On a hot summer’s day there is little more refreshing than a dip in cool waters, enjoying a leisurely swim or simply floating on your back with the warmth of the sun against your skin.

However, the local outdoor swimming pool doesn’t have quite the same vibe – usually cramped and filled with children delighting in splashing and dive-bombing.

As a result there has been a resurgence in the concept of wild swimming – reclaiming countryside rivers as a place to swim, not only a serene haven of tranquility but also free to use, an important factor in challenging economic times.

A group has been set up to champion the cause in Britain, providing a guide to the various lagoons, coves, lakes and rivers that are ideal for a spontaneous swim, but they advocate swimming anywhere which looks clean and safe.

The phenomenon is taking off and there are seven regional groups across the UK who organise events in public waters.

The Environment Agency have a website where it is possible to check the cleanliness of your local river simply by entering your postcode. Any river with a rating of A or B is totally safe, a grading of C means you should cover any cuts before getting in, whilst rivers graded as D, E or F for biological or chemical reasons are best avoided.

There have been several high-profile events featuring urban swimmers – one of the biggest was the Hampton Court Swim which was sponsored by Speedo and had more than 1000 participants.

Europe has just enjoyed The Big Jump – a day where all nations across Europe joined forces to celebrate the natural environment and reclaim their right to swim in rivers.

On Sunday 10 July at 3pm GMT, thousands of Europeans jumped into rivers at more than 115 registered destinations across the continent. Thousands more joined in with more informal local jumps with bays, rivers and even glacier waters – for the hardy types! – all included in the event.

Rivers in the UK are no longer the polluted dumping ground that they became in the middle of the last century with the Thames being a good example of a river which has cleaned up its act. In days gone by, it was a murky source of unknown pollutants but since 1970 has become so clean that aquatic life has flocked back to its waters, including a colony of seahorses, a breed which is only able to survive in unpolluted areas.

So go on…be brave…dip a toe…

The Shanghai Auto Show 2011 has introduced a number of exciting new concepts to the motoring industry and paved the way for a bright future for many leading manufacturers. The show has also highlighted the huge importance of China to the global automotive industry.

Esteemed manufacturers like Lexus, Mercedes and Chevrolet are pushing their new models hard to the Chinese market and other companies are quickly following suit, recognising that China is now the world’s largest auto market, with 13.7 million passenger vehicles sold in 2010.

General Motors has said it plans to double the number of cars it sells in China to five million by 2015, according to The Associated Press, and intends to roll out 60 new and upgraded models in the country.

Image by IvanWalsh via Flickr

However, there are mixed reports emerging regarding China’s future as the figurehead of the global car and car parts industry. The BBC reported that the ongoing slowdown of the Chinese economy, together with the tightening of regulations by the Chinese government and the central bank, is affecting car makers adversely. Some reports say the market could fall by 10 per cent in the next few years, while others speculate it could grow by as much as 25 per cent.

Those putting their faith in the more positive reports include Ford, which has promised to double its Chinese production arm and significantly increase the number of dealerships in the country, and Daimler, which has also given signals that it is about to mount up its Chinese presence.

The focus for manufacturers may be set to fall away from the wealthier cities of China such as Beijing, where car sales are thought to be approaching saturation point. The areas thought to hold more potential for car manufacturers lie inland; in the past, the major auto trade in these areas was in the export of cheap car parts, whereas now, there’s a higher demand for cars at the mid-to-low end of the market.

In an attempt to temper this trend, China’s deputy industry and technology minister, Su Bo, warned that overcapacity could be reached if too much investment is made by manufacturers.

He told a forum: “We haven’t seen overcapacity in China’s auto market in the past few years, but if auto makers keep output growth at the current pace, China’s auto market will see overcapacity sooner or later.”

