission aligns very much with that of Open Gates Outdoors in three ways. First it aims to support people to use the outdoors to improve their wellbeing, in particular those to whom it might not naturally appeal. Second it aims to provide outdoor experiences to these groups for free, funded by the proceeds of providing beneficial outdoor services to corporates for a commercial rate. Thirdly, like Open Gates Outdoors, Street Wisdom appreciates the value of walking in an urban setting as much, perhaps even more than, walking in a rural setting. However Street Wisdom also fascinates me because of
Read more