Do Blue is the latest inspirational pocket guide from The Do Book series. A practical, uplifting guide to unlocking the wellbeing benefits of water, it unpicks the science, shares inspiring real-life stories of people whose lives have been transformed by a connection to water, and offers practical ways to reconnect with blue, from the flow state of surfing to the exhilaration of cold-water immersion. We spoke to authors Abby Richardson and Nick Hounsfield about the project…
Do Blue is rooted in both science and deeply personal experience. How did you find the balance between the two for readers?
Abby: We knew that the book needed the context of the blue health science to explain why water environments are so beneficial for us all - but we also wanted to ensure it was thought-provoking, interesting and accessible. The personal stories were key to this for us.
In many ways this book is the outcome of years of working together and particularly the journey we have been on with The Wave for over a decade. It started with conversations about two very different relationships with water. About waves, fear, cold dips, joy, fishing, grief and the unique calm that water can bring through it all.
I always loved being near water but had a real fear of actually being 'in' it growing up. Nick was basically immersed in water from the word go! I came to find my place in the water in my 40s, mid Covid lockdown, when I first experienced the incredible reset of cold water. The still and calm of being fully in the moment hooked me in. For Nick, movement, waves and surfing are where he finds reset.
Nick: I think the book came from the realisation that we both found the same health benefits from being in and around water - but in very different ways. And from that point we knew we wanted to help more people find their own way to wellbeing via water - whatever their level of water confidence and wherever they live. Balancing the science, practical tips and inspiring stories of lives transformed by water felt like the best way to do this.
Abby: There are so many stories that really moved me! We spoke to such a range of people, from dippers and para surfers, to environmental campaigners, anglers and more. The process of interviewing these people was one of my favourite parts of writing the book. It was an honour and privilege to hear and then retell their stories.
One that really captures what Do Blue is all about for me was from Cornwall based Charlotte Banfield. Her tale of going from depression and fear of water, to completing one of the very first Wave Project surf therapy courses, and then going on to represent England and win Gold at the World Para Surfing Championships, is truly inspiring. She was so open about her struggles and how water continues to save her.
Do Blue makes the case that when we connect with water, we also begin to care about protecting it. Was the environmental message always central to the book, or did it emerge through the writing?
Nick: The link between human and planetary health was a key part of the story for us and was always an essential element of the book. The two are so interconnected and we really believe that the more that people find their wellbeing in water, the more they will be compelled to protect it. Chris Hines MBE, co-founder of Surfers Against Sewage, who appears in the book, often cites the Alice Walker quote; ‘activism is the rent we pay for living on the planet’ - and this sums it up. If we find our health through water then we have a duty to ensure that water stays healthy too.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall sits on Falmouth's harbourside and our current SURF! exhibition - curated by Dr. Sam Bleakley - explores the powerful connection between people and waves. Does it feel like a natural home for visitors to find Do Blue?
Abby: We know Sam well and the SURF! exhibition is absolutely brilliant! So impressive. The book is very aligned to many of the elements the exhibition touches on and some of the people featured in the displays also appear in the book. Your beautiful shop feels like the perfect home for the book - and hopefully it will build on the exhibition and give visitors some more inspiration to take home with them!
What's next for the Do Blue and One Blue World message?
Nick: In many ways Do Blue feels like our manifesto - a love letter to the power of water to improve health and wellbeing. A call to arms to connect better with it in our daily lives, to help remove barriers that some people may have to accessing it and to use our voice to protect it.
Abby: The book is very much the start point. We want to build on it to further the science, to influence policy around health and the environment, and to help put blue infrastructure at the heart of any new developments. What if we took the concept of blue health to the next level, not as a niche idea, but as a foundational part of how we live, work, play, heal and connect? This is the area we are exploring next!
