30 Days Wild – Connecting with nature
“We have never needed to reconnect with nature more than we do today. By staying in we’re missing out. In our head-down world, it has become more critical than ever before to look up, pay attention to the natural world and allow ourselves to be nurtured by nature,” says best-selling author Cheryl Rickman in her book Tree Glee: How and Why Trees Make Us Feel Better.
It is a sentiment echoed by The Wildlife Trusts, a federation of 46 independent wildlife conservation charities covering the whole of the UK, who are inviting people to take part in their 30 Days Wild challenge. In a nutshell, it involves choosing one wild thing a day, or a few each week in June, that helps increase feelings of connectedness with the natural world.
“I love the challenge of making myself set aside at least five minutes a day for thirty days in a row to encounter something new in nature or perhaps take a little longer to do something that’ll help wildlife where I live,” says Jo Richards of The Wildlife Trusts.
Nature as a source of wellbeing
Research suggests that taking part in 30 Days Wild can leave people feeling happier and healthier. It also stands to reason that people who feel connected to nature are more likely to care for it.
“Scientific evidence also backs up our intuitive feeling that regular exposure to nature and the natural world has effects on human health and welfare which are positive, measurable and enduring, and should be thought of as being akin to the provision of clean water, reliable electricity, public vaccination or public hospitals,” writes Shane O’Mara in his book, In Praise of Walking.
Nature-inspired activities needn’t take much time. In a poll of favourite activities from a recent 30 Days Wild challenge, listening to birdsong came top. Other popular choices included eating outdoors, planting wildflower seeds, hugging or admiring a tree and going barefoot on the grass. Simple pleasures that are easily overlooked in busy, screen-dominated modern life.
30 Days Wild is a timely reminder to prioritise nature during a month filled with birdsong, blooming wildflowers and chances to spend more time outdoors.
How to join 30 Days Wild
You can sign up on The Wildlife Trusts’ website where you’ll find plenty of inspiration and free resources to help you plan your nature-inspired month. To join the conversation and share your photos, use #30DaysWild.
Quotes & books to inspire
“Reflect on and absorb the colours in nature and in outdoor settings. Try to appreciate them more everywhere.”
Joe Harkness – Bird Therapy
“Because the evidence suggests that activity in nature has a long-lasting impact on our happiness and wellbeing, we should be encouraging our populations to regularly, habitually, walk in nature, even if they only have access to city parks.”
Shane O’Mara – In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk & Why It’s Good For Us
“It does my head and heart good to be with trees. Whenever I walk in woodland I feel at home; my heart expands, my mind lights up and my whole body relaxes. These rooted marvels are my serenity space and sanctuary; trees are my temple, and the forest is my church.”
Cheryl Rickman – Tree Glee: How and Why Trees Make Us Feel Better
- Lead picture credit: Krisztina Papp on Unsplash
