Bounce your way into Spring

From hiking across Surrey’s countryside to cooking in the wild, Angelina Villa-Clarke discovers six ways to get your mojo back as we say hello to longer days ahead.

Good for Outdoor Sustenance

Fire Cookery Courses, Priory Farm Estate, Nutfield

Have you ever wanted to go back to our roots and learn how to cook over an open flame? The Salt Box’s open-fire cookery courses teach you the art of cooking with fire and smoke to create delicious meals in a relaxed and informative environment beneath the trees. The one-day Seasonal Cooking Over Fire course begins with a foraging lesson to find wild ingredients in the woodland glen. After a restorative brew, you’ll learn how to make fire using natural tinders, transforming a tiny spark into a flame and giving you the opportunity to slow down into the rhythm of the woods. With the fires crackling, you will learn about a variety of fire cookery methods – from skillet cookery to coal baking. The workshops take place from March to November in an evocative woodland kitchen, found on the Priory Farm Estate in South Nutfield.

£180, wearethesaltbox.co.uk

Good for Zen Moments

Spring Welcome Hike and Yoga Retreat, Albury

This one-day spring retreat (29 March) has been designed to nurture both the body and mind. The day starts with an invigorating countryside trek in the Surrey Hills, led by guide Simone from Back on Track (a fitness community offering running, hiking and outdoor fitness classes in and around Guildford). As you hike the 5km gentle route, you’ll walk amid nature coming alive for spring. Afterwards, you’ll return to the scenic lakeside Albury Smokery, for a yoga session with Danielle from Club Meditation. “The aim is to provide just the right mix of relaxation and movement for your body to feel relaxed and ready for spring,” says Simone. As well as a plant-based lunch, you can tuck into a nourishing selection of snacks, smoothies, herbal teas and cake. Also included is a replenishing facial tutorial and hand massage, enjoyed as you gaze across the water.

£130, www.backontrack.live/events

Good for Embracing Nature

Walking and Cycle Trails, Frensham

You won’t be the only visitor to Frensham Little Pond and Great Pond, as you’ll be joined by terns and woodlarks, above you, and damselflies and dragonflies darting across the still waters. Dating back to the 13th century, the ponds were created to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court at Farnham Castle. These days they offer pristine wildlife sanctuaries as well as a variety of walking and cycling routes around their perimeters to blow away the cobwebs. Nearby, the heathland, with its purple heathers, gnarled oaks and towering pines, can be explored by a network of footpaths. As spring arrives, the area comes alive with birdsong. Listen out for the call of sedge and reed warblers hiding in the extensive reed beds. At dusk, you might hear the unique booming sound of the rare bitten, while willow warblers, restarts and blackcaps will be effusive in their melodies. Meanwhile, the skies are dotted with the aerial displays of skylarks, swifts and swallows.

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/frensham-little-pond

Good for Fun-Fuelled Fitness

Running Clubs, Richmond & Epsom

Whether you want to walk, jog or run, Richmond parkrun is a free event, open to all abilities. Taking place every Saturday at 9am, the 5km route takes place at Richmond Park and offers an inclusive, fun way to keep fit. Whether you are a competitive runner or a beginner, the route takes in the best views of Richmond Park, from Bishops Gate to Sawyers Hill. Meanwhile, in Epsom, the Epsom Oddballs Running Club is a UK Athletics-affiliated running club established in 1989 for all ages, shapes and sizes. The club offers training sessions throughout the week and prides itself on its positive and motivational ethos no matter where you are in your running journey.

parkrun.org.uk/richmond
epsomoddballs.org

Good for Marvellous Minds

Hinoki Forest Bathing, Holmbury Hill, Dorking

Born in Hawaii to American and Japanese parents, Lisa Duncan shares elements of her background in the holistic experiences she has curated in the Surrey Hills, from embracing wabi-sabi (the beauty of the imperfection) to the spirit of aloha and love of nature. Her wholesome sensory activities include sunrise meditation, foraging and sound healing. During the immersive Hinoki Forest Bathing (at Holmbury Hill, Dorking, and at Chantries Woodland near Guildford) you will embark on a mindful journey through ancient trees. “Forest bathing started in the 1980s in Japan, where it is called Shinrin Yoku, to help the Japanese population decrease stress levels,” Lisa says. “Trees and plants emit Phytoncides, which have positive physiological effects on us. In addition, by purposefully focusing your attention on the present moment, you can reduce stress and promote happiness.” As you walk, Lisa guides you to tune into your senses and teaches you how to connect with the surrounding nature. The journey ends with
a meditation and Japanese-influenced, woodland
tea ceremony.

Various dates all year round, from £25,
hinokiforestbathing.co.uk

Good for New Finds

Walking Tours, Kingston upon Thames

Taking place every Sunday morning (11am, from 2 March), the free Kingston Tour Guide offers an informative and entertaining way to learn about the local area (and get you moving at the same time). Setting off from the statue of the Golden Queen in Kingston’s Ancient Market Place, an expert guide will lead you to the town’s significant buildings, such as All Saints Church and the Coronation Stone, describing the important characters and events that have shaped the town. Over the two-hour tour, you’ll hear stories and anecdotes that have featured in Kingston’s long history, a tale which began over 1,200 years ago. Look out for a new experience launching in April that will focus on the Pubs of Old Kingston, looking at the locations of 28 inns and hostelries (some still in existence) that dominated Kingston in days gone by.

kingstontourguides.org.uk