The beginnings of FAF

The idea for FAF came about one Monday morning as I struggled into work after a glorious weekend of walking in the hills, swimming in the sea and sleeping under the stars. All the stress of the previous week had melted away, but I could feel it building up again fast as I faced another five days of overcrowded tubes and a hectic office job.

Friends of mine told me they felt the same way, stifled by stuffy commutes and airless gyms, and longing to experience the ‘feel good factor’ of enjoying the great outdoors on a regular basis, not just on holidays or at weekends.

That became the catalyst for me to start this blog, bringing together all the things that inspire me about the great outdoors, and providing a virtual ‘fix’ of fresh air to my readers.

Starting a Fresh Air Revolution

I believe there’s no such thing as an ‘outdoorsy’ type. You don’t have to be ultra fit, or love reading maps, or have a thing for eating freeze dried meals. Just leave that to Bear Grylls. Absolutely anyone can get out in the fresh air and enjoy some of what beautiful Britain has to offer. There are so many incredible landscapes to enjoy right here on our shores, from national parks to stunning beaches, snow capped mountains and rugged coastlines, and best of all it’s completely free!

Through this blog, I hope to encourage more people of every age and background to reconnect with the great outdoors and feel the benefits of having a regular ‘fresh air fix’. It doesn’t have to be far from your front door either. It could be as simple as finding a green space near your office to relax in at lunchtimes, or planting up a window box outside your high rise flat, or deciding to cycle to work instead of taking the bus.

The story continues…

In early 2011 I decided to write The FAF Survival Guide, an ebook packed full of seasonal tips to help even more people fit some outdoors time into their busy lifestyles, whether it’s just a 5 minute ‘fix’ or a whole weekend away.

Juggling the website with a busy job and writing a book hasn’t always been easy. However the FAF philosophy has inevitably rubbed off in my life too, prompting a change of career to being a freelance travel and lifestyle journalist, web copywriter and video producer. If you’d like to work with me, you can find out more on this page.

Juliette Dyke, Founder and Editor