While we might be heading into spring, we all know in the UK that’s no guarantee for good weather. If you don’t fancy venturing out on an evening, Boundless members can tune into a number of inspiring and informative talks.
From understanding how and why we age with Sue Armstrong, to fortifying your garden for years to come. There’s even another spooky tale to come from Nat Doig.
These upcoming online events and more throughout the year come as a part of a Boundless membership.
Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
As well as getting access to exclusive events, Boundless members enjoy unlimited or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, plus year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.
Sue Armstrong is here to give you some agency in your aging
Ageing is something that will happen to us all, but how much do we really understand about how the passage of time changes our bodies? It’s a question journalist and broadcaster Sue Armstrong explores in her new book, Borrowed Time: The Science of How and Why We Age.
“Growing older is certainly inevitable but how you grow old is not,” Sue says. “There’s things you can do about it, and I think very few people were aware of that – we just thought that wear and tear happens, and it’s just a lottery. I was interested in looking at the conundrum of why we age.”
Sue, who’s written for the likes of New Scientist and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as presenting feature documentaries on BBC radio, became particularly interested in the idea of improving “health spans” – the idea that quality of life is more important than quantity. In other words, scientists are less interested in finding a modern-day fountain of youth than finding ways to keep us healthy for longer.
“There is quite an industry in people who can’t bear the idea that they’re mortal and they’ve put a lot of money into things like cryo-preservation to make themselves immortal,” explains Sue. “I found that so unattractive, and a diversion of money towards vanity projects. But when I started speaking to people who were looking to increase their health spans rather than expanding lifespans, I thought there was an awful lot in that.
“People getting older, staying alive and getting sicker is a huge claim on NHS resources, so there’s a lot of good reasons to try and help people to stay healthy for longer.”
The good news is that small things, such as improving your diet and fitness, can have a positive impact at almost any age. Sue also believes that understanding what’s going on in your body – and that age-related issues like arthritis, heart disease and strokes are all symptoms of the same underlying process – can be a big positive.
“The more you know about what’s going on, the more you can sort of co-operate with it,” she explains. “Now I have a sort of image of what's going on inside, I find that hugely encouraging. It gives you a sense of agency in the process that you don't have when you just think, ‘Oh well, old age will just do what it has to do to me.’ It’s not like that at all.”
Watch Sue’s talk on Borrowed Time: The Science of How and Why We Age at 7pm on 21 April.
Get a sneak peak at Boundless' other upcoming storytellers
Nat Doig returns with The Potton Poisoner
Presenter and creator of the Weird in the Wade podcast, Nat Doig is back for another Boundless event. It might not be anywhere close to Halloween, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t always time for an eerie story or two. And she has a real treat in store for those who sign up to watch The Potton Poisoner.
“I can't wait to share with you the tale of Sarah Dazley dubbed by the Victorian press, The Potton Poisoner. Her story could be from a Dickens novel and although she was found guilty of the murder of her second husband, and suspected of the murder of her first husband and infant son, there is still so much mystery surrounding the case.”
Nat Doig is no stranger to a spooky tale, nor Boundless members. Back in October she shared the tale that spurred her on to start her own podcast in the first place, sharing the story of her beloved home with Uncanny presenter, Danny Robins.
“Danny asked if anyone in the audience came from somewhere unusual and I shouted, ‘Biggleswade! And we’ve got a haunted Poundstretcher!’ It got quite a laugh, so he gave me the mic to tell the story.”
Nat also told us about how she’d always been fascinated by all things weird since before she can remember. “Being born with cataracts [...] reading was incredibly tiring, so I loved being read to as a child – and my parents often chose spooky tales.”
So are you ready to hear the story of the Potton Poisoner? As Nat told us, “After hearing the evidence you can decide whether she should have hanged or not.”
Listen to The Potton Poisoner at 7pm on 14 April.
Leigh Hunt foresees the future of our gardens
If there’s anyone well-equipped to tackle any and all burning questions about our gardens, it’s Leigh Hunt. The Principal Horticultural Advisor at the Royal Horticulture Society, he has earned an honours diploma in gardening from Kew and specialises in helping people garden more sustainably and confidently. And now he’s about to impart some wisdom on where we can expect gardening to go in the future.
“In this practical, inspiring session, RHS Principal Horticultural Advisor Leigh Hunt explores the big shifts shaping our plots: warmer, drier summers, heavier downpours, and changing seasons. If anything, we’ll need out green fingers more than ever!”
Tune into The Garden of the Future on 12 May at 7pm.
Do more with Boundless
If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits, including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by Britannia Rescue.
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