For most of the brasher team, a normal working week is being busy and creative in the Sunderland office or for our Sales Representatives, being out on the road seeing our many retailers. However, last month Zoe Brookes, Marketing Manager got to take her work to the Dolomites.

brasher's annual photoshoot was based around the theme "Mountain Sports" and the Dolomites was the perfect location. Zoe's mission was to photograph with her team of models and photographer, the Spring Summer 2009 product collection in it's natural environment.

The week long shoot consisted of many different locations. From low level shots by the popular shores of Lake Garda to venturing up in chair lifts to reach those all important mountain scenic shots.

Guided by John White from Highpoint, they found all of the secret mountain locations quickly and easily and with the weather on their side it was just perfect.

If only they were given an extra day the team could have enjoyed a Via Ferrata day especially as John went prepared with climbing gear for them all, but sadly they had a flight to catch and photo's to get into production.

brasher's new Spring Summer 2009 product range including a new range of Mountain Sports footwear will be available in store from February 2009, keep your eye on our website and in stores for the photo's from the Dolomites!

Zoe Brookes, brasher's Marketing Manager has read many articles about ticks on humans, how they can attach themselves to you and what to do if they do but never really believed it happens!

Zoe's black Labrador Benjie gets them all the time after long walks at the weekends. The removal trick has always been, cover the tick with washing up liquid and turn the tick anti-clockwise with a pair of tweezers. To date it has always removed them in one!

After a 10 mile walk in Northumberland the other weekend, on a nice sunny day across many sheep and cattle fields, Zoe finally had proof that ticks do attach themselves to humans when she spotted on her husbands leg a big, black tick!

Getting her priorities right, Zoe grabs the camera for photographic evidence (see photo below) then applies the same removal tactics as she does to Benjie. Covering it with washing up liquid she turned it anti-clockwise with a pair of tweezers and out came the tick in one, alive and kicking!

Maybe you should believe everything you read!!

Philippe Galland, Product Manager at brasher can't stay still at home!
Along with his wife Claire he set off to enjoy a quick break in the weather for a trot up the wonderful Grisedale valley, up to the Grisedale tarn and then onto St Sunday Crag.

From the summit it is all downhill back into Patterdale.
A pleasant 8-9 mile walk and a bit more than a 2,000ft ascent that can be done in around 4-5 hours depending on fitness levels...and how long you fancy stopping at Grisadale tarn!

"Unfortunately, the cloud level on St Sunday crag didn't allow us a great view over Ullswatr lake but we were in good spirits in the dense fog giving us the perfect opportunity to practise our compass navigation skills in preparation for winter."

If you would like to share any ideas or walks you have been on please let us know!

On Thursday 2nd October brasher headed to Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve to lend a helping hand for the day.
Situated in Houghton-le-Spring in Durham, Rainton Meadows is the headquarters for the Durham Wildlife Trust.

We didn't know what to expect until we turned up on the day but were soon informed that armed with rakes and pitchforks we would be helping to clear a field. 
Raking the grass and collecting it into heaps we cleared the field and the cuttings created habitat areas for the surrounding wildlife.

We even managed to rescue a few toads from the grass cutter and put them safely out of harms way!

After lunch we set to work clearing another field on the reserve to create a meadow which was to be planted with seeds from several species of wild flower.

We ended the day with a walk around the reserve and Joe's Pond before heading back to the visitors centre.

The day was a great chance for us to give some of our time towards the local environment and made us appreciate all the hard work the Durham Wildlife Trust does in our area.

You can see more photos from the day on Flickr.

By Sarah Shanley

Zoe Brookes, Marketing Manager at brasher decided to put the recently published brasher explorebook to the test whilst on holiday near Padstow, Cornwall last month.

Looking to enjoy a walk on the South West Coast Path the explorebook provided just that.
The linear walk was from Boscastle to Tintagel, nr Camelford.

Parking at Tintagel the hourly hopper bus was a great way to travel to Boscastle. Dog lovers, please be warned not every bus will take your pooch on the bus, it is at the driver's discretion. Luckily Benjie, Zoe's black labrador was allowed and she showed her appreciation by tipping the driver!

Boscastle, victim of the 2004 flash floods was a lovely village to start the route, with a low level river walk to enjoy before heading down the coast. The coastal line is very dramatic and Zoe was very lucky with the weather, enjoying great views. The route has lots of ascents and descents up on the cliffs but makes an interesting walk.
You cannot miss the "Ladies Window" a window like hole in the rock - an ideal photo opportunity as you can see!

The walk finishes in Tintagel, a great stop off to enjoy cream tea before heading back to your car.

A great walk enjoying the variety of woodland paths, field tracks and the South West Coastal Path for the return leg - check out the brasher explorebook, page 5 for the full walk description and map.

Zoe only has another 9 walks/bikes/scrambles to complete if she is going to try and test the remainder of the explorebook!