Into the Blue list a wide range of gift experiences around the country, catering for all sorts of budgets.  And they cover a wide range of gifts and interests, with everything from flight simulators to water sports, days out to afternoon teas, short breaks to animal experiences.  They also have an incredible range of creative and craft gifts and outdoor gifts to choose from too. 

SPECIAL OFFER!!

What's more, they've got a fabulous 15% off for you!  It covers all experiences up to £250.00 - there's no minimum spend, although some products are excluded from this offer.  Just use the code...

ITB15FORME

You could give a dog lover
a Sheepdog experience in Yorkshire!

How about a Swinton Estate Lunch & Garden Tour (Ripon, Yorkshire)?
Enjoy talks, garden walks & lunch at Swinton Park
See other Gardening Workshops and Floristry courses here


There are a number of Rural Craft experiences
including this Traditional Basket Weaving Course in Surrey

 
Fly off to see the Falconry experiences -
give them the chance to meet, handle and fly a bird of prey!

Fly off to Into the Blue to see their full range of experiences! 
 
Don't forget, the code ITB15FORME for 15% off experiences up to £250.00, although some products are excluded from this offer.

If you're one of those people who like to get organised well ahead, e.g. buying Christmas cards early, there's good news for you!

A little bird told me that the RSPB online shop has 15% off their Christmas card range until the 3rd September 2025 and there are some delightful cards to choose from.  

 
The Midwinter dusk Barn Owl Christmas cards (pack of 10)
are designed by Jo Grundy - a beautiful twilight scene.
for £5.00

There are cards with barn owls, curlews, avocets and misty waters, robins, sleepy hedgehogs, hares, puffins, donkeys, blackbirds,wrens, mice, doves and of course the Three Kings.  

Just look at these donkeys snuggling up!  
It gives me a warm cosy feeling inside! 
The cards come in a pack of 10 and they have been illustrated by artist Ian Saxton.
£5.00

All the RSPB Christmas cards are glitter free, and can be recycled.  And the RSPB has ideas of what you can do with the cards you receive - including making bunting from them!  

I love this card - Four Candles, with the rabbit sitting in the snow and the Welly boots, too!
The artist is Kirsty Walker - and I'm sure her design
will bring back lots of memories of the Two Ronnies sketch,
Four Candles or Fork Handles!  
£5.00

I think it's lovely to send Christmas cards and show you're thinking of people and connect to them.   It's a great time to pop a little message in and say "how are you?"  

This Christmas Quackers card is very cheering to look at. 
Lynsey McLaughlin has designed this card, with the carol-singing ducks
and their robin friend, all having a merry time!  Quack, quack...
£5.00

Of course, we don't need to wait until Christmas to connect with people - I love to send Mum a card through the post, usually something funny to make her smile.  It's a small way to make a difference and make someone's day!

There are also cards for those wanting a more traditional scene.
This one designed by Caroline Armstrong depicts
the Christmas journey of the Three Wise Men. 
£5.00.

The 15% Christmas card offer runs through to the 3rd September 2025 - don't miss it!  Visit the RSPB Christmas card selection here and help nature whilst you shop! 

By the way, the little bird I mentioned at the start?  His friend hopped by to mention that you can get £2 off if you buy 2 calendars from the RSPB - a good time to start planning ahead and get things in the calendar!   The offer lasts until 10th December 2025!  

T&Cs for these offers

Cards

• 15% discount available on Christmas cards only. Add product to your basket to see the 15% saving.
• Not available in conjunction with any other offer
• Loyalty points can be collected/redeemed
• Offer subject to availability
• Offer ends 3rd September 2025

Calendars:

• Add any two 2026 calendars to your basket to save £2
• Offer is subject to availability
• Loyalty points can be collected/redeemed
• Offer not valid with other promotions (including promotion code discounts)
• Offer ends 10th December 2025

Many congratulations to the Lionesses for their Euro 2025 win!  What an incredible achievement!  It was amazing to watch the final - and they are so inspiring. 

If you know of a football fan, here are three gifts you could treat them to...

