Why Do The Clocks Go Forward?

For centuries, the UK has been putting their clocks forward in an effort to make use of the extra daylight hours. But why? This custom, known as Daylight Saving Time (DST), was first proposed by British Builder, William Willett, in 1907 and was later adopted throughout Europe.

The idea behind DST was to allow people more time to enjoy daylight hours. As a result, many factories, businesses and homes saved money on their energy. In 1916, the UK implemented DST - or British Summer Time (BST) - after the passing of the Summer Time Act. This was done in an effort to save coal during World War 1.

Since then, Daylight Saving Time has become a common practice throughout the UK and other parts of Europe. Clocks are put forward in spring and back in autumn, allowing people to enjoy the lighter evenings while reducing their energy usage.

It's not popular with everyone. DST can disrupt sleep patterns. If you’re not an early bird you may find it hard adjusting to ‘losing’ an hour in bed.

It’s also not ideal for pet owners. Try explaining to your much loved fur friend that they have to wait an extra hour for their food!

But many others embrace it for its positive effects on the environment. By relying more on natural light instead of electricity, we can conserve energy and reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, DST allows people to make more use of the daylight hours, leading to better work productivity and leisure activities. 

So while it may be an annoyance for some, Daylight Saving Time is a crucial part of life in the UK that has been around for over 100 years. It helps make the most of daylight hours while also reducing our energy consumption. With rising energy costs, this could be a real benefit these next few years.

In today's world, we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the effect on the environment and reducing our carbon footprints. As such, people have started to embrace British Summer Time and its positive impacts on the environment.

So put your clocks forward this spring, save energy, and enjoy the extra daylight hours!