The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge – 30 Days Wild – is back this June

Let nature inspire you every day during our wildest month!

30 Days Wild, the UK’s biggest nature challenge run by The Wildlife Trusts, invites people of all ages to connect with nature every single day during the month of June. This year there’s a new twist: 30 Days Wild will take you on a week-by-week adventure moving through five different themes:

·         tune into the senses

·         movement and play

·         learning and discovery

·         helping nature

·         emotional connection to nature 

These themes will help guide everyone taking up the challenge to reach that 30 day target, whether tuning into the sound of bird life, moving through your local woods by moonlight, building a den, discovering an unexplored country lane or local park, making time to build a bug hotel or owl box or starting a diary of your day-to-day wildlife sightings.

New 30 Days Wild activity packs include a wild bee poster along with seeds and other materials to inspire you to do something wild every single day.

30 Days Wild is funded thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery and has grown a huge and dedicated fan base – over two million people have taken part over the last 9 years.

Last year over 500,000 people took part in the challenge including 114,245 households, 11,740 schools, 898 care homes and 1,384 businesses. Popular activities include wildlife-watching, eating outdoors, planting wildflower seeds and listening to birdsong. Other favourite pastimes included bug-hunting, fruit-picking, growing plants and flowers, exploring a nature reserve, creating a mini pond or going on a beach or river walk.

We all know how much happier and healthier we feel when connecting with nature – and we have research to prove it – so save the date!

David Oakes, actor and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“I truly hope you’ll join in the 30 Days Wild challenge wherever you are in the UK! We need nature more than ever and 30 Days Wild is a chance to really celebrate our connection to the precious green and blue spaces both on our doorstep and further afield. Whether you’ve a legendary forest a short train ride away, or a young sapling in your local park that is primed to be the Tree of the Year 2523; whether you turn down the tunes on your next jog in favour of nature’s wild beats, or head to your nearest coastline to explore the rhythms in the rock pools and the sounds of the sand dunes; whatever you choose to do, there are limitless opportunities to dive into this 30 day adventure. However much time you can spare each day there’s always an opportunity to take part, whatever your age. Please get involved and tell all your family and friends to join in too!”

Zoe Hughes, Devon Wildlife Trust says:

“I go outdoors regularly, but there’s something special about 30 Days Wild. The challenge encourages me to connect with my natural surroundings even more and work towards a goal which feels like a big achievement in a busy month. A free activity that makes you feel happier and healthier, with lots of inspiration along the way – what’s not to love!”

30 Days Wild – Big Wild Pub Quiz:

To help motivate people on this journey, we’ve enlisted the help of our Devon friends David Oakes and Sophie Pavelle for the Big Wild Pub Quiz on the 11^th June taking place at 5pm at Samuel Jones, Commercial Road Exeter EX2 1AW. Entry is £1 per person for teams up to 6 people. All welcome!

David Oakes continues:

“Come and join me and the glorious Sophie Pavelle here in Exeter on the 11^th June for the Big Wild Pub quiz or if you can’t make that date join us online via YouTube on Sunday evening, the 18th June, for fun and games with the Wildlife Trusts Big Wild Quiz. Come along to be top of the pollinators or just tune in to be entertained by the incredible and fascinating world of bison, beavers, bees, beetles and bats! Other wildlife species are available. I can't wait to see you then.”

The Wildlife Trusts provide free resources for everyone who signs up. Just register your interest here wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild. There is also a 30 Days Wild session planner specially designed for teachers to use in class.

 

 The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild kicks off on 1 June

·         Actor David Oakes and Sophie Pavelle to host Big Wild Pub Quiz in Exeter 11^th June 

·         More than 3000 Devon residents took part in 30 Days Wild last year, with 2,169 already signed up for 2023

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30 Days Wild has attracted support from a range of famous faces including TV presenters Monty Don, Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall, Ellie Harrison, James McVey, Alison Steadman and Dr Amir Khan. This year it is championed by writer, ornithologist, activist and Birdgirl, Mya-Rose Craig.

The University of Derby conducted a 5-year evaluation of 30 Days Wild participants from 2015-2020: it found that people reported they felt happier and healthier from taking part, with positive effects lasting for at least two months afterwards.

•  See a summary, 30 Days Wild – a five-year review, can be downloaded here. 

• 30 Days Wild: Development and Evaluation of a Large-Scale Nature Engagemen Campaign to Improve Well-Being by Miles Richardson, Adam Cormack, Lucy McRobert, Ralph Underhill was published Feb 2016. Online here.

