How will you be spending your June? Last year The Wildlife Trusts ran the UK’s first ever month-long nature challenge and more than 18,500 people took part in The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge. Committing around 300,000 Random Acts of Wildness – different ways to connect with, experience and take action for nature. It’s not too late for you to take part in your own 30 Days Wild. People let their lawns grow wild, adults danced in the rain and made nature cocktails while families created wild works of art, went star-gazing and created homes for wildlife in their gardens. Even people at work found time for wildlife, by taking meetings outside in the sun and transforming work spaces into wildlife habitats. An impact study, by the University of Derby, of 30 Days Wild – revealed sustained increases in participants’ happiness, health, connection to nature and positive environmental behaviours, such as feeding the birds or growing flowers for pollinators like bees.
Steve Ashton, Tees Valley Wildlife Trusts, People and Wildlife Manager said” You could get up early and experience the dawn chorus at Saltburn Gill or Guisborough Forest; Spend some time watching the Sand Martins reeling around the River Tees at Portrack; make a new bird feeder for the garden; plant a nectar rich flower to encourage butterflies and bees; make a bark boat and watch it set sail or even go barefoot in long grass. You could visit your local nature reserve, go star watching or even find your inner child and splash in a puddle with the kids. The list is endless. The Wildlife Trusts are aiming to inspire people to carry out one million Random Acts of Wildness, listing 101 fun and intriguing ideas online to get you started. It’s all about making nature part of your life for 30 days – and it’s free. Sign up at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild. Share your 30 Days Wild with us on twitter, Instagram and facebook using#30DaysWild.
The research showed that people who do something ‘wild’ every day for a month change their attitude to nature and report improvements in their physical and mental wellbeing,
Whatever their age, wherever you live, you can take part and join thousands of others making nature part of their life.