filling her Land Rover Discovery’s generous boot with plants and gardening essentials. “Years in a job where I spend so much time outdoors have made me a firm believer that a little preparation for bad weather makes days out more fun for everyone. As the Norwegians say, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing’,” she laughs.
s Gardens Editor at Homes & Gardens, Rachel Bull spends more time outdoors than most of us - visiting Britain’s most beautiful gardens, filming her Petals & Roots video series, working outside in her own green space through the seasons, come rain or shine, and
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What a Gardens Editor Packs for Long Country Walks
Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens, knows how to be prepared for a day out in the countryside. As part of our ‘What’s in My Boot’ series, she shared what she packed into her family’s Land Rover Discovery for a yomp in a Hampshire forest
For a day in the Hampshire countryside in early May with her husband and two children, Rachel packed her roomy car boot with comfort and changeable weather in mind to make the day run smoothly, and the ride home as happy as the walk itself.
Rachel started with the practical essentials: sturdy waterproof walking boots for herself and her family are indispensable - comfortable enough for uneven ground and reliable if the weather turns. “I often wear walking boots for gardening, only swapping to Wellingtons if it’s really wet or really muddy. Walking boots, especially waterproof ones, are really supportive, but most importantly, they keep my feet warm and dry.”
Her selection of outfits was similarly pragmatic: easy-to-carry, lightweight waterproof layers and a scarf always come along because, she says, “You never quite know in this country when it’s going to rain or turn chilly.”
‘“Years in a job where I spend so much time outdoors have made me a firm believer that a little preparation for bad weather makes days out more fun for everyone.’
Rachel Bull Head of Gardens, Homes & Gardens
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All Rachel’s hiking essentials go in her “proper walking rucksack”, which, she says, is her “preferred bag - compact but supportive, and it can carry more than you’d think.”
Rachel’s love of planning doesn’t just mean preparing for the walk:
she always packs her Land Rover Discovery’s boot with post-walk must-haves, including big towels for wrapping up her cold, wet children, a set of dry clothes each and - perhaps her most sensible addition - a large waterproof bag to hold muddy boots, damp clothes and anything else that will otherwise track mud around the car during the drive back.
The finishing flourish? “A picnic hamper containing a Thermos with a hot drink in it, and more snacks,” she says. “That way, the kids stay happy, even if they’re tired, and the journey home is just as much fun as the rest of the day.”
Ceiling & Above Dado: Dock Blue™ 252.
Walls: Royal Navy™ 257.
Window: Smalt™ 255.
Headboard: Dock Blue™ 252.
While most of us rely on our smartphones for navigation on walks, Rachel still packs a foldable Ordnance Survey paper map too: “A little bit old school,” she says, “but I find it surprisingly reassuring to have one when the signal on my phone drops out in the middle of nowhere.”
Her other must-haves are snacks - another non-negotiable for keeping spirits high and energy levels up if she’s out with her children - plus, of course, water bottles to keep everyone in the family well hydrated, even on cool or wet days.
Rachel always factors in rest breaks, packing a picnic blanket with a waterproof underside. “Having one of these makes it possible to stop and sit anywhere - damp grass, woodland clearings or uneven ground - without getting damp. And it can make an outdoor lunch feel cosier, even when the ground is really wet,” she says.
Talent: rachel bull
Associate Creative Director: Jamie Carson
Senior Producers: Daniel Gould & Esther Thorn Gent
Senior Project Management: Hayley Jackson
Design Director: Oliver Bourne
Designer/creative: Hannah Taylor
words: EMMA SPEDDING
Film Production: Studio Soeur
Stills: Studio Soeur & Kasia Bobula
Styling: Fiona De Lys
Make Up Artist: Lillie Lindh
Model shown is Land Rover Discovery Tempest 27MY in
Carpathian Grey premium metallic finish