This post is sponsored by Cheapautoparts.com

Image courtesy of Flickr

Experience days have been great gift ideas for many years – the perfect present for somebody who already has everything under the sun. They normally don’t last as long as you want them to, but the excitement and adrenaline or, indeed, calm and relaxation they produce in just a few hours is unmatchable. Companies like Wish offer experiences at both ends of the spectrum, with tank driving on the one hand and pamper days on the other.

They’re all great for a few hours of VIP treatment, but the break from the real world is over before you know it. While you can’t usually add extra hours onto the actual experience days, the break itself can be extended. For example, how about planning a whole holiday around an experience day?

The next time you book yourself a day of racing supercars around Silverstone, you could head down to the nearby historic city of Oxford for a night of cultural curiosity. After a night in one of England’s finest cities, you could pay a visit to the capital city of London. One of the most diverse cities of the world, London is home to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, Marble Arch and much more. Fifteen million tourists visit this city every year for good reason!

Wish.co.uk has plenty of experience days based in the capital on offer, so why not incorporate one into a longer break? The Thames Lunch Cruise for Two will take you past some of the most famous landmarks in the world – the landmarks that ultimately characterise Britain – and will only cost you £59. Tea for two at Harrods, the luxury department store, is even less at £52.

If you want to spend a few hectic days in the city, then there are also spa centres that can help you relax and unwind. I’m sure you will be nice and green and find your way about the city on foot, so an expert (and well deserved!) foot massage would certainly be in order. Bungee jumps, both solo and tandem, are available for the adrenaline junkies among you in nearby Windsor, which is a lovely place to visit in itself.

The great locations of most of these experience days mean that the experience itself doesn’t have to last for just one day. Use the opportunity to explore Britain in all her glory (and remember to keep her clean and green along the way).

For most women, picking a bikini involves finding a style which disguises any wobbly bits and isn’t going to come flying off as soon as it’s hit by a rogue wave. However, it appears that many may be missing a trick as there is a whole range of modern, eco-friendly bikinis just waiting to be discovered.

Miami’s South Beach is usually better known for its suntanned beautiful people and Swim Week did little to dispel its reputation. But on the Friday night, the show at The Setai focused on a holiday essential which so far has escaped the glare of the environmental spotlight. Until now.

Most bikinis are made from nylon and polyester, deliberately so, as the materials are not only cheap and durable but also supportive and clingy – ideal qualities for a bikini. But the fabrics are not as green as they could be so a group of designers put on a fashion parade, showcasing some of the most innovative bikinis that were not only ‘forward thinking’ in terms of their style, but also were eco friendly.

Known as eco-fashion, the bikinis on show were made from a variety of sustainable substances making the swim and beachwear a conscience-free choice for the environmentally aware holidaymaker. With synthetic bikinis cast aside, the costumes were made from materials manufactured from hemp, bamboo and wood pulp, which despite sounding horrendously uncomfortable, are apparently very easy to wear and certainly look the part.

Other designers did opt to use the versatile nylon fabric in their design but from recycled sources such as old parachutes.

However, the two bikinis that had the whole show buzzing were the fully combustible costume and the solar powered swimsuit.

The bikini which claimed to be able to fully break down in less than six months but would not disintegrate while being worn, even when submerged, was the brainchild of Linda Loudermilk. Made from plant starch remodelled into a fabric, the suit is fully reusable and has a trendy look to the garment. However, once buried under a landfill site, Loudermilk says the suit will be dust within 180 days.

The solar powered bikini didn’t actually make it to the show as the designer had some travel problems but this didn’t stop it being a topic of conversation. Covered with ‘flexible photo-voltaic strips’ the bikini can apparently charge small devices such as mobile phones without any difficulty, but yet can be treated just like a regular bikini and worn in both the sea and sun.

Shopping for the holiday swimwear suddenly seems far more complicated…

The failure of the British summer to fully materialize and the sight of Glastonbury revelers up to not just their knees, but their necks in mud may be deterring all but the most hardened campers from enjoying some time under canvas.

