Here in London, we have been experiencing some freakish winter weather... it has actually been warm! And I'm talking a decent 20°C. So like any Brit worth their weight, I took full advantage of the sunshine. My friend Ania, who I met on Erasmus, was visiting so together we spent a day in the Royal Botanical Gardens, or Kew Gardens in South West London. It was the first time I'd been since I was a child so I was really looking forward to it. Home to the worlds most diverse collection of living plants, the collection is envied internationally by other botanical research and education institutes. Plus, getting out of central London and breathing some FRESH air is always welcome!

THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW

Kew is only 30mins from central London on the overground making it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are four incredible Victorian glasshouses, my favourite being the Palm House which houses exotic rain forest plants. There is also the Temperate House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory which together cover 10 of the world's climates. The Waterlily House is also a spectacle worth seeing, housing giant lily pads. This is the house I remember most as a child so the lily pads must have made an impression! Then there are all the outdoor attractions which include a treetop walkway, authentic pagoda and bamboo garden. You can easily spend a whole day at Kew.

Entry is cheaper if you book online. An adult ticket will cost you £16.50, local residents pay slightly less and there are concession and student prices for £8.00. Kew is the perfect place to take a picnic however if you prefer there are a few cafes/restaurants in the gardens for you to choose from which serve a variety of mainly healthy food. Ania and I decided to eat at a really lovely, upmarket-ish pub by Kew station called The Tap on the Line because we wanted somewhere with a slightly oldy worldly feel.

THE PALM HOUSE

As I mentioned, the Palm House is my favourite greenhouse in Kew Gardens. It is humid and sweaty and usually pretty busy but we were lucky to find it relatively empty. The structure of the greenhouse is impressive in itself considering it was built in 1844. The curved roof is a beautiful contrast to the leafy green jungle plants which you get a perfect view of from the raised walkway. We wandered around slowly, you have to in that heat, taking it all in and feeling a little bit transported to the Amazon rain forest or somewhere similar.

Many of the species in this greenhouse were collected by Victorian explorers and are now endangered or even extinct. We read about some of extinct plants as we walked around and it was a not so subtle reminder of the negative effect humans have had on this planet.

THE TEMPERATE HOUSE

The Temperate House is twice as big as the Palm House and a much nicer temperature! It was also full of blooming flowers which the Palm House lacked, maybe because of the time of year? I want to go back in the summer to see what has changed. But thanks to these flowers the air was filled with a beautiful, subtle sweet smell which I think we both appreciated having come from central London. You can actually get married in the Temperate House too. There are example pictures on the Kew Gardens website which make me drool.

THE GARDENS

We didn't visit the Princess of Wales Conservatory on this trip because the queue was super long. This is because of the Orchid: Celebrate the Colours of Colombia show currently running there which does look very impressive. But we had limited time and other things to do (a street art walk in Shoreditch no less!) so had to miss it. However, we made sure to take in as much of the rest of Kew Gardens as possible. It was very peaceful, relaxing and the perfect opportunity to catch up with each other's busy lives. I can't wait to go back in the summer to see what has changed.

Have you ever been to Kew Gardens or is it on your list? If you have, what was your favourite part? All information in this post was gathered by me via the Kew Gardens website so it should be pretty accurate. The ticket prices I mentioned are from March 2019, for your reference!

From the bustling hive of activity that is the central Medina in Marrakesh to the relaxed, cool surf scene of Essaouira, Morocco is perfect for backpackers. The cities are full to the brim with culture, delicious food and interesting architecture and surrounding them are pristine deserts and rugged mountain ranges ready to be explored. There is something for everyone in this North African jewel. I recommend keeping it simple on a 10 day trip, you want to see a lot but get a feel for the places you visit. So here is my 10 day backpacking itinerary for Morocco with a few extra stops which you can add if you are lucky enough to have a little longer to explore.

Morocco has a turbulent history. Constantly being invaded by different countries, each has left behind various influences. You will find a unique blend of Mediterranean, African, Berber, Arab, Jewish and French traditions and people speaking Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish! English is also widely understood and the friendly Moroccan hospitality means you're unlikely to feel out of your depth. However, the cities are an assault on the senses, bartering is expected and if you're blonde you will attract some unwanted attention. It took me a few days to get used to but once I had, I was able to enjoy everything Morocco has to offer!

SIMPLE 10 DAY BACKPACKING ITINERARY FOR MOROCCO!

BASE 1 - MARRAKESH

Marrakesh - this backpacking itinerary for Morocco starts in Marrakesh, where I started my trip. Most international flights, certainly the cheapest when coming from the UK, land in Marrakesh Menara Airport so it makes sense to explore the capital first. I recommend finding a beautiful traditional Riad in the centre of the city near the Medina so that everything is in walking distance. It also means you'll have an easily accessible escape from the intensity of this city.

Where to stay:
Riad Tamarrakecht - beautiful building and delicious breakfasts
Riad Alili - highest rated on Booking.com by guests
Les Trois Cours - amazing location

Ouzoud Waterfalls - The Atlas mountains are definitely worth exploring. From your base in Marrakesh, you can visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls as a day trip. I organised mine through my Riad. The trip, which included transport both ways, a guide for the day and lunch, cost £20. You could go without a guide but in this instance, I'd recommend one unless there is a particular hike you want to do. We stopped multiple times to swim in the rivers, paddled out under the huge waterfalls and saw plenty of beautiful views over the mountains.

Essaouira - especially important for Game of Thrones fans and surfers, you have to include Essaouira in your backpacking itinerary for Morocco! I visited the little port town as a day trip from Marrakesh as I didn't have any surfing planned. However, you could spend longer here and get a later bus back to Marrakesh or further up the coast depending on your plans. It was very beautiful and the fresh Atlantic air was amazing after the stifling heat of the city.