This is the England Women Squad Lionesses 2025 Poster

from Not on the High Street from £26.00.
Kick your way to find out more here

There's also this t-shirt for adults, I Play Like A Lioness for £25.00

Emma Bridgewater has this Personalised England Football 1/2 Pint Mug 
for £21.67 (plus £0.83 per letter).
What will you put on your mug gift?
Your loved one could use it for all the England matches!

and how about this England Lionesses Flag...


Get ready to support the Lionesses at every match!
£8.00 from the Calendar Club with this England Lionesses Flag.
It's 910mm high by 1520mm in width. 


And if you're passionate about football, 
take a look at the Calendar Club's Fan Club.
It specialises in official football merchandise from
top Premier League & Scottish Premiership clubs.
Kick off to find out more by clicking here.

An alternative could be a football stadium tour experience - Virgin Experience Days have a lot of them to choose from, covering a range of clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Burnley, and Fulham.   Take a look at them here.

Good luck for the future, Lionesses!

Emma Bridgewater produces wonderful products which add cheer when you look at them or use them!   With everything from mugs to jugs, vases and glasses, plates and bowls, there's a great range of goodies which would make lovely gifts!

There are lots of themes connected to the natural world - animals including dogs and cats, birds and bees - plus lots featuring flowers.   And there's her beautiful Oak Collection, too!

It's great to see the oak featured in Emma Bridgewater's range.  Oak trees make a wonderful sight, and they have been important trees in England.   They can grow up to 20 to 40 metres in height, and 8 metres wide, and they can live up to 1,000 years old.  So they are very majestic, beautiful trees which I always think give you a sense of history and long life.   Do have a look at this video from the Woodland Trust which is all about a year in the life of an oak tree - it only takes a minute! 

Wildlife love an oak too!  The Woodland Trust says that oaks can support over 280 different insect species!  Wow!  Small mammals and birds also think of oak trees as a source of food and shelter.

I love this Personalised Oak Cocoa Mug.
There's nothing like a warming mug of cocoa,
especially as autumn moves along towards winter! 
From £24.17 (plus £0.83 per letter)

There's a Personalised Oak 3 Pint Jug from £50.83 (it's £0.84 per letter).
You could put flowers in it for decoration, or use it for drinks.


There's an Oak Small Old Bowl
- which could be just the thing for nibbles and snacks! 
For £17.50

There's something for our furry friends, too!

You could put your dog's name on it or a dog related word! 
From £26.67 (plus £0.83 per letter).
There's also a large pet bowl, too from £31.67 (plus £0.83 per letter)

 Take a look at Emma Bridgewater's Oak Collecton here! 

Remember the story of King Charles II,
who hid in an oak tree from the Parliamentary forces
in Shropshire back in 1651?
 Read all about it here.

Did you know that it's National Marine Week from the 26th July to 10th August 2025? 

It's organised by the Wildlife Trusts around the UK and this year, the theme is all about showcasing the Secrets of our Seabeds.  

How much do you know about our marine habtitats and who lives there?  Mud,kelp beds and forests, sand and gravel, seagrass, chalk reefs and others?  This is a chance to get informed and really find out more - unlock the mysteries of the sea!

There are events all around the coasts of Britain - and don't worry if you can't get there, there's plenty happening on social media as well!

Whilst we're on the subject of marine life, please find out about the practice of bottom trawling.  The Wildlife Trusts are calling for it to be banned in seabed Marine Protected Areas, and you can help that effort and give it your support by signing the Trust's petition.  The process is extremely destructive, as it drags heavy chains across the seabed and really bulldozes marine habitats which are very fragile. It kills marine life, and it also means that carbon is released from the sea bed. Bottom trawling is just to catch one or two species of fish - but many other animals are caught up in the nets used. And to make things worse, three quarters of what’s caught is chucked away.  Please sign this petition here and give it your support! 

If you're on the hunt for a gift for a sea lover, take a look at Beach House Art, as they have lots of beautiful pictures and prints of sea life, coastat art prints, seaweed prints, shellfish and seafood, and shell art.  Bring the sea and marine life into your home!  Click on the Seahorse print to visit their website!

This is the Indigo Seaweed Print | Seaweed Art (Sea Oak)