FG Barnes Vauxhall encourages revival of outdoor skills thanks to the Combo Life

As Easter fast approaches, many Maidstone and Guildford families are looking forward to packing up the car and heading outside. To encourage others to venture outside this spring, local Vauxhall retailer, FG Barnes Vauxhall is taking the opportunity to raise awareness for beloved outdoor skills that are dying out.

FG Barnes Vauxhall has revealed research from Vauxhall which found that over 50 per cent of parents believe their children have no outdoor skills as a result of being glued to their mobiles, laptops and tablets. A further 83 per cent of parents feel it is important to pass on skills such as reading a map or identifying a flower, yet half admitted they wouldn’t feel confident teaching this.

However, FG Barnes Vauxhall is championing an initiative to inspire more Maidstone and Guildford parents to head out in the car this spring to spend some quality family time together, with a little added help from the five and seven-seater Combo Life.

In fact, out of the families questioned, 40 per cent said their favourite part of a journey was the chance to have conversations and enjoy each other’s company. And more than a third (35 per cent) enjoy the quality time together that they would not otherwise get. What’s more, a staggering 53 per cent admitted to their children not knowing any outdoor skills, although 43 per cent of parents would like to teach their kids how to read a map.

With 83 per cent of parents agreeing it is important for future generations to hold outdoor skills, the Combo Life, now available at FG Barnes Vauxhall, makes the perfect partner for getting out with the kids. With a huge 1,355 litres of boot space (for your camping gear) and keyless entry (for when your hands are full), the all-new Combo Life is FG Barnes Vauxhall’s most versatile vehicle yet, with its seating for up to seven people and generous luggage space.

Stewart Cox, Head of Business, at FG Barnes Vauxhall Guildford, said: “You can’t put a price on how important it is for the family to get outside spending quality time together, whether it’s jumping in the car for a Sunday adventure or a weekend away. Exploring the outdoors is some of the most precious moments a family can spend together, and the Combo Life is the perfect fit for all.

“With many safety features and enormous luggage space, the Combo Life also includes a state-of-the-art eight inch touchscreen infotainment system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, should your escape not be totally gadget-free. We’d like to encourage all motorists in the area to visit the dealership and see how the Combo Life can transform their lifestyle into an endless exploration of outdoor adventures.”

The top ten outdoor skills parents feel are dying out:

(In order of ranking)

1.Map-reading

2.Reading a compass

3.Identifying flowers

4.Lighting a campfire

5.Bird-watching

6.Foraging

7.Putting up a tent

8.Tying a knot

9.Fishing

10.Toasting marshmallows

* The research was conducted by One Poll, surveying 2,000 parents of children 0-13 years old in the UK. https://gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk/en-gb/default-title-25