Summer in England: The Warmest Months
Organic cotton is better for the planet, and also the fibres last longer, as they have not been treated by chemicals. They are also safely laundered, without releasing microplastics in the washing machine.
PLAINANDSIMPLE offers a small nice range of organic cotton basics, everything made ethically. At end of product life, just send the item back (freepost) and it’s recycled into new clothing, and you get a 15% discount in return. Everything is sold with a lifetime guarantee.
A Heavyweight Organic Cotton Men’s T-shirt
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers is a homegrown fashion brand. Its range of heavyweight organic t-shirts for men are outstanding quality, and designed to last years. And then biodegrade back to the earth, at end of use. Shown in White.
Also sold in many other colours:
Also available As Long-Sleeved T-shirts
Heavyweight Tees For Durability
Heavyweight organic T-shirts use a denser knit, often around 200 gsm or more, which gives them a soft yet structured feel. The fabric sits smoothly, it does not cling or twist, and it stays comfortable.
An Organic Cotton Women’s T-shirt
Fed up of organic clothing brands only offering black and white? This cocoa brown organic cotton t-shirt is sure to become a daily staple, and makes a nice change from black or white t-shirts.
In many attractive colours the t-shirt is a regular fit with a round neckline and short sleeves. Along with the logo, embroidered on the left sleeve.
And if you don’t want cocoa brown, there are plenty of other colours to choose from, including pink and burned orange.
Organic Cotton ‘Forest’ Long-Sleeve Tee
This organic cotton long-sleeved tee has an attractive ‘trees and forest’ graphic logo. It’s super-comfortable and sustainable, made with organic cotton, perfect for daily wear. Also in green.
Scandinavian-inspired Organic T-shirts
Varlden is a brand of casual organic clothing, inspired by Scandinavian simplicity and sustainability.
Founded by a husband-and-wife (he’s from Sweden, she’s from Liverpool), everything is made with sustainable materials and printed with eco inks, sent in sustainable packaging.
This organic cotton t-shirt (no affiliate link so all profits help) supports the effort to stop wildfires, which harm so many creatures.
This brand mostly focuses on t-shirts and beanies, but always of course hoodies and sweatshirts. Because it’s much colder in Sweden!
Most items are in black, cream or white, though there are a few muted colours, if you prefer. Some items have Scandinavian symbols and words, to explore your inner Viking!
England bursts into life when summer rolls around. The air feels lighter, flowers bloom, and the country shows off its warmer side. From buzzing city parks to peaceful beaches, June, July, and August shine as the warmest months across towns and countryside. Here’s how England embraces every bright, sunny day.
Summer’s Hum: A Printmaker’s View
Summer’s Hum is a beautifully illustrated pocket hardback guide to the season of summer. This really is something else, a delightful gift for someone you love, or for yourself as bedtime reading. The author reflects on this season of new life, as it transforms around her. She takes in landscapes across the land.
You can buy all four books as a gift quartet.
From her home garden studio in England’s smallest county of Rutland to the low-lying Suffolk marshlands and the windswept hills of Yorkshire. And even to the wildness of Scotland, over the border.
The inspiring prose, make this the perfect read:
The wildflower bank outside my window hums and buzzes. At midday, the summer sun spreads the perfect of roses and honeysuckle to every corner.
Angela Harding is a professional printmaker, whose unique style has become immensely popular in England. She works from a studio in her garden in a Rutland village.
You may recognise her work from illustrating books for several authors including Miranda Krestovnikoff, Isabella Tree and Simon Armitage.
June, July, August: The Hottest Months
Temperatures often rise above 20°C from June right through to August. Some days may even push close to 30°C in the southeast. These months headline England’s short but sweet summer, marking the best time for outdoor plans.
The country rarely feels stifling, which makes the heat welcome after a long, grey winter. Rain could appear here and there, but warm spells tend to prevail.
Long Days and Light Evenings
England’s daylight stretches well into late evening during the height of summer. In the north, sunset comes as late as 10pm. City streets fill with people after work who soak up every spare ray of sunlight.
Early dawns encourage runners, cyclists, and dog walkers to start their days earlier. Locals and visitors often plan meals and outings around these extended light hours.
