Green Holiday Ideas?

BungleGirl

I want to go away on my own for about a week. I have just quit my job and am generally very stressed out and just want a week to chill out, read some books, have some peace etc.

I am looking for some green ideas of what I can do. From a personal 'green' point of view I am passionate about loacl produce/organic farming/healthy eating.

I am a supporter of Fordhall Farm and have thought about offering my services to them for a week but am wondering if this is a good idea as I know that I really want to chill out but at the same time I think that I do want something to 'do'.

I thought about a hostel but have never done this before and as I will be on my own find the idea a little scary - have any women here done it on their own and if so how did you find it?

Any ideas anyone? I have a campervan so could easily camp somewhere (if I did this I would need to know some other people would be there as I think I would be a bit scared on my own).

Otherwise I'm thinking of a farmstay, organic/eco b&b or lodge/cottage etc.

I don't have loads of money to spend on this break - ideally not more than £150 but I guess I could come up with a bit more if it had a course with it i.e. cooking/organic gardening or something.

I live on the Norfolk/Suffolk border on the coast and would prefer to not travel too far. Don't mind how I travel - trains are a bit of a nightmare round here though. I could drive car/campervan. I can't ride a bike so a cycling adventure is out for me I'm afraid!

Any ideas or personal recomendations? I've googled eco-holiday and been on so many websites I'm now just totally confused!

I doubt that I will get another chance to go away without my family for a week and want to make it a worthwhile experience.

Volcano

http://www.wwoof.org/wwoof_uk/ is an organisation that arranges volunteers on farms, plenty in the east of england:
http://www.wwoof.org/wwoofuknew/Pwhost4cy.asp?selregion=E&cy=UNITED%20KINGDOM

Or at this time of year the Lake district isn't too busy. You could take that campervan up there, bringing a pair of walking boots, and get plenty of fresh air and gentle exercise.

Ken68

Youth Hostels, let you work for no pay, but free accommation and food. You would probably be doing the cooking anyway.
Knew a solicitor who did this in The Lake District (ennerdale), about three hours a day doing whatever, then tramp the hills. Chance to meet new folk.

newlywed

National Trust volunteer holidays?

BungleGirl

Thank you guys!

That has given me plenty to think about! It's very bizarre but on the second link from Volcano for WWOOF in East Anglia the first listing is for someone I think that I have heard lots about. I think that it is for our local Green Party candidate and should be meeting him on 25th September at a Greenpeace meeting (the first one I have been to). I actually looked at his website earlier because I heard he did B&B. I think that I will try to speak to him at the meeting - I would like to know if I can go for the B&B (as I can afford to pay to) but ask if I can still help out as if i was a WWOOFer.

I think that would be fantastic as I can get the train there (literally only 15 minues away) and it says that they can pick you up from the train station. Also I know that he is very active in environmental issues locally (Green Party and Greenpeace I think) and I think that I would benefit personally from getting the opportunity to spend time with his family and seeing how they live their lives. I also think that if I am going to meet new people if I can do it in my local area then hopefully I can stay in touch and maybe joine forces to make a diference in our communities.

I still am hankering to go to Fordhall Farm as I love so much what they are doing but it is so far away! I could save that for one of their volunteer weekends and take more people with me to justify the journey.

I haven't ruled out anything else yet - I have to wait until my boyfriend has got an appointment that he is waiting for (I want to go with him to it) before I can book anything.

Thank you for all of your ideas - I am glad that I posted because I am very excited now!

BungleGirl

I just received the National Trust Working Holidays brochure - I had never heard of them before but they look fantastic! Now I want to do all three things (Fordhall Farm/WWOOF/Nation Trust Working Holiday) I think I will have to convince my other half that I need three trips away on my own and work my way through them whenever there is a suitable time for me to disappear for a week!

Thank you all for your suggestions!

IClaudius

here is the National Trust Holiday link
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-volunteering/w-workingholidays.htm

emloft

Hey BungleGirl, there are some brand new eco-lodges being built on the outskirts of Richmond, North Yorkshire e.g. http://www.dales-holiday-cottages.com/detail.asp?refno=4353++&i_Record_Position=0&i_Max_Records=30&destdesc=All+Regions&resultset=4353++ I think they open at the end of October. If you don't fancy this, I love the https://www.responsibletravel.com website, which has loads of ideas.