Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is supporting the nation-wide 30 Days Wild campaign led by The Wildlife Trusts, to enthuse and inspire local people to spend more time with nature in their daily lives, which has now been proven to make us happier.
In 2017, 250,000 people took part in the nature challenge which invites everyone to integrate ‘wild’ activities in to their lives, no matter how big or small, everyday for the 30 days in June. Activities could range from taking a walk outside on your lunch break, to visiting a nature reserve or even volunteering with DWT.
Doing something wild for 30 days not only has benefits for wildlife, but for us, too. Academics at the University of Derby who have monitored the challenge since it began in 2015, have confirmed that spending time with nature makes us feel good.
DWT Communications Officer, Sally Welbourn, said, “30 Days Wild encourages us to notice the nature on our doorsteps every single day and do more to enjoy and help it. Research from this campaign shows that noticing natural beauty makes people happier and as a result, they care about it more.
As well as improving our mental health, there are also benefits to physical health from spending time outside. As a conservation organisation, we’re also really interested in the benefits for wildlife from activities such as feeding the birds in your garden, planting for our declining pollinators or taking part in a beach clean – which are all great ideas for a 30 days wild activity!”
To help inspire you to be wild, Dorset Wildlife Trust is taking part in the first ever ‘Big Wild Weekend’ on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June: midsummer walks, nature detective trails, and the Big Wild Seas weekend are just some of the fun events to get you started. Visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events for all our events. You can also download the 30 Days Wild app which has a Random Acts of Wildness generator, giving you all the ideas you need to be wild in June and stay wild all year round.
Sign-up to 30 Days Wild and you’ll get a free pack with a booklet of inspirational ideas, a recipe, wildflower seeded paper to sow, a wall chart to record your activities and wild stickers. There are special pack for schools and business. www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk/30dayswild