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Going 'wild' is secret for happiness. Thousands take up challenge to go wild every day in June

The Wildlife Trusts' annual challenge – 30 Days Wild – calling on everyone to go wild every day in June starts this weekend. This year looks set to be bigger and wilder than ever. So far 50,000 people across the UK including nearly 2,000 in Devon have signed up to participate. The numbers are made up of individuals, families, schools, businesses and care home communities.

30 Days Wild encourages everyone to enjoy nature locally through daily Random Acts of Wildness: listening to bird song, gazing at butterflies, growing borage for bees and making the most of our parks, gardens and school grounds. Evidence shows that taking part can also make us happier and healthier.

The impact of taking part in 30 Days Wild has been tracked by academics at the University of Derby. Their study found that people who did something 'wild' each day for a month, felt happier, healthier and more connected to nature, with added benefits for the natural world too.*

Miles Richardson from the University of Derby said; "Our research looked at the impact of 30 Days Wild on 1,000 people, two months after completing the challenge. All those taking part benefitted, feeling 30% healthier than when they started on average. People who reported a disconnect from nature and who spend less time outdoors, showed the greatest improvement in happiness and pro-conservation behaviours."

"At a time when poor mental health is on the rise and the decline of our wildlife show no sign of slowing down, 30 Days Wild demonstrates what a much-needed new relationship with nature might look like, for everyone, throughout the year."

Supporting the 30 Days Wild challenge this year are:

Ellie Harrison, presenter of Countryfile and President of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said: "Being outside in nature makes us all well. The smallest moments connecting - the surprise of a beetle revealing its wings; the fleeting secrets of bats at dusk; or the puff of valuable pollen from flowers we saw as weeds - all bring us wonder and enchantment. This June we're challenging you to a Random Act of Wildness every single day of the month. What will you be delighted by?"

James McVey of rock band The Vamps said, "30 Days Wild is a fantastic challenge and everyone can take part - whether it's building a den, listening to the dawn chorus or visiting a favourite wild place, enjoying our wonderful wildlife can help us to feel happier and healthier, I'll be joining in this June!"

Dr Amir Khan from Channel 5's GPs behind closed doors said; "Spending time outdoors, enjoying wildlife on our doorstep and in our communities is free and can benefit our mental and physical health in so many ways. Spend a few moments every day in June taking part in random acts of wildness – notice something new in nature, climb a tree or create space for nature in your neighbourhood - The Wildlife Trusts has lots of ideas and inspiration to help you make the most of the 30 Days Wild challenge. Go Wild!"

Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey said: "30 Days Wild has become a much-loved challenge and it's set to be an exciting month for everyone taking part. This year in Devon we're staging a special 30 Days Wild celebration at Exeter's Mincinglake Valley Park on Sunday 16 June from 10.30am. It's free and gives everybody an opportunity to join us in discovering Exeter's wild secrets and to be inspired by nature."

People wanting to sign up to this year's 30 Days can do so at the Devon Wildlife Trust website www.devonwildlifetrust.org Signing up is FREE!

Wild days ahead in Devon. A leading South West charity is urging us all to go wild.

Sign up is now open for the Wildlife Trusts’ month-long national nature challenge. People can get their free packs at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and start planning their 30 Days Wild which starts on Saturday 1st June.
 

Last year 30 Days Wild was a record breaker with more than 2,500 people in Devon joining the 350,000 people across the UK who chose to embrace the challenge of experiencing nature every day during June.
 

People choosing to make the commitment this year are promised a rich array of resources to help them go wild. Participants receive a handy pocket-sized guide to 101 Random Acts of Wildness, a packet of wildflower seeds, a wall chart to make memories of their wild month, and wild-at-heart stickers to share with family and friends.
 

For the first time, the Wildlife Trusts have also produced a pack for care homes alongside packs for schools and businesses. Research has shown that providing contact with nature can help people to feel happier and healthier.
 

Steve Hussey for Devon Wildlife Trust, said:
“30 Days Wild is such a fun thing to do and everyone can get involved - make a daisy chain, start a list of wildlife you see in your garden, look for animal tracks or feel cool grass between your toes. You can sign up now to get your free pack of goodies, including stickers, wallchart and lots more Random Acts of Wildness to help you to plan your wild month. Get your family, friends, school, work place or care home involved too. We can’t wait to share in everybody’s wild adventures!”
 

Now in its fifth year, 30 Days Wild participants keep up to date and share the fun and activities across social media #30DaysWild.

#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust. Photo copyright Matthew Roberts (All Rights Reserved)

#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust. Photo copyright Nick Upton (All Rights Reserved)