However, for those wanting an eco-friendly holiday but with slightly more creature comforts than traditional camping provides, there are many options to choose from.

For those who have always fancied wandering round the countryside with a horse in front and all their worldly possessions in a cart, a stay in a traditional gypsy wagon may be the experience of a lifetime. The campsite is located in Essex and offers a collection service from the train station via pony and trap.

The site is ideal for both families and couples, with the accommodation consisting of a gypsy wagon and traditional bender tent. The farmland the camp is situated on is off-grid and entirely reliant on solar power. All waste is either recycled or composted and food is only sourced from farmers within four miles of the site, ensuring a minimal carbon footprint.

On the other side of Britain, holidaymakers have the chance to stay in an Ekopod on Bodmin Moor, an eclectic mix of futuristic accommodation and an old-fashioned way of life. A smooth translucent and white bubble provides the shelter from the elements, giving guests a comfortable stay while still providing the ambience of an outdoors adventure.

The bubbles are uniquely designed to maximize light and heating, but the small amount of additional warmth or light needed is provided via solar power and clean energy from wood burners. The structures are constructed nearby and the furnishings use locally sourced materials from suppliers in the area. Breakfast is delivered each morning to a wooden box down the pathway and food is seasonal and regional.

In the middle of England lies The Hatch Cabin, an eco-friendly retreat that provides those staying there with the opportunity to be more hands-on, depending on the time of year. The surrounding grounds have 700 fruit trees which supply the accommodation with drinks and food, as well as organic gardens and a well established eco-system of wildflowers, ponds and woodland. Those arriving in September have the opportunity to help with the harvest, whilst in December there is the Mistletoe procession.

All year round there is the chance to learn traditional crafts such as felting, weaving and basket-making whilst the more musical can visit the on-site music studio. The site only provides local organic food and there is an extensive recycling system in place.

Even the most environmentally aware of travellers cannot help but feel somewhat torn between sacrificing luxury and pampering in return for their green credentials. However, Cathay Pacific are trying to help make the choice easier by providing its passengers with eco-friendly products whilst on board its planes.

The complimentary travel packs provided to fliers are exclusively designed by one of the top labels in France, agnes b, but as well as being a designer name, the contents are also sourced sustainably. Those travelling in business class will be treated to a goodie bag filled with not only top of the range products, but also stylishly designed, with the women’s version either light blue or black, adorned with polka dots, whilst the men’s offering comes in a choice of either grey or a dark blue, decorated with a lizard print.

However, the designer look to the bag is just the superficial benefit – the real gem is the eco-friendly content, an unusual concept for an airline to wholeheartedly embrace. Inside the travel bags, passengers will find amongst other luxuries, both a shoehorn and toothbrush made from a combination of cellulose and corn starch, products which are entirely recyclable and biodegradable. The materials also use far less energy and resources during the manufacturing process.

One of the people responsible for selecting the product range at Cathay Pacific, Alex McGowan, described the airline as ‘socially and environmentally’ aware and said that the firm was seeking to source sustainable options wherever possible. There are plenty of firms on the market also offering green travel accessories, so that taking supplies on holiday doesn’t mean having to compromise on eco-friendly principles.

For those who cannot bear to be without their MP3 player, smartphone or other digital device but hate the energy that the equipment uses, a new tool not only makes the usage greener but makes it easily transportable. The Solarmonkey absorbs energy from sunlight and is sufficient to provide enough charge to any number of items, making it suitable for being anyone on the go.

For backpackers who hate to take a cold shower, solar power can also provide a warmer morning wake-up. A heat-sensitive bag uses the sun to warm the water and also incorporates a cord to hang the equipment from, as well as a shower head to regulate the flow. Finally, to keep fellow travellers happy, a natural deodorant is available made from salts derived from a mineral spring. The stone has been ground to a powder and is suitable for transport aboard an airplane and is naturally hypoallergenic.