Summer Flowers and Blooming Gardens
The smell of roses, lavender, and honeysuckle drifts through towns and villages. Country gardens and city parks fill with peonies, poppies, and wildflowers. National Trust sites, like Sissinghurst and Kew Gardens, draw crowds who want to see their borders in full colour.
Even roadside verges and small patches of green burst with summer life. Flowers attract bees and butterflies, which hum from morning till night.
If planting green spaces, read about pet-friendly gardens and wildlife-friendly gardens. And trees to avoid near horses (including yew, oak and sycamore).
Seaside Escapes
Coastal towns shine in summer sun. Places like Cornwall, Devon, and Norfolk welcome families, surfers, and walkers. The sand warms up, perfect for barefoot walks and castle-building. Beach huts and rolling waves feel just right on a clear day.
Even pebble beaches along the south coast fill up with deck chairs. English seas stay cool, but brave swimmers don’t mind.
Read our post on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
A Field Guide to Summer asks children to:
- Look out for bugs (leave them alone)
- Build a sun dial
- Identify different trees
- Make a flower crown
- Learn how caterpillars become butterflies
- Learn why bees are busy in summer!
Summer Vegan Desserts: Easy Recipes
It’s nice to enjoy a blackberry and apple crumble in colder months. But in summer, you may wish for something lighter like this Strawberry Mousse (Full of Plants) with just 6 ingredients, sweetened with maple syrup. It’s light and airy due to aquafaba (vegan meringue, made from whisking up chickpea brine water!!!)
Keep these desserts away from young children and pets, due to nuts, bread etc. Read more on food safety for people and pets. It’s best to just bin citrus and rhubarb scraps (along with tomatoes and alliums – onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) as acids may harm compost creatures.
This vegan strawberry cake (Rainbow Nourishments) also has just 6 ingredients! Including almond flour and potato starch (a little more tricky to find) and choose organic strawberries for best taste and health. It then just needs some baking powder, sugar and a little beetroot powder for colour (find in Grape Tree shops).
If you don’t use the beetroot powder, the cake will taste the same. But strawberries are not ‘pink enough’, so your cake will be brown! Serve with plant-based yoghurt or ice-cream.
Related to roses, strawberries are the only fruits with their seeds on the outside (some people can’t eat them, as the seeds get stuck in their teeth!) Always choose organic, as these fruits are one of the so-called ‘dirty dozen’ that are often covered in pesticides (organic strawberries smell and taste better too).
Vegan Eton Mess with Berries
This dessert was indeed invented at Eton College. This Eton Mess (A Veggie Feast) looks slightly different as the South African blogger has used local sour plums, but of course you can use fresh organic strawberries. The vegan meringue is made by mixing sugar with leftover brine water from canned chickpeas.
Peach Melba (1970s nostalgia)
This combination of peaches and raspberries is a 1970’s favourite. Try this vegan peach melba (Plant-Based on a Budget) which cooks the peaches, then drizzles with homemade raspberry syrup, and tops with mint leaves and vegan vanilla ice-cream. Or whizz up a simple peach melba smoothie.
Summer Pudding (uses up stale white bread)
Summer pudding (Doves Farm) is one of the world’s easiest puddings (and also zero waste, as it uses leftover bread). You just cook the fruits with sugar and water, pour into a basin lined with crustless bread, weigh it down and chill overnight in the fridge. Serve with vegan ice cream.
This recipe usually uses strawberries and blackcurrants. But you can vary it, say with sliced peaches or nectarines.
Knickerbocker Glory (seaside nostalgia)
To make this popular seaside dessert, just spoon cooked organic frozen cherries (in paper packs) and fresh raspberries into ice-cream sundae glasses, then top with vegan jelly and dairy-free ice-cream. Add more berries and ice-cream, and top with vegan whipped cream and more fruits.
Bakewell Tart Vegan Ice Cream (from Derbyshire)
Bakewell tart is a baked treat from a town in Derbyshire’s Peak District. This Bakewell Tart ice-cream (Wallflower Kitchen) is not just healthier than pastry, but also vegan. Made with coconut milk.
A Smashing Vegan Sherry Trifle Recipe
This vegan sherry trifle (The Veg Space) is a real treat, you can omit the booze for children. Just soak a vegan sponge in sherry, then top with berries, vegan custard and cream, then top with toasted almonds (for adults).