BASE 2 - TANGIER

Tangier - from Marrakesh you catch the overnight train to Tangier. Compartments contain four beds (two bunks) so if there are four of you it is ideal. The trains are really reliable, cheap and very fun. In Tangier, finding a traditional Riad is a little harder so here you either stay in a hostel or hotel depending on your budget. There is a lot to do and see in Tangier to keep you busy.

Where to stay:
Dar Chams Tanja - highest rated on Booking.com and almost a Riad
Hotel Continental - where I stayed! Reasonable price and great history
Baytalice - highest rated on Hostel World

Chefchaouen - this is a must do day trip from Tangier and any backpacking itinerary for Morocco. If you have time, it is worth an overnight stay so you can hike to Akchour Waterfalls. The town is located in the Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco and is famously painted entirely blue. In the centre is a small Kasbah which is surrounded by winding streets, souks and locals weavers on Berber looms.

Asilah - a day spent in Asilah is the perfect, most relaxing way to end the trip. It was built by colonial Portuguese and the Medina is entirely fortified, surrounded by 15th century, whitewashed walls. Here you can enjoy much cleaner beaches than in Tangier. There were also lots of camels cooling off in the sea and locals riding horses along the endless stretches of sand. It is a haven for art lovers as well. Artists from across the globe flock in to paint their murals on the walls of the town.

OPTIONAL EXTRA STOPS

The Sahara Desert can be visited as a 2-3 night tour from Marrakesh. Most tours include staying in a Berber village, riding camels and all food. The overnight train from Marrakesh to Tangier travels along the Atlantic coast which means stopping in the famous town of Casablanca is very easy. Rabat is another easy stop on the overnight train. Generally, people seem to think there is more to do in Rabat than Casablanca.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Transport - travelling by train is by far the easiest option and a likelihood in any backpacking itinerary for Morocco. The overnight train I took cost 250 Dirhams which is about £50. I felt completely safe. There are women-only carriages if you prefer or you can buy all four beds in a carriage! I was travelling with three friends so it worked out really well. Travelling by bus is cheaper but would have taken too long from Marrakesh to Tangier. However, the day trips I did from both bases were all done via bus. You can book them through Riads, hotels or hostels.

Clothing - Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country so it is best to cover your shoulders to be respectful especially when entering mosques. I went in September and it was sweltering so I covered up to stop getting burnt too.

Catcalling - As I mentioned before, it took me a few days to get used to all the unwanted attention I received from men during my time in Morocco. They were pretty relentless but you get used to brushing them off. Because I am blonde I also found people were quite interested in my hair but again I got used to it. Overall the catcalling was pretty harmless. Check out my post on dealing with unwanted attention if you are worried.

Morocco is a great place to backpack. In fact this was my first ever backpacking trip which I took with three school friends before starting university. It is well travelled and an exciting country to explore. I'm sure you'll have an amazing time, whatever route you take!

We are reminded daily in the news, on social media and by our surroundings that the climate crisis is a serious issue. So, the pressure is on to make small changes in the way we live, with the aim of becoming sustainability queens! Keeping the planet in mind, there are simple steps we can all take to be more sustainable in 2020 which won't break the bank or terrify those of us slightly set in our ways (myself included!).

Seven Worlds, One Planet is a BBC documentary exploring the diversity of life found on the seven continents and how it is being affected by climate change. I binge watched over Christmas and found the series incredibly eye-opening. It highlights how fragile environments are being destroyed all over the world due to destructive human activity. David Attenborough does offer a little hope at the end of the final episode, saying that if we determine to do so, we can make positive change. He talks about how extensive conservation efforts have grown gorilla population numbers to over 1,000 for the first time since records began. And the worldwide whaling ban has allowed whale populations to recover too.

So don't be struck down by climate anxiety! We can make a difference and we will. Here are 10 simple ways we can be more sustainable in 2020. (Can you tell, the series has left me feeling inspired!).

1. Off-Set Your Flight Emissions

This might be a new one for many of you, the concept of off-setting flights is something I have only recently heard of too. By using an online emissions calculator you can work out how much CO2 was produced during a flight. Then using a charity like The Gold Standard you can donate to a project (such as reforesting in the Amazon) that lowers CO2 emissions, balancing out what was produced by your flight. The more you donate, the more CO2 you can off-set. Genius!

2. Walk or Use Public Transport

Walking more is great for so many reasons such as improving your health, saving money and benefiting the planet too. You get to know the area you live better as well. Public transport is the next best option as ride-sharing lowers your personal carbon footprint. If you're curious to see if your carbon footprint is below or above average, check out the WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator.

3. Invest in Sustainable Period Products

Sustainable period products are easy to get your hands on. Mooncup offers free delivery in the UK and you can buy reusable sanitary pads on Amazon. Although they take a little while to get used to, it is worth the investment. Having a plastic-free period makes a huge difference for our oceans, currently 2.5million tampons are flushed down toilets in the UK every day.

4. Reduce Plastic Packaging Consumption

Grocery shopping makes cutting back on plastic consumption very difficult, everything is wrapped in plastic! 2019 saw supermarkets using 900,000 tonnes more plastic despite promises to cut waste packaging. So if we can't rely on the supermarkets to do it for us, what can we do? Try to buy loose fruit and veg and even better, visit your local markets where it is normally much easier to buy plastic free. You can also find out if there is a zero waste shop in your area so you can take your own containers and pay for products by weight. Usually these shops sell washing up liquid, hair care products, laundry detergent and nuts, spices and grains.

5. Switch to Shampoo & Conditioner Bars