30 Days Wild set to begin next week

Ahead of the beginning of the UK's popular nature challenge, 30 Days Wild, a survey of participants has revealed people's favourite 'random acts of wildness' from last year's event.

These included listening to birdsong, exercising and eating outdoors, identifying and planting wildflowers and going on a bug hunt as some of the most enjoyed engagements with wildlife.

30 Days Wild begins on 1 June 2021 (Bethan Clyne).

30 Days Wild is an annual event from The Wildlife Trusts, with more than a million participants to date. A record 650,000 people took part in 2020 alone. People are invited to sign-up and try one 'random act of wildness' every day, for 30 days in June.

The Wildlife Trusts asked some 1,000 people who took part in 30 Days Wild in 2020 about their favourite random acts of wildness. Hugging or admiring a tree, making a wildlife home, going barefoot on the grass or earth and sketching, drawing or painting nature were other popular acts.

New for this year is a Big Wild Breakfast, which will kickstart the 30 Days Wild challenge on Tuesday 1 June. Participants are urged to celebrate the first day of their wild month with a Big Wild Breakfast and see how much wildlife they can spot in just 30 minutes.

In 2020, a five-year review of 30 Days Wild participants, run in conjunction with the University of Derby, found people reported they felt happier and heathier from taking part, with positive effects lasting for at least two months afterwards.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "We'll be getting outdoors for a Big Wild Breakfast in the garden on 1 June to kickstart our family's own 30 Days Wild. If the past year has taught us anything, it's that people need more nature in their lives and much more of it on their own doorstep.

"At The Wildlife Trusts, we believe there’s a huge public appetite for more connection to nature. We want to see neighbourhood nature everywhere for people to enjoy – from woodland walks to wilder community spaces, wide open meadows popping with wildflowers, lush roadside verges, wilder city parks, canal paths bursting with berries and birds, the air alive with the sound of insects once more and glorious nature-friendly gardens.

"People need easier access to vibrant, life-affirming wildness. 30 Days Wild provides a great reminder to explore more in June, to value what we've got, and to demand more action to restore nature close to where we live and work."

You can join 30 Days Wild here.