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Get ready to spring forward and embrace sunlight like never before as "British Summer Time Begins" commences on March 31! It's an exciting time when the clocks go forward by one hour, and the UK officially bids farewell to the grey skies of winter and welcomes the longer, sun-soaked days of summer. The concept of daylight saving, of which British Summer Time is a part, finds its roots way back in 1784, championed first by Benjamin Franklin who believed it could help people to make better use of daylight and save on candles! Now, it's a herald of the warmer season to come, when flowers bloom, adventures beckon, and smiles shine brighter. So let's not wait, embrace the joy and anticipation that this day brings along!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1784</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Benjamin Franklin's Proposal</div><div class='timeline-text'>Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, first proposes the concept of daylight saving to better utilise daylight and save on candles.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1907</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>William Willett's Pamphlet</div><div class='timeline-text'>English builder and outdoorsman, William Willett publishes the pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight", advocating for changes to clocks to make better use of light.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1916</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Adoption in UK</div><div class='timeline-text'>German's adoption of daylight saving during World War I prompts the UK to follow suit, marking the beginning of British Summer Time.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1940</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>World War II Changes</div><div class='timeline-text'>Throughout World War II, British summer time was enforced all year, and doubled in summer, being known as 'Double Summer Time'.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1996</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Harmonisation Across EU</div><div class='timeline-text'>The UK and the rest of the European Union standardise the start and end dates of summer time - last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Heralding Summer Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>"British Summer Time Begins" is widely celebrated as an official welcome of the summer season with the clocks moving forward by one hour.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Organize a sunrise gathering</h3><p class='facts-text'>The first day of the British Summer Time signifies longer daylight hours. So why not celebrate by organizing a sunrise gathering? You could hold an early morning picnic at your local park, or simply have your friends over to watch the sunrise on your balcony or patio.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Plan a flower planting event</h3><p class='facts-text'>With longer daylight hours, it's the perfect time to get into gardening. Why not celebrate by organizing a flower planting event with your neighbors or friends, and then enjoy watching your flowers grow over the coming months.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a summer-themed party</h3><p class='facts-text'>Celebrate the start of British Summer Time with a summer-themed party. Decorate your house with summer colors and flowers, serve light and refreshing food and drinks, and have some great summer tunes playing.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Visit a local attraction</h3><p class='facts-text'>Take advantage of the extra daylight by visiting a local attraction. Whether it’s a museum, a historical landmark, a local market or a park you've never visited before, now's the time to explore it!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Make a summer bucket list</h3><p class='facts-text'>The start of British Summer Time is the perfect time to plan out all the fun things you want to do during the summer. Create a summer bucket list with all the activities you want to do and places you want to visit over the upcoming months.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Longer, brighter days</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The main perk of British Summer Time is the longer hours of daylight. We love the fact that we can leave work and still have several hours of sunshine left, which is great for outdoor activities, social gatherings, or simply winding down the day with a pleasant evening walk.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Fresh Celebrations</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>British Summer Time Brings fun and innovative ways to celebrate, like the sunrise gathering or summer-themed parties. These unique events infuse excitement into the upcoming season and provide a joyful break from routines.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Opportunity for Planning and Growth</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>British Summer Time serves as a commencement for planning new adventures, starting gardening projects, or executing a summer bucket list. It cultivates anticipation, fostering growth and enjoyment for the full beauty of summer when it fully blooms.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Experiments with British Summer Time Have Varied Over the Years</h3><p class='facts-content'>The UK implemented a trial of continuous British Summer Time, also known as "British Double Summertime", which ran from 1968 to 1971. During this period, the clocks were advanced by one hour throughout the entire year and two hours during the summer. The experiment was abandoned due to mixed reactions.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Energy Saving is a Major Advantage of British Summer Time</h3><p class='facts-content'>The main purpose of British Summer Time is to make better use of daylight and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. This allows for energy conservation, as households and businesses can utilise more natural light and use less electricity.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Metric Martyrs Case Fielded Arguments around British Summer Time</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Metric Martyrs case in 2002 emerged from a dispute over use of imperial units versus metric units in UK market trading. Lawyers arguing the case made reference to British Summer Time as an example of Britain's distinctive national regulations, demonstrating how integral BST is to the identity of the country.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>British Summer Time Influences the Timing of Public Events</h3><p class='facts-content'>Various public events, such as the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and royal events, are scheduled according to BST. This helps to ensure optimal natural lighting conditions.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Not All Areas in the UK Initially Accepted British Summer Time</h3><p class='facts-content'>When BST was first introduced during World War I, parts of the country refused to acknowledge it. Notably, the city of Bristol famously kept its clocks 10 minutes behind London's GMT and 50 minutes behind BST for several years.</p></div></div>
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