Vegan Jelly and Ice Cream
Conventional jelly is made from animal bones (gelatine). Instead, try Wibble vegan jelly mixes, in fruit flavours of strawberry, raspberry and forest fruits. They are much easier to make than conventional jelly too.
This company even sells reusable moulds. And have just launched their own vege-gel that you can use to replace gelatine, for all your dessert and other recipes. Exciting times ahead!
Italian Strawberry Panna Cotta
This vegan panna cotta recipe (Full of Plants) replaces gelatine (the English translation is ‘cooked cream’) with a plant-based thickening agent, then adds fresh strawberries, to turn this Italian dessert into a refreshing summer treat.
You can use more tart raspberries if preferred (and turn this into an autumn dessert by using blackberries!)
For (some!) of the year in England, the sun comes out, and people like to show their toes by donning a pair of summer sandals. However, leather sandals cause animal suffering (and most leather sold in the UK is from the far east, an area with few or no animal welfare laws). Plus the tanning process is very polluting to both the planet and workers.
However, plastic sandals are not good either. Plastic is made from oil, and also makes your feet sweat, so for sure not the best material for wearing footwear in warm and hot weather.
The good news is that there are a few brands of quality vegan footwear that offers lovely sandals for both men and women. They are made from a variety of materials, mostly Microfiber (an Italian fabric that looks and acts like leather or suede, and is easy to clean with a damp cloth).
Other materials include ‘fruit leathers’ (Microfibers mixed with industry waste – apples or grapes from Milan, or pineapple waste from the Caribbean).
So treat yourself to a couple of pairs of quality sandals, and wear them on alternate days, to let the sole beds dry out. These brands are also super-comfy so you won’t get corns, blisters or bunions!
As most vegan footwear is still sold online, it’s best to measure your feet in a shoe shop before purchase, to avoid the hassle of returns. Most European brands don’t offer half-sizes, so keep the receipt and don’t wear the sandals outdoors, until you know they fit!
Shop Like You Give a Damn
Shop Like You Give a Damn is an online vegan fashion boutique in Europe, and offers over 300 styles of vegan sandals for both men and women, from various quality brands.
Here are a few of the latest offerings from brands like Will’s Vegan Shoes (London) and Two Thirds (made from recycled rubber tyres).
If you prefer to buy direct from Will’s, do so here for women and men. You’ll also find slingbacks, espadrilles and Birkenstock-style vegan sandals.
Freerangers (handmade sandals from Tyneside)
Freerangers has been around for years, employing artisans to make shoes by hand (each pair is even signed by the maker, and you can send them back for re-soling so they last years).
Also in styles for men, you can also purchase on Etsy.
As these sandals are handmade, you can choose your own colour (black or 21 colours), from all the selected styles (most have shock-absorbing soles). These are not ‘high-fashion’, but super-comfy and often suit wider feet, so many older people are fans (some have ‘closed toes’ that are preferred by many).
Minuit sur Terre (stylish vegan French sandals)
Minuit Sur Terre (just search ‘sandals’ to bring up their summer footwear) is a super-stylish vegan footwear company from France. For every pair sold, 5 Euros are donated to a partner association to help animal welfare.
The founder is a (stylish) woman (she’s French!) who could not find clothes of ethics to match quality and fashion she wanted.
Sold in many styles and colours, these sandals add a hint of French flair to any summer outfit. They are designed in France, and made ethically in Portugal.
Paizo (vegan sandals for children from Greece)
Paizo is a nice footwear brand, that offers lovely quality faux leather sandals for children. Everything is designed in the UK and crafted by a small family firm in Greece.
There are strappy sandals made with flexible rubber soles in two colours. And hessian sandals, with Velcro straps. Both designed to be easy to put on and pull off.
When the sun comes out, it’s time to walk around in a pretty summer dress in natural fabric (cotton, hemp or linen). Launder any dresses made with synthetic fabrics in a microfibre filter, to stop microplastics from escaping washing machines, and going into the sea.
Avoid Indian ‘lightweight loose weave’ summer dresses, as they are fire hazards. Most are made from thin fabric that burns easily, especially when blended with oil-based acrylic.
Most natural sunscreens contain zinc oxide, so wash off before letting pets kiss you!
Nomads Clothing offers beautiful feminine organic cotton dresses, made ethically in India with GOTS-certified organic cotton jersey. Many dresses have pockets, plus nice features like v-necklines and collars. Perfect for casual occasions, like garden parties.
You can buy these online, or may sometimes find them on sale in M & S on the high street.
Seasalt (pretty organic cotton dresses)
Seasalt is a Cornish-based clothing retailer, which makes a nice line of summer dresses. All are cotton, though you’ll have the use the search box to filter ones that are organic cotton. Again made ethically in India, most are made from organic cotton jersey.
These are pretty traditional dresses, often with short sleeves, wrap-style v-necks, drapey skirts and gentle gathers under the bust.
Choose from several prints and styles.
A Pretty Linen Tunic Shift Dress
This pretty linen summer dress is made from eco-friendly linen. And made to order (time around 2 weeks) to avoid fabric waste.
Linen is from the flax plant (which needs less water than cotton to grow) and like hemp, can be grown locally (usually in mainland Europe). It absorbs moisture fast, to leave you dry. The texture if beautifully natural, but linen does wrinkle easily, so don’t wear, if you don’t like ironing!
Natural fabrics are not just softer on skin, but let your skin breathe, keeping you cooler in hot weather.
Joanie Cotton Dresses (sustainable vintage fashion)
Joanie is a fashion brand that offers lovely organic cotton dresses in vintage style, you can even choose your decade – from 50s flared skirts to 70s culottes!
You have to click the left hand side filter to find organic cotton dresses, as some are made from synthetic fibres. We don’t recommend the shoes as they are made from leather or suede. Instead, view our footwear tag to find nice vegan shoes and summer sandals.
The brand name was inspired by the founder’s ‘Aunt Joanie’ who would always ‘buy less, but buy better’.
Joanie’s designs nod to past decades, from 60s swing dresses to 70s florals. Each season, their collection brings pretty prints, that feel part of the past.
These dresses feature thoughtful details like Peter Pan collars and puff sleeves.
Joanie’s dresses are ideal for picnics, weddings or lazy days at home. Joanie’s Pre-Loved platform lets shoppers give their clothes a second life. Customers can buy or sell authentic Joanie items, keeping beautiful dresses out of landfill and in wardrobes for longer. We had a look, and found some lovely vintage dresses, all around £10.
Just take a few photos, send it off using the prepaid shipping label, and you get 110% credit for your next items.
Amour Linen is a quality brand of linen clothing, from our friends in Lithuania. And unlike cotton, it doesn’t cling to your body, so no static electricity!
Linen (along with cotton and hemp) are the best ‘natural fibres’ to wear as they don’t release microplastics (try to choose organic or recycled cotton, as conventional cotton uses pesticides). Linen comes from flaxseeds, so is more local (often grown in Europe) and uses less water than cotton.
Cool in summer and warm in winter, it gets softer with age. Its only caveat is that it wrinkles, so avoid it if you don’t like ironing (or don’t mind being a bit ‘crinkly-clothed!’)
All the linen is locally sourced and the dying factory is nearby too. Everything is made by a team of in-house seamstresses. Any leftovers are made into other products, and all items are sent in zero waste packaging.
Where is Lithuania?
You will find that linen clothing often is from Lithuania, a Baltic state in eastern Europe, and home to one of the world’s oldest languages (related to Sanskrit, which is used to chant mantras in India).
It’s home to The Stelmuze, the oldest tree in Europe – an oak. Not surprising, considering one third of this beautiful country is entirely forest.
Wavy Linen Clothing (also from Lithuania)
Wavy Linen is a quality family-run brand of linen clothing from Lithuania, run by a pattern cutter, with everything expertly-made to Fair Trade principles, and sent out in compostable packaging.
Leftover fabrics are turned into pattern swatches, to send out to customers, rather than go to waste. The range includes comfortable summer hats, plus pretty blouses and skirts, along with elegant summer dresses and jackets.
An Elegant Sleeveless Linen Dress
This sleeveless linen dress is made from 100% organic linen. A lovely way to display your ‘low fashion miles’ on a summer day.
Available in several colours and sizes, this stonewashed linen dress is perfect for summer, with a wide belt (or wear without, for a relaxed flowing fit).
The dress features hidden pockets on each side, and the lightweight breathable material makes it comfortable on hot days.
