Friday 30th October marks the day for something super exciting - the launch of Flight Free UKs campaign for people like you and me to take a pledge to be flight free for a year.
You can choose one of three options:
1. I pledge to be flight free in 2021
2. I pledge to be flight free for leisure travel in 2021
3. I pledge to be flight free for life!
I realised today I've managed to not take a flight for coming on two years now... and that's without even trying! Granted, this year was especially easy due to COVID-19 making travel super restrictive and incredibly unappealing, but in 2019, I opted for UK based long stays, not even from the perspective of 'I must decrease my carbon emissions', but from a perspective of 'I must get the most value and time out of my paid holidays as possible this year, and on the cheap'. I knew cutting out flights would be one of the most significant things I could do as an individual, but it was easier said than done. After all, travelling, visiting other places, cultures and people has been one of the greatest pleasures and gratifying, memorable experiences of my life. So my point is this: this strategy of 'saving money, and needing to make the most of my time by travelling shorter distances, and taking frequent shorter trips rather than longer ones' thankfully led me to not only realise how much easier not flying was than I ever thought it could ever be, but also, how little I missed it!
Long weekends and short trips seemed the way to go, and I was wowed by the beauty of the UK. It's only made me want to explore the UK more! I'd always travelled around the UK for day trips, but it always had the feel of a quick visit, not part of normal 'doing things', rather than igniting that 'holiday feeling'. Does that make sense?
UK based trips to Pembrokeshire, Edinburgh, the Lake District, teh Cotswold, Sussex, Bristol and and Norfolk were wonderful insights into a local world of wonder, and so taking the flight free pledge for 2021 has been a no brainer for me.
What with COVID-19 probably impacting the travel, hospitality and leisure industries for the next few months an absolute given, why not give it a go in 2021? To me it would seem like the ideal year for anyone interested in, but unsure whether they could take a flight free year.
So what do you think? Can you take a flight free year?
Sign up to take the pledge, or find out more information at https://flightfree.co.uk/
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