I love the idea of camping: the great outdoors, a log fire, birds singing, blankets, the smell of dew in the morning, eating al fresco, and simply getting away from it all. Camping is great, in theory, until it comes to getting a good night’s sleep that is. I hate sleeping bags, bumpy ground, rain leaking in and midges (annoying little Scottish flies).

That’s why this summer my friend Helen and I opted for a spot of ‘glamping’ instead. Glamping, or glamorous camping, comes in all shapes and sizes, from yurts like the yurt we stayed in to converted horse trucks.

Our yurt was let out by the lovely Gravell family, who also run the Idos surf shop and café on the same grounds. Based in Narberth in deepest South Wales, this was the perfect location to stay for anyone looking to explore the Pembrookshire countryside and coastline, as we did.

The yurt was large and comfortable, with a wood-burning stove to keep us warm and real beds to sleep on. Outside we had a cute wooden kitchen area and a large patch of ground shared with chickens, whose fresh eggs we ate for breakfast.

By day we headed for the beach and caught up with our surfing comrades at TYF Adventure, stuffed our faces with Welsh cakes and scoured charity shops for vintage treats, and by night we drank wine round the fire.

Sound good to you? Check out this video I made of our trip, to see what else glamping in Wales has to offer…

My top 3 glamping destinations:

1. Idos Yurts – Wales

2. Fforest – Wales

3. Canopy and stars – UK wide

You may remember from one of my blogs last summer that 2010 was the year I took up city cycling. Nearly one year on and not only am I hooked, I’ve started venturing on long distance (well, long for me) cycles from city to city.

Yesterday my friends and I cycled from Stirling to Glasgow, around 30 miles in total, with a few stops along the way. But despite my love for bikes I am reluctant to embrace lycra leggings (see last months blog) or chunky messenger bags. Instead, yesterday I opted for the, slightly more stylish, Squander pants, which look like jeans and feel like leggings and are super comfy to cycle in, paired with the Sea Stripe tunic. I finished things off with my Rock Climber rucksack, which was big enough to fit my lunch, two cameras, water bottle, repair kit, waterproof jacket, my Signature hoody, phone, bike lights and sunglasses. What more could you need?

I was a bit nervous to start off with, as this was the first time I’ve cycled such a long distance, but despite a few big hills that nearly killed me I had a great time. The sun shone for us all day, we saw some amazing wildlife and picnicked at the top of a hill looking out toward the Scottish coastline, before cycling home along a canal, where we stopped of for a cheeky beer. Perfect.

By the time we returned to Glasgow that evening I didn’t feel tired, I felt amazing! And we’re already planning our next tip.

Summer has only just started, so why not plan your own cycling adventure?

This photo was taken a couple of years back on a warm September evening as the sun was setting over Porthtowan beach, Cornwall.  I’d been doing a beach clean with an environmental campaign group called Surfers Against Sewage and a team of volunteers.  After the beach clean we had a well earned surf, then sat outside the beach side bar drinking and chatting whilst the sky took on these gorgeous hues.  You’ve got to believe me when I say I haven’t altered this photo in Photoshop at all, this is exactly what the sky looked like that night. If you look closely at the waves you can spot a couple of people still surfing in the very last of the day’s light.

Enjoy!

Photo: Ruth Carruthers

Submit your own “Summer Story” on our facebook page for a chance to be published and win clothes from the new collection.

www.facebook.com/quiksilver-women

This is the time of year when people start trying to ‘shape up for summer’, which for a city dweller like me usually involves going to the gym; a building I’ve not entered since 2004.

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I find gyms boring, I’d much rather be riding my real bike, swimming in the sea or sliding sideways down a mountain. And more recently I also think gyms are a massive waste of energy with all those rotating treadmills, blinking lights, TV screens and heated pools switched on all day and multiplied across the world. That has to rile Mother Nature a little bit, surely?

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In a column I wrote for HUCK last year I explored the idea that “here in the West, we eat so much that we have to go to a gym just to work off the excess calories by using a machine that eats energy too. We need energy to burn energy that we didn’t need in the first place. I mean, how crazy is that?

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Gyms are great for fitness, training and recreation, but when I look at them from an energy perspective, they seem ridiculous.”

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Plus, going to the gym usually involves purchasing specific ‘gym clothes’, which often includes synthetic shorts, vests and trainers. And the production of these items can put added strain not only on your pocket but on the environment too, through the consumption of the Earth’s natural resources and pollution from manufacturing.

So lately I’ve been on the hunt for a way to stay fit in the city, whilst reducing my impact on the environment…

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The answer comes in the form of No Lights, No Lycra (NLNL) – a weekly dance jam in the dark that takes place at the local art school.

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Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? However, NLNL is now so popular in Melbourne, where the craze started, that there are now two sessions held every week. And dancing in the dark has also taken off in Berlin, Sydney, San Francisco, Brooklyn and now Glasgow, Scotland.

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The concept is simple: Make up a killer playlist (requests welcome), find an empty space, invite some friends, switch off the lights, hit play, dance any way you want for an hour or so, feel good, go home, come back next week. No lights, no crap music, no set dance routines, no dress code, no lycra; it’s just “dancing for the love of dancing.” Oh, and with minimum electricity used and no special clothing required the environment benefits too. Even better!

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I have to admit, it did feel a bit strange the first time I went, I’m not used to dancing around in the dark at 6pm on a Thursday night, but after about 10 minutes I really got into it, and now I’m addicted, as are my friends.

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From now on I’d encourage everyone to ditch the treadmill or your aerobics class and check out your local NLNL, or start a NLNL night of your own if there’s not one in your city already.

In the words of songstress Lykke Li, “Dance, Dance, Dance”…

http://www.vimeo.com/1857259

“Ohhhh, I love the ocean and all those pretty, pretty things,” sing the opening lyrics of Josh Rouse’s song Lemon Tree, which accompanies the QSW Spring 2011 video.

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These words are an instant hook for someone like me who grew up by the coast, and I’m really excited that QSW is making a return to the sea after a couple of seasons in the city. In addition, since I dabble in surfing when I get the change I’m also pleased to welcome world champion surfer Steph Gilmore into the fold of fellow brand ambassadors.

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But behind the waves there are woes. The ocean is in deep trouble and we all share the blame. From oil spills to over fishing, sea level rise, ocean acidification and plastic pollution nearly everything we do on land creates a demand that impacts on the sea, whether that be through consumption of natural resources or waste disposal.

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As humans we tend to have an ‘out of site, out of mind’ mentality, but fortunately there are people, publications and organisations out there who are bringing our attention to ocean issues through creative campaigns involving film, art, music and drama.

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One powerful example of this is Water, a recent theatre production showing at Kilburn’s Tricycle Theatre in London, which addresses the way in which climate change is affecting the ocean, presenting many challenges for mankind both now and in the future. As one of the characters in the play relays to the audience: “How successful we are in our reaction to these challenges may rely on our ability to be like water… to reach beyond ourselves and bond with those around us.  But are we capable of doing so? Or are we destined to be increasingly solitary, alone and un-bonded?  Constantly pushing further and further as individuals, placing the planet on which we live under intense pressure.  Leaving us unable to connect both with each other and the world we live in.”

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For me this statement holds true, not just for the way in which we tackle climate change and other issues affecting our seas, but I also believe it’s the approach we should be using to overcome every challenge facing society today.

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This year the population of our planet is set to hit the 7 Billion mark, but instead of seeing this as another test for mankind and this finite planet we live on, let’s embrace that number, build cohesion with those around us and adhere to the planet we live on.

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by Ruth Carruthers

One thing I love about the Quiksilver Women’s range of clothing is that there’s no massive Quiksilver logo on any of the pieces. There’s not even a small Quiksilver logo on there. In fact, when there is a logo it’s tiny or non-existent, with only the buttons or the label inside to distinguish its origins. It’s personal preference really, some people love a logo splashed across their chest, but as I’ve grown older I realised it’s just not for me. That’s not to say I don’t think the logo is important though. Quite the opposite.
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No matter how big or small the Quiksilver logo is on the item you buy it’s there to remind us all about some of the things we should be protecting in life: mountains and waves. You don’t even need to be into surfing or snowboarding to care about these though. I mean, we all like going to the beach right? And I’m sure you’ve already been checking out the new Quiksilver Women’s range of spring/summer ’10 bikinis and swimsuits …

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You may have noticed that it’s not just Quiksilver who use symbols from nature to form all or part of their logo. Many companies, universities and organisations out there use a variety of plants and animals to help them construct an identity, and in doing so it’s up to them to help protect that identity. This is something the organisation Save Your Logo is extremely passionate about.

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Save Your Logo is an ‘innovative project for biodiversity’ who’s mission is: to create an opportunity for companies represented by flora and fauna in their logo to contribute to the conservation of that species or element and build a global community around that common objective. They’re a not-for-profit organisation that achieves their goals through private sector investment in an endowment fund, which is then distributed to groups that specialise in biodiversity and conservation projects.

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So what are Quiksilver doing to save their logo you may ask? For over 10 years now, the Quiksilver Group has been working under the slogan ‘Don’t Destroy What You Came To Enjoy’ and they encourage this through a variety of initiatives ranging from eco-design to awareness raising events, ad campaigns and partnerships with a number of environmental organisations including Save Your Logo.

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At the moment as part of their No Water Sucks campaign Quiksilver are selling Save Your Logo eco bracelets in their shops. The bracelets are sold at 3 euros each with 1 euro donated to Save Your Logo for every one sold, and it’s the same for any other product you buy from Quiksilver’s eco range.

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Ruth - wearing the "Save Your Logo" Eco Bracelet

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Additionally, Quiksilver are also running a ” No Water Sucks” picture competition until April 30, with the chance to win the handsome sum of 1000 euros for both the winning entrant and one of three conservation charities.

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So, whether you like to wear a bird on your chest, a wave on your hat, a cat on your shoe, a mountain on your bag or like me, a tiny logo on the button of your jeans, you might want to think about protecting that logo, both for you and future generations.

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of the social, political and economic achievements of women past, present and future, so it only seems right that Quiksilver Women mark this occasion too.
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The first IWD was on the 19th March 1911 and was recognised in Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where more than one million woman and men attended IWD rallies in support of women’s rights to work, vote and to end discrimination. Unfortunately, despite significant success surrounding equality in recent decades fair treatment is still an issue and in many countries woman do not have access to the same standard of healthcare and education as men do and often suffer violence against them.
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Thankfully IWD is now an official holiday in countries such as Russia, China, Bulgaria and Mongolia where men honour the women in their lives with flowers and small gifts - much like we do for Mothers Day here in the UK. In addition, every year thousands of events are held the world over in celebration of IWD and the achievements of women including political rallies, craft markets, art projects, fashion parades and theatrical performances. The US have even declared the entire month of March ‘Women’s History Month.’

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In support of woman worldwide Quiksilver Women Ellie Lawson, Leddra Chapman and I are sending our old bras to charity via the Breast Talk Bra Appeal. A variety of charities such as Oxfam then distribute unwanted bras to woman who really need them both here in the UK and in countries such as Africa, where good quality bras are highly sought after. Additionally, old bras can also be used to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Bras are an item we all too often take for granted, but there are many woman across the globe that don’t own a bra or cannot afford one. Through bra donations such as ours reusable bras will go towards helping homeless and underprivileged woman, where as damaged bras can be recycled into quilts.
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Here in the UK over 70 per cent of woman are thought to be wearing the wrong size bra. I recently had my bust professionally measured and found I was far from wearing the correct size, but I’m glad I have somewhere to send all my old ones now. So why not get yourself fitted and rather than sending your old bras to landfill reduce waste and help support disadvantaged woman and the environment by sending your old bras to the Breast Talk Bra Appeal too!

When Quiksilver Woman hit UK shops in Fall 2008 I couldn’t have been more excited! Not just because QSW seems to encapsulate that edgy yet feminine look I love, but also because here in front of me Quiksilver were offering eco-friendly clothing that I actually wanted to wear.

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Eco-friendly clothing is synonymous with flappy dresses made from frumpy fabrics, naff hippy t-shirts and ill fitting hemp trousers. But not any more! In fact, environmentally conscious fashion has had a major overhaul in recent years and it’s getting much easier to find stylish alternatives to mainstream fashion, even on the high street.

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The first thing that struck me about the QSW eco-friendly range were the organic t-shirts, which are so soft you won’t want to take them off, and you’ll never have to use fabric softener – which is also better for the environment!  We all think of cotton as being one of the most natural things around, but for the average cotton t-shirt only 73% of it is actually cotton, the rest is made up of chemicals and resins used to make the fabric. These chemicals are not only bad for your health but the health of the cotton farmer and local wildlife, too.

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In addition, hemp isn’t as bad as I made it out to be either, and bamboo is my new favourite fabric. Both of these take far less water to grow than cotton, which is much better for the planet and bamboo is so smooth against your skin it feels like silk. Don’t believe me? Try it out - you won’t be disappointed!

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My favourite piece so far would be the Sweet Thing Dress  from the Autumn/Winter 2009 collection - I love anything checked! I like to layer it with one of the lovely organic tees, black tights and little black ankle boots. I top it all off with a chunky cream neck warmer that I knitted for a cosy but stylish winter look – it’s very cold and snowy in Scotland right now! For spring 2010 look out for the Russell muscle tee and the Millbank long skirt.

Sweet Thing Dress from Quiksilver Women's Fall Winter 2009 Collection

People often complain that you have to pay more for eco-friendly clothing, which is sometimes true, but can we really afford to put a price on the environment and the health of workers and wildlife? After all, would you rather have one really great, good quality organic t-shirt that you can wash and wear over and over again or for the same price buy 4 cheap conventional ones that loose their shape after a couple of washes and end up forgotten about at the back of a drawer? I know what I’d choose…

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Quiksilver may not be completely organic yet, but they are changing little by little and making it easier for you to do so too, without having to sacrifice style!

Russell Muscle Tee from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2010 Collection

Millbank Skirt from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2010 Collection

Image by Ruth Carruthers

Let me introduce myself … I’m Ruth, a Scottish Lass who likes to write, take pictures, make things and make change. I am passionate about communicating environmental matters to people in a creative way.

I divide my time between Glasgow, London and the great outdoors, which has inspired me to write about environmental issues and illustrate my words with my own pictures when I can. I contribute to art projects and make up my own, even if it’s just creating something out of an old pair of socks or a plastic bag - it’s amazing what you can do with the stuff other people would normally throw away!

I love the Quiksilver Women’s eco-friendly range of clothing and over the next few months I’ll be telling you about other ways you can become greener, help charities and create change in your own special way.

So stay tuned for my monthly column “Creating Change”, the first post is up on the 8th of February when I’ll be talking about eco-style.

Image by Timo Jarvinen

Image by Frankie